-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, IFpTrFwA+JQZ3Zp4ujF4v1jHPr7t9oSVYbygFfJ2E4D6MZX8AkQXn2xml+YZN0Vh WR93l+3xFNPl8x37KCV/Hg== 0001104659-09-059842.txt : 20091022 0001104659-09-059842.hdr.sgml : 20091022 20091021191205 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-09-059842 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 425 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 FILED AS OF DATE: 20091022 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20091021 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: TICKETMASTER ENTERTAINMENT, INC. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001006637 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-MISCELLANEOUS AMUSEMENT & RECREATION [7990] IRS NUMBER: 954546874 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 425 SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-34064 FILM NUMBER: 091130878 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 8800 WEST SUNSET BLVD. CITY: WEST HOLLYWOOD STATE: CA ZIP: 90069 BUSINESS PHONE: 310-360-3300 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 8800 WEST SUNSET BLVD. CITY: WEST HOLLYWOOD STATE: CA ZIP: 90069 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: TICKETMASTER DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20010209 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: TICKETMASTER ONLINE CITYSEARCH INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19980923 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: CITYSEARCH INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19980617 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: TICKETMASTER ENTERTAINMENT, INC. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001006637 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-MISCELLANEOUS AMUSEMENT & RECREATION [7990] IRS NUMBER: 954546874 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 425 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 8800 WEST SUNSET BLVD. CITY: WEST HOLLYWOOD STATE: CA ZIP: 90069 BUSINESS PHONE: 310-360-3300 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 8800 WEST SUNSET BLVD. CITY: WEST HOLLYWOOD STATE: CA ZIP: 90069 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: TICKETMASTER DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20010209 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: TICKETMASTER ONLINE CITYSEARCH INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19980923 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: CITYSEARCH INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19980617 425 1 a09-31963_18k.htm 425

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  October 21, 2009

 

Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-34064

 

95-4546874

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(IRS Employer

of incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

8800 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA

 

90069

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (310) 360-3300

 

 

 (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

x          Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangement of Certain Officers.

 

On October 21, 2009, (1) Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. (“Ticketmaster”) entered into a new employment agreement (the “2009 Employment Agreement”) with Irving Azoff (“Executive”), Ticketmaster’s Chief Executive Officer, and (2) Front Line Management Group, Inc. (“Front Line”), a majority-owned subsidiary of Ticketmaster, entered into an amended and restated employment agreement (the “Front Line Employment Agreement”) with Executive.

 

Reference is made to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of February 10, 2009, among Ticketmaster, Live Nation, Inc. (“Live Nation”) and Merger Sub (as defined therein), which provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Ticketmaster will merge with and into Merger Sub, with Merger Sub continuing as the surviving entity and as an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Live Nation (the “Merger”) and Live Nation will continue as the public parent of the combined companies. Completion of the Merger remains subject to numerous conditions, including approval by Ticketmaster’s stockholders, approval by Live Nation’s stockholders and receipt of all required regulatory approvals.

 

The new employment arrangements with Executive principally address Executive’s employment with Live Nation following the Merger. Except as specifically noted below with respect to the Stock Option and the Additional RSUs, the new employment arrangements generally are subject to completion of the Merger and will not apply if the Merger does not occur. The table below describes key terms of the new employment arrangements with Executive.

 

Term

 

Discussion

 

 

 

Live Nation Position and Duties;
Live Nation Employment Term

 

Subject to completion of the Merger, Executive will serve as Executive Chairman of Live Nation and Chief Executive Officer of Front Line, reporting to the Live Nation Board of Directors, and as a member of the Live Nation Board of Directors. The employment term under the 2009 Employment Agreement will be from the date of the completion of the Merger through June 8, 2014, unless earlier terminated.

 

 

 

Employment Relationship

 

Prior to the Merger, Executive’s agreements with Ticketmaster and Front Line contemplate two separate employment relationships, i.e., Executive’s employment with Ticketmaster can terminate, while his Front Line employment continues, and vice versa. Moreover, the Front Line Employment Agreement specifically provides that, prior to the Merger, Front Line may not terminate Executive’s employment with Front Line without cause and Executive may not terminate his employment with Front Line without good reason. Following the Merger, Executive will have a single employment relationship, and, if Executive’s employment with Live Nation terminates, his employment with Front Line also will terminate on the same basis, including a termination without good reason or without cause.

 

 

 

Base Salary

 

Executive will continue to receive a $2,000,000 annual base salary pursuant to the Front Line Employment Agreement, as in effect since May, 2007. Executive will receive no additional base salary from Live Nation.

 

2



 

Term

 

Discussion

 

 

 

Annual Bonus

 

Subject to completion of the Merger, Executive will have a Live Nation bonus opportunity targeted between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000, payment of which will be subject to satisfaction of pre-established performance criteria. Following the Merger, in the event of a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation without cause, for good reason or due to death or disability, Executive would be entitled to a full-year Live Nation annual bonus based on actual performance in the year of termination of employment. The Live Nation bonus opportunity is in addition to the annual $2,000,000 guaranteed bonus that Executive has been entitled to pursuant to the Front Line Employment Agreement, as in effect since May, 2007.

 

 

 

Merger Bonus

 

Upon completion of the Merger, Executive is entitled to receive a $2,000,000 cash bonus.

 

 

 

Azoff Restricted Common Stock

 

On October 29, 2008, the Azoff Family Trust of 1997, dated May 27, 1997, as amended (the “Azoff Family Trust”) received 1,000,000 shares of Ticketmaster restricted common stock (the “Azoff Restricted Common Stock”). Executive is co-trustee of the Azoff Family Trust. Subject to completion of the Merger, upon a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation without cause or for good reason or due to death or disability, the Azoff Restricted Common Stock (as converted in the Merger into shares of Live Nation restricted common stock) immediately shall vest.

 

Subject to completion of the Merger and certain other conditions, on the earlier to occur of October 29, 2013 and the second anniversary of Executive’s termination of employment (the earlier of such dates, the “Measurement Date”), Executive may be entitled to a payment from Live Nation in cash and/or shares of Live Nation common stock equal to the positive difference, if any, obtained by subtracting (i) the market value on the Measurement Date of the Azoff Restricted Common Stock (as converted in the Merger into shares of Live Nation restricted common stock) from (ii) $15 million, as adjusted. In addition, Executive may be entitled to an additional payment in cash and/or shares of Live Nation common stock to the extent that Executive sells any of the shares of Live Nation common stock referred to in the immediately preceding sentence for a price less than the closing price of Live Nation common stock on the Measurement Date.

 

 

 

Live Nation Severance

 

Following the Merger, if Executive’s employment is terminated without cause or for good reason, subject to Executive’s execution of a release, Executive will be entitled to payment of a cash lump sum equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the “Applicable Multiplier” by (ii) the “Severance Inputs,” with such amount reduced by any severance payable pursuant to the Front Line Employment Agreement (see “Front Line Severance” below).

 

“Applicable Multiplier” means the greater of (i) three and (ii) the number of years (including partial years) remaining in the employment term under the 2009 Employment Agreement.

 

3



 

Term

 

Discussion

 

 

 

 

 

“Severance Inputs” means the sum of (i) $2 million and (ii) two times the amount of the annual bonus that Executive receives (or is entitled to receive) from Live Nation with respect to the year prior to the year in which the termination of employment occurs (or $1.5 million if such termination occurs during 2010).

 

 

 

Front Line Severance

 

Under the terms of the Front Line Employment Agreement as in effect prior to the amendments described in this Current Report on Form 8-K, if Executive’s employment is terminated for good reason, Executive is entitled to receive payment of base salary ($2 million) and guaranteed annual bonus ($2 million) through June 8, 2014, the end of the term of the Front Line Employment Agreement. Following the Merger, the severance described in the immediately preceding sentence also will apply in the event of a termination of Executive’s employment without cause.

 

 

 

Ticketmaster Note

 

On October 29, 2008, the Azoff Family Trust received 1,750,000 shares of restricted Ticketmaster Series A preferred stock (with a face value of $35 million, accruing dividends at 3% per year) (the “Azoff Restricted Preferred Stock”). Subject to the occurrence of the Merger, prior to the Merger, Ticketmaster will redeem any outstanding shares of the Azoff Restricted Preferred Stock, including accrued dividends, in exchange for a note of equivalent value that vests and pays in equal monthly installments on the first day of each month beginning on January 1, 2010 through and until October 1, 2013. Following the Merger, in the event of a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation without cause or for good reason or due to death or disability, the note immediately will vest and the balance of the note immediately will be paid in a cash lump sum to the Azoff Family Trust. Upon any other termination of Executive’s employment, the Azoff Family Trust will forfeit the balance of the note.

 

 

 

Equity Awards

 

There currently is not a sufficient number of shares of Ticketmaster common stock available under the Ticketmaster 2008 Stock and Annual Incentive Plan (the “Ticketmaster Plan”) for the equity awards described below. If Ticketmaster stockholders do not approve increases in the individual and aggregate share limits under the Ticketmaster Plan (the “Requisite Approval”), Executive will forfeit all of the equity awards described below. In no event will any of the equity awards described below vest unless and until Ticketmaster obtains the Requisite Approval.

 

 

 

Stock Option

 

On May 6, 2009, Ticketmaster granted to Executive an option to purchase 1,445,088 shares of Ticketmaster common stock, with a per share exercise price equal to $7.55, vesting in equal annual installments on October 29, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, without regard as to whether the Merger occurs. The 2009 Employment Agreement memorializes the following additional terms with respect to the Stock Option:

 

4



 

Term

 

Discussion

 

 

 

 

 

·                  The Stock Option will vest in full upon a termination of Executive’s employment without cause or for good reason.

 

·                  Upon a Change in Control (generally, as defined in the Ticketmaster Plan, but excluding the Merger), the Stock Option will vest in full, subject to Executive’s continued employment through the Change in Control date.

 

 

 

Additional RSUs

 

On May 6, 2009, Ticketmaster granted to Executive 200,000 Ticketmaster restricted stock units, vesting in equal tranches of 25% upon the first four anniversaries of the date of grant, without regard as to whether or not the Merger occurs. The 2009 Employment Agreement memorializes the following additional terms with respect to the Additional RSUs:

 

·                  The Additional RSUs will vest in full upon termination of Executive’s employment without cause or for good reason. Executive will forfeit any unvested portion of the Additional RSUs upon any other termination of employment with Ticketmaster prior to the Merger or Live Nation after the Merger.

 

·                  Upon a Change of Control following the Merger, the Additional RSUs will vest in full, subject to Executive’s continued employment through the Change in Control date.

 

In addition to the vesting requirements described above, the vesting of the Additional RSUs was subject to the satisfaction of one of three performance goals established by the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Ticketmaster Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) on May 6, 2009. This vesting requirement has been met, subject to certification by the Compensation Committee.

 

 

 

Stock Growth RSU Grant

 

On May 6, 2009, Ticketmaster granted to Executive 252,890 Ticketmaster restricted stock units, vesting in equal tranches of 25% upon the later of (i) the first, second, third and fourth anniversary of the Merger, and (ii) the date (the “Milestone Date”) that the average closing trading price for Live Nation common stock over any consecutive 12-month period following the Merger exceeds the product of $14.45 and the Exchange Ratio (as defined in the Merger Agreement). The 2009 Employment Agreement memorializes the following additional terms with respect to the Stock Growth RSUs:

 

·                  Following the Merger, if Executive’s employment is terminated without cause or Executive resigns for good reason, the Stock Growth RSUs will remain eligible to vest based on the occurrence of the Milestone Date, but otherwise without regard to the passage of time, for a period of time following Executive’s termination of employment. Executive will forfeit any unvested portion of the Stock Growth RSUs upon any other termination of employment with Live Nation following the Merger. Executive will forfeit the Stock Growth RSUs upon any termination of employment with Ticketmaster for any reason prior to the Merger.

 

5



 

Term

 

Discussion

 

 

 

 

 

·                  Upon a Change in Control following the Merger, the Stock Growth RSUs will vest in full, subject to Executive’s continued employment through the Change in Control date.

 

·                  Executive will forfeit the Stock Growth RSUs if the Merger Agreement terminates for any reason without the Merger occurring.

 

 

 

Merger Milestone RSU Grant

 

On May 6, 2009, Ticketmaster granted to Executive 144,509 Ticketmaster restricted stock units, vesting in equal tranches of 25% upon the first four anniversaries of the Merger. The 2009 Employment Agreement memorializes the following additional terms with respect to the Merger Milestone RSUs:  

 

·                  Following the Merger, the Merger Milestone RSUs will vest in full upon termination of Executive’s employment without cause or for good reason. Executive will forfeit any unvested portion of the Merger Milestone RSUs upon any other termination of employment with Live Nation following the Merger. Executive will forfeit the Merger Milestone RSUs upon any termination of employment with Ticketmaster for any reason prior to the Merger.

 

·                  Upon a Change of Control following the Merger, the Merger Milestone RSUs will vest in full, subject to Executive’s continued employment through the Change in Control date.  

 

·                  Executive will forfeit the Merger Milestone RSUs if the Merger Agreement terminates for any reason without the Merger occurring.

 

In addition to the vesting requirements described above, the vesting of the Merger Milestone RSUs was subject to the satisfaction of one of three performance goals established by the Compensation Committee on May 6, 2009. This vesting requirement has been met, subject to certification by the Compensation Committee.

 

 

 

Front Line Put Rights

 

Subject to the completion of the Merger, on October 29, 2014, the Azoff Family Trust will have the right to require Live Nation to purchase 100% of Executive’s Front Line common stock.

 

Subject to the completion of the Merger, in the event of a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation without cause or for good reason, the Azoff Family Trust will have the right to require Live Nation to purchase:  

 

·                  up to 50% of the Azoff Family Trust’s Front Line common stock following the date of termination of employment; and

 

·                  up to 100% of the Azoff Family Trust’s Front Line common stock on the two year anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment.

 

6



 

Term

 

Discussion

 

 

 

 

 

The shares of Front Line common stock subject to the put rights described above will be valued as of the date of exercise of the applicable put right. Live Nation has the right to satisfy its obligations with respect to the foregoing put rights in cash and/or shares of Live Nation common stock.

 

 

 

Restrictive Covenants

 

The new employment arrangements described above contain restrictive covenants, including perpetual confidentiality obligations and employee non-solicitation and business non-compete provisions that apply during the employment period and for specified periods following termination of employment.

 

The 2009 Employment Agreement and the Front Line Employment Agreement are attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the 2009 Employment Agreement and the Front Line Employment Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibits.

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

 

The information set forth under Item 5.02 is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

Employment Agreement, dated October 21, 2009, by and among Irving Azoff, Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. and the Azoff Family Trust of 1997, dated May 27, 1997.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2009, by and between Front Line Management Group, Inc. and Irving Azoff.

 

7



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

TICKETMASTER ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Chris Riley

 

Name:

Chris Riley

 

Title:

General Counsel, Secretary and SVP

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: October 21, 2009

 

 

 

8



 

EXHIBIT LIST

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

Employment Agreement, dated October 21, 2009, by and among Irving Azoff, Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. and the Azoff Family Trust of 1997, dated May 27, 1997.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2009, by and between Front Line Management Group, Inc. and Irving Azoff.

 

9


EX-10.1 2 a09-31963_1ex10d1.htm EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated October 21, 2009, by and among Irving Azoff (“Executive”), Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. (“Ticketmaster”), and the Azoff Family Trust of 1997, dated May 27, 1997, as amended (the “Azoff Trust”). Subject to the occurrence of the Merger (as defined below) and solely by virtue of the occurrence of the Merger and without any further action, effective upon the LN Effective Date (as defined below), Live Nation, Inc. (“Live Nation”) automatically shall become a party to this Agreement and automatically shall assume its obligations under this Agreement.

 

1.              Recitals

 

(a) Reference is made to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Ticketmaster, Live Nation and, from and after its accession to the Merger Agreement, a Delaware limited liability company to be formed by Live Nation, dated February 10, 2009. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions contained in the Merger Agreement, the Merger Agreement provides for the Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (the “Merger”).

 

(b) Reference is made to the Employment Agreement (“Ticketmaster Employment Agreement”), dated October 22, 2008, by and among Executive, Ticketmaster, and, solely for purposes of the sections of the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement entitled “FLMG Equity Cancellation; Ticketmaster Equity Grant” and “Miscellaneous,” the Azoff Trust.

 

(c) Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2009, by and between Front Line Management Group, Inc. (“FLMG”) and Executive (as amended from time to time, the “FLMG Employment Agreement”).

 

(d) Reference is made to (i) that certain Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”), dated as of May 11, 2007, by and among FLMG, Ticketmaster (as successor to IAC/InterActiveCorp) and the other persons listed on the signature pages to the Stock Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which, among other matters, Ticketmaster (as successor to IAC/InterActiveCorp) acquired a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of FLMG, including a portion of the shares of capital stock of FLMG held by Executive and/or his affiliates and (ii) the “2004 Agreement” (as such term is defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement) (the “2004 Agreement”).

 

(e) WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, Executive’s obligations pursuant to Section 6.7 of the 2004 Agreement were extended until the later of (i) June 8, 2012 and (ii) the one year anniversary of Executive’s termination of employment with FLMG.

 

(f) WHEREAS, subject to the occurrence of the LN Effective Date, the parties have agreed that Live Nation shall be obligated under specified circumstances to purchase shares of common stock, par value $0.01, of FLMG owned by Executive and/or his affiliates, as more fully described in section 13 of this Agreement.

 

(g) WHEREAS, as a condition to the willingness of Ticketmaster and Live Nation to enter into this Agreement and to commit to the share purchase provisions set forth in

 



 

section 13 of this Agreement, this Agreement shall incorporate by reference and further extend the term of Executive’s obligations under Section 6.7 of the 2004 Agreement, as more fully described in section 16 of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of and subject to the mutual agreements, terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

2.              Live Nation Position and Responsibilities

 

(a) Subject to, and upon the occurrence of, the LN Effective Date, Executive shall become, and during the LN Employment Term (as defined below) Executive shall serve as, the Executive Chairman of Live Nation, reporting to (i) the Board of Directors of Live Nation (the “Live Nation Board”) and (ii) at the direction of the Live Nation Board, the Chairman of the Live Nation Board (“Chairman of the Board”). Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, during the LN Employment Term, Executive shall have primary responsibility for oversight of Live Nation’s artist services businesses (including merchandising, web sites, fan sites, VIP ticketing, e-commerce, sponsorships and related businesses) and artist management business (including serving in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer of FLMG). Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Chief Executive Officer and President of Live Nation shall have those powers and duties normally associated with the positions of President and Chief Executive Officer of entities comparable to Live Nation, including, without limitation, oversight and management of (A) Live Nation’s corporate and investor relations functions, (B) Live Nation’s live entertainment promotions and venue operations businesses, (C) Live Nation’s ticketing and digital/online businesses and (D) all other businesses and operating units of Live Nation, other than those specifically identified in the immediately preceding sentence. During the LN Employment Term, Executive and the Chief Executive Officer and President of Live Nation shall have shared responsibility for Live Nation’s business development, strategic decisions and overall policies.

 

(b) Live Nation shall cause Executive to be appointed or elected to the Live Nation Board as soon as practicable following the LN Effective Date. Thereafter, during the LN Employment Term, so long as Executive remains Executive Chairman of Live Nation, Executive shall be nominated by Live Nation to remain on the Live Nation Board, subject to the immediately succeeding sentence. During the LN Employment Term, in the event Executive’s employment with Live Nation ends at any time and for any reason, Executive agrees that, in the absence of an agreement with the Live Nation Board to the contrary, Executive will resign his position as a member of the Live Nation Board simultaneously with the termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation.

 

(c) During the LN Employment Term, Executive agrees to devote substantially all of Executive’s working time, attention and efforts to Live Nation and, for so long as Executive is employed by FLMG, to FLMG; provided, however, that nothing herein shall preclude Executive from accepting appointment to, or continuing to serve on, any board of directors or trustees of any business corporation or any charitable organization, subject to the prior approval of the Live Nation Board; provided, further, in each case, and in the aggregate, that such activities do not conflict or interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties under this Agreement or conflict with Executive’s obligations under (i) Exhibit C of this Agreement, (ii) Section 8 of the FLMG Employment Agreement, or (iii) Section 6.7 of the 2004 Agreement (as extended pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement and as further extended pursuant to the terms of this Agreement).

 

2



 

(d) Subject to paragraph (c) above, Executive agrees that during the LN Employment Term he shall perform his duties conscientiously and faithfully subject to the lawful directions of the Live Nation Board and the Chairman of the Board, and in accordance with each of Live Nation’s corporate governance and ethics guidelines, conflict of interests policies, and codes of conduct.

 

(e) During the LN Employment Term, Executive’s principal place of employment shall be FLMG’s headquarters currently located in Westwood, California or in any new headquarters for FLMG located in Beverly Hills, California or West Los Angeles, California.

 

3.              LN Effective Date

 

LN Effective Date” shall mean the date of consummation of the Merger; provided, however, that the LN Effective Date shall not occur if Executive’s employment with Ticketmaster terminates for any reason prior to consummation of the Merger. Live Nation’s obligations under this Agreement shall become effective upon the LN Effective Date and Executive and Ticketmaster acknowledge and agree that Live Nation shall have no obligations under this Agreement unless and until the consummation of the Merger occurs. For the avoidance of doubt, sections 2, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20(b) and 20(h) of this Agreement shall become effective solely upon the occurrence of the LN Effective Date and all other sections of this Agreement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement.

 

4.              LN Employment Term

 

LN Employment Term” shall mean the period from the LN Effective Date through June 8, 2014, unless Executive’s employment with Live Nation terminates prior to June 8, 2014 in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in which case “LN Employment Term” shall mean the period from the LN Effective Date through the date of termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Live Nation may terminate Executive’s employment with Live Nation at any time with or without Cause or upon Executive’s Disability. Executive may terminate Executive’s employment with Live Nation at any time with or without Good Reason. Executive’s employment with Live Nation shall terminate immediately upon Executive’s death.

 

5.              Closing Bonus

 

Subject to Executive’s employment with Ticketmaster and/or Live Nation on the LN Effective Date, Live Nation shall pay to Executive $2,000,000 in cash within three business days following the LN Effective Date.

 

6.              Live Nation Annual Bonus

 

For each fiscal year of Live Nation during the LN Employment Term with respect to which Executive is employed by Live Nation on the last day of such fiscal year (other than fiscal year 2009, with respect to which Executive shall have no entitlement to an Annual Bonus), Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus (“Annual Bonus”) based upon performance targets that are established by the Compensation Committee of the Live Nation Board and that are at least as favorable to Executive as those performance targets applicable to other senior executives of Live Nation; provided, however, that each Annual Bonus opportunity shall be structured such that Executive shall be entitled to $1,000,000 if Executive meets 90% of the applicable target, $2,000,000 if Executive meets 110% of the applicable target and an amount between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000 determined by straight line interpolation based upon performance levels between 90% of

 

3



 

the applicable target and 110% of the applicable target. To the extent earned, an Annual Bonus shall be paid after January 1 and not later than March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which such Annual Bonus is earned. In the event of a Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation during the LN Employment Term (other than a Termination of Executive’s Employment during fiscal year 2009) due to Executive’s death or Disability, by Live Nation without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason, Executive shall be eligible to receive an Annual Bonus for the full year in which Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation occurs based upon actual performance for the full year, such payment to be made in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence. Upon the LN Effective Date, Executive no longer shall be eligible for a discretionary bonus pursuant to the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement; provided, however, that Executive shall remain eligible for a discretionary bonus pursuant to the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement for the 2009 fiscal year regardless of when the Merger is consummated.

 

7.              Ticketmaster Option Grant

 

(a) On May 6, 2009, Ticketmaster granted to Executive an option (the “Stock Option”) to purchase 1,445,088 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, of Ticketmaster (“Ticketmaster Common Stock”), with a per share exercise price equal to $7.55 and a maximum term of ten years. In the event that Ticketmaster does not receive the Requisite Stockholder Approvals at the first meeting of Ticketmaster stockholders held after the date of this Agreement, Executive immediately shall forfeit the Stock Option. “Requisite Stockholder Approvals” means the requisite stockholder approvals (i) under the Nasdaq rules necessary to increase the maximum number of shares of Ticketmaster Common Stock available under the 2008 Ticketmaster Stock and Annual Incentive Plan (the “Ticketmaster Plan”) and the maximum number of shares of Ticketmaster Common Stock awardable to any individual under the Ticketmaster Plan, in each case in sufficient amounts to allow for all of the equity grants contemplated by this Agreement without exceeding applicable limits under the Ticketmaster Plan and (ii) necessary to qualify for the deductibility of payments to Executive for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Code”).

 

(b) Executive shall have the right to exercise the Stock Option, to the extent vested, on a net basis pursuant to Section 5(g)(iii) of the Ticketmaster Plan.

 

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this section 7, subject to Executive’s continued employment with Ticketmaster (prior to the LN Effective Date) and with Live Nation (on and after the LN Effective Date) through each applicable vesting date set forth below, the Stock Option shall vest as follows:

 

Vesting Date

 

Percentage of Stock Option That Vests

 

 

 

October 29, 2009

 

25% (rounded to the nearest whole share)

 

 

 

October 29, 2010

 

25% (rounded to the nearest whole share)

 

 

 

October 29, 2011

 

25% (rounded to the nearest whole share)

 

 

 

October 29, 2012

 

Remainder

 

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(d) The Stock Option shall vest in full (to the extent not previously forfeited) in the event of a termination of Executive’s employment (i) prior to the LN Effective Date, with Ticketmaster (A) by Ticketmaster without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or Disability), or (B) by Executive for Good Reason, in each case, irrespective of Executive’s employment status with FLMG, and (ii) on and after the LN Effective Date, with Live Nation (A) by Live Nation without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or Disability), or (B) by Executive for Good Reason. Upon any other termination of Executive’s employment with Ticketmaster prior to the LN Effective Date or any other termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation on or after the LN Effective Date, Executive shall forfeit any unvested portion of the Stock Option, in each case, irrespective of Executive’s employment status with FLMG.

 

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this section 7, any vested portion of the Stock Option will remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) May 5, 2019 and (ii) 90 days following termination of Executive’s employment with Ticketmaster (prior to the LN Effective Date) or termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation (on or after the LN Effective Date), in each case, irrespective of Executive’s employment status with FLMG.

 

(f) Upon a termination of Executive’s employment with Ticketmaster prior to the LN Effective Date (i) by Ticketmaster without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or Disability), (ii) by Executive for Good Reason or (iii) due to Executive’s death or Disability, in each case, irrespective of Executive’s employment status with FLMG, any vested portion of the Stock Option will remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) May 5, 2019 and (B) eighteen months following Executive’s termination of employment with Ticketmaster.

 

(g) Upon a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation on or after the LN Effective Date (i) by Live Nation without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or Disability), (ii) by Executive for Good Reason or (iii) due to Executive’s death or Disability, in each case, irrespective of Executive’s employment status with FLMG, any vested portion of the Stock Option will remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) May 5, 2019 and (B) the later of (1) eighteen months following Executive’s termination of employment with Live Nation and (2) the two-year anniversary of the Merger.

 

(h) Upon a Ticketmaster Change in Control occurring prior to the LN Effective Date, the Stock Option shall vest in full to the extent not previously forfeited if, and only if, Executive is employed by Ticketmaster on the date of the Ticketmaster Change in Control. Upon a Live Nation Change in Control occurring after the LN Effective Date, the Stock Option shall vest in full to the extent not previously forfeited if, and only if, Executive is employed by Live Nation on the date of the Live Nation Change in Control. Executive agrees that consummation of the Merger does not constitute a Ticketmaster Change in Control or a Live Nation Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement.

 

(i) The Stock Option has been granted under the Ticketmaster Plan. Except as otherwise provided in this section 7, the Stock Option will be subject to the terms set forth in the Ticketmaster Plan.

 

(j) Any portion of the Stock Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the Merger shall be converted into a Converted Live Nation Option (as defined in the Merger Agreement) pursuant to Section 2.3(a)(i) of the Merger Agreement and otherwise shall remain subject to the terms and conditions (including vesting conditions) applicable to the Stock Option in effect immediately prior to the Merger.

 

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(k) Ticketmaster shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit its stockholders in order to obtain the Requisite Stockholder Approvals at the first meeting of the Ticketmaster stockholders after the date of this Agreement, at which meeting Ticketmaster will submit for approval by Ticketmaster stockholders the matters contained in this Agreement which require the Requisite Stockholder Approvals (along with any other matters presented for approval by Ticketmaster stockholders at such meeting).

 

(l) For the avoidance of doubt, in no event will the vesting of the Stock Option be contingent upon the consummation of the Merger.

 

(m) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this section 7, in no event shall any portion of the Stock Option become exercisable unless and until Ticketmaster has obtained the Requisite Stockholder Approvals.

 

8.              Stock Growth RSU Grant

 

(a) On May 6, 2009, Ticketmaster granted to Executive an award of 252,890 restricted stock units corresponding to shares of Ticketmaster Common Stock (“Stock Growth RSUs”). In the event that Ticketmaster does not receive the Requisite Stockholder Approvals at the first meeting of Ticketmaster stockholders held after the date of this Agreement, Executive immediately shall forfeit the Stock Growth RSUs.

 

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section 8, subject to Executive’s continued employment with Ticketmaster (prior to the LN Effective Date) and with Live Nation (on and after the LN Effective Date) and through each applicable vesting date set forth below (the “Continued Employment Requirement”), the Stock Growth RSUs shall vest as follows:

 

Vesting Date

 

Percentage of Stock
Growth RSUs that Vests

 

 

 

The later to occur of (x) the first anniversary of the Merger and (y) the date that the average closing trading price for common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Live Nation (“Live Nation Common Stock”) (on the principal exchange on which it is traded) over any consecutive twelve month period commencing on or after the LN Effective Date equals or exceeds the product of (1) $14.45 and (2) the Exchange Ratio (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (such product, the “Milestone Price”) (the date contemplated by this clause (y), the (“Milestone Date”)).

 

25%
(rounded to the
nearest whole share)

 

 

 

The later to occur of (x) the second anniversary of the Merger and (y) the Milestone Date.

 

25%
(rounded to the
nearest whole share)

 

 

 

The later to occur of (x) the third anniversary of the Merger and (y) the Milestone Date.

 

25%
(rounded to the
nearest whole share)

 

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Vesting Date

 

Percentage of Stock
Growth RSUs that Vests

 

 

 

The later to occur of (x) the fourth anniversary of the Merger and (y) the Milestone Date.

 

Remainder

 

(c) The Continued Employment Requirement shall be deemed satisfied in the event of the Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation by Live Nation without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or Disability) following the LN Effective Date or the Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation by Executive for Good Reason following the LN Effective Date, and, in such event, unvested Stock Growth RSUs shall remain outstanding and eligible for vesting upon the occurrence of the Milestone Date (and without regard to the applicable anniversary of the Merger) until the later of (i) June 8, 2014 and (ii) the earlier of (A) two years following the date of the Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation and (B) May 6, 2021 (the later of clauses (i) and (ii), the “Outside Date”); if this first sentence of this paragraph (c) applies and the Milestone Date has not occurred prior to the Outside Date, Executive shall forfeit the Stock Growth RSUs on the Outside Date. Executive shall forfeit any unvested portion of the Stock Growth RSUs upon any other termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation following the LN Effective Date. Executive shall forfeit the Stock Growth RSUs upon any termination of Executive’s employment with Ticketmaster for any reason prior to the LN Effective Date.

 

(d) Upon a Live Nation Change in Control occurring after the LN Effective Date, the Stock Growth RSUs shall vest in full to the extent not previously forfeited if, and only if, Executive is employed by Live Nation on the date of the Live Nation Change in Control. Executive agrees that consummation of the Merger does not constitute a Live Nation Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement.

 

(e) Vested Stock Growth RSUs shall be settled in registered and unrestricted shares of Live Nation Common Stock (other than restrictions under applicable law) no later than the fifth business day following the date that such Stock Growth RSUs vest.

 

(f) The Stock Growth RSUs have been granted under the Ticketmaster Plan. Except as otherwise provided in this section 8, the Stock Growth RSUs will be subject to the terms set forth in the Ticketmaster Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, following the LN Effective Date, the Milestone Price shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to the penultimate sentence of Section 3(d) of the Ticketmaster Plan (it being understood that no adjustment shall be required as a result of the consummation of the Merger).

 

(g) Any Stock Growth RSUs that are outstanding immediately prior to the LN Effective Date shall be converted into Converted Live Nation Restricted Stock Units (as defined in the Merger Agreement) pursuant to Section 2.3(a)(ii) of the Merger Agreement and otherwise shall remain subject to the terms and conditions (including vesting conditions) applicable to the Stock Growth RSUs in effect immediately prior to the Merger.

 

(h) Executive immediately shall forfeit the Stock Growth RSUs in the event the Merger Agreement terminates without the Merger occurring. Executive immediately shall forfeit the Stock Growth RSUs in the event that the Milestone Date does not occur prior to May 6, 2021.

 

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(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this section 8, in no event shall any of the Stock Growth RSUs vest unless and until Ticketmaster has obtained the Requisite Stockholder Approvals.

 

9.              Merger Milestone RSU Grant

 

(a) On May 6, 2009, Ticketmaster granted to Executive an award of 144,509 restricted stock units corresponding to shares of Ticketmaster Common Stock (the “Merger Milestone RSUs”). In the event that Ticketmaster does not receive the Requisite Stockholder Approvals at the first meeting of Ticketmaster stockholders held after the date of this Agreement, Executive immediately shall forfeit the Merger Milestone RSUs.

 

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section 9, subject to Executive’s continued employment with Ticketmaster (prior to the LN Effective Date) and with Live Nation (on and after the LN Effective Date) through each vesting date and subject to the satisfaction of any one of the three performance goals set forth on Schedule I to this Agreement which the Compensation Committee of the Ticketmaster Board of Directors approved on May 6, 2009 (the “Performance Goals”), the Merger Milestone RSUs shall vest in equal annual installments on the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the Merger.

 

(c) Subject to the satisfaction of any one of the three Performance Goals, any unvested Merger Milestone RSUs shall vest in full in the event of a Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation by Live Nation without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or Disability) occurring after the LN Effective Date, or a Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation by Executive for Good Reason occurring after the LN Effective Date; provided, however, that if none of the Performance Goals has been satisfied at the time of the Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation, the Merger Milestone RSUs shall vest only if, and at such point after such Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation as, at least one of the Performance Goals has been satisfied. Upon any other termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation occurring after the LN Effective Date, Executive shall forfeit any unvested portion of the Merger Milestone RSUs. Executive shall forfeit the Merger Milestone RSUs upon any termination of Executive’s employment with Ticketmaster for any reason prior to the LN Effective Date.

 

(d) Upon a Live Nation Change in Control occurring after the LN Effective Date, any unvested Merger Milestone RSUs shall vest in full to the extent not previously forfeited if, and only if, Executive is an employee of Live Nation on the date of the Live Nation Change in Control. Executive agrees that consummation of the Merger shall not constitute a Live Nation Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement.

 

(e) Vested Merger Milestone RSUs shall be settled in registered and unrestricted shares of Live Nation Common Stock (other than restrictions under applicable law) no later than the fifth business day following the date that such Merger Milestone RSUs vest.

 

(f) The Merger Milestone RSUs have been granted under the Ticketmaster Plan. Except as otherwise provided in this section 9, the Merger Milestone RSUs will be subject to the terms set forth in the Ticketmaster Plan.

 

(g) Any Merger Milestone RSUs that are outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the Merger shall be converted into Converted Live Nation Restricted Stock Units (as defined in the Merger Agreement) pursuant to Section 2.3(a)(ii) of the Merger Agreement and otherwise shall remain subject to the terms and conditions (including

 

8



 

vesting conditions) applicable to the Merger Milestone RSUs in effect immediately prior to the Merger.

 

(h) Executive immediately shall forfeit the Merger Milestone RSUs if none of the three Performance Goals can be satisfied. Executive immediately shall forfeit the Merger Milestone RSUs in the event the Merger Agreement terminates without the Merger occurring.

 

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this section 9, in no event shall any of the Merger Milestone RSUs vest unless and until Ticketmaster has obtained the Requisite Stockholder Approvals.

 

10.       Additional Ticketmaster RSU Grant

 

(a) On May 6, 2009, Ticketmaster granted to Executive an award of 200,000 restricted stock units corresponding to shares of Ticketmaster Common Stock (the “Additional Ticketmaster RSUs”). In the event that Ticketmaster does not receive the Requisite Stockholder Approvals at the first meeting of Ticketmaster stockholders held after the date of this Agreement, Executive immediately shall forfeit the Additional Ticketmaster RSUs.

 

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section 10, subject to Executive’s continued employment with Ticketmaster or FLMG (prior to the LN Effective Date) and with Live Nation (on and after the LN Effective Date) through each vesting date and subject to the satisfaction of any one of the three Performance Goals, the Additional Ticketmaster RSUs shall vest in equal annual installments on May 6, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

 

(c) Subject to the satisfaction of any one of the three Performance Goals, the Additional Ticketmaster RSUs shall vest in full in the event of a Termination of Executive’s Employment (i) prior to the LN Effective Date, (A) with Ticketmaster (1) by Ticketmaster without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or Disability), or (2) by Executive for Good Reason, and (B) with FLMG (1) by FLMG without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or Disability), or (2) by Executive for Good Reason and (ii) following the LN Effective Date, with Live Nation (A) by Live Nation without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or Disability), or (B) by Executive for Good Reason; provided, however, that if none of the Performance Goals has been satisfied at the time of the Termination of Executive’s Employment, the Additional Ticketmaster RSUs shall vest only if, and at such point as, at least one of the Performance Goals has been satisfied. Upon any other termination of Executive’s employment, (x) with both Ticketmaster and FLMG prior to the LN Effective Date, or (y) with Live Nation on or after the LN Effective Date, Executive shall forfeit any unvested portion of the Additional Ticketmaster RSUs.

 

(d) Upon a Ticketmaster Change in Control occurring prior to the LN Effective Date, the Additional Ticketmaster RSUs shall vest in full to the extent not previously forfeited if, and only if, Executive is employed by Ticketmaster or FLMG on the date of the Ticketmaster Change in Control. Upon a Live Nation Change in Control occurring after the LN Effective Date, the Additional Ticketmaster RSUs shall vest in full to the extent not previously forfeited if, and only if, Executive is employed by Live Nation on the date of the Live Nation Change in Control. Executive agrees that consummation of the Merger does not constitute a Ticketmaster Change in Control or a Live Nation Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement.

 

9



 

(e) Vested Additional Ticketmaster RSUs shall be settled in (i) registered and unrestricted shares of Ticketmaster Common Stock (other than restrictions under applicable law) prior to the LN Effective Date, and (ii) registered and unrestricted shares of Live Nation Common Stock (other than restrictions under applicable law) on and after the LN Effective Date, in each case no later than the fifth business day following the date that such Additional Ticketmaster RSUs vest.

 

(f) The Additional Ticketmaster RSUs have been granted under the Ticketmaster Plan. Except as otherwise provided in this section 10, the Additional Ticketmaster RSUs will be subject to the terms set forth in the Ticketmaster Plan.

 

(g) Any Additional Ticketmaster RSUs that are outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the Merger shall be converted into Converted Live Nation Restricted Stock Units (as defined in the Merger Agreement) pursuant to Section 2.3(a)(ii) of the Merger Agreement and otherwise shall remain subject to the terms and conditions (including vesting conditions) applicable to the Additional Ticketmaster RSUs in effect immediately prior to the Merger.

 

(h) For the avoidance of doubt, in no event will the vesting of the Additional Ticketmaster RSUs be contingent upon the consummation of the Merger.

 

(i) Executive immediately shall forfeit the Additional Ticketmaster RSUs if none of the three Performance Goals can be satisfied.

 

(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this section 10, in no event shall any of the Additional Ticketmaster RSUs vest unless and until Ticketmaster has obtained the Requisite Stockholder Approvals.

 

11.       Ticketmaster Restricted Common Stock

 

(a) The Azoff Trust holds 1,000,000 shares of restricted Ticketmaster Common Stock granted pursuant to the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement (the “Restricted Ticketmaster Common Stock”), which neither Executive nor the Azoff Trust is permitted to transfer, sell, assign, exchange, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of unless and until the shares vest in accordance with their terms (collectively, the “Transfer Restrictions”). Any shares of Restricted Ticketmaster Common Stock that are outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the Merger shall be converted into a number of shares of restricted Live Nation Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.3(a)(iii) of the Merger Agreement (such shares, as converted, the “Live Nation Restricted Shares”) and otherwise shall remain subject to the terms and conditions (including vesting conditions and registration rights as set forth in the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement) applicable to the Restricted Ticketmaster Common Stock in effect immediately prior to the Merger, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section 11.

 

(b) Following the LN Effective Date, in the event of a Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation (i) by Live Nation without Cause, (ii) by Executive for Good Reason or (iii) due to Executive’s death or Disability, the Transfer Restrictions with respect to the Live Nation Restricted Shares shall lapse and the Live Nation Restricted Shares shall vest in full. Following the LN Effective Date, upon any other termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation, Executive shall forfeit the Live Nation Restricted Shares. Following the LN Effective Date, satisfaction of the service requirement with respect to the vesting of the Live Nation Restricted Shares shall be based on Executive’s employment with Live Nation.

 

10



 

(c) If (i) the Live Nation Restricted Shares vest and the Transfer Restrictions lapse (including by virtue of Live Nation’s unilateral determination) on a date following the LN Effective Date, and (ii) the product of (A) the number of Live Nation Restricted Shares and (B) the closing price of a share of Live Nation Common Stock (such price, subject to the last sentence of this paragraph (c), the “Measurement Price”) on the earlier of (x) October 29, 2013 and (y) the second anniversary of the date of Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation (or if there is no trading of Live Nation Common Stock on such date, the last preceding trading date of Live Nation Common Stock) (such date, the “Measurement Date”) (such product, the “Measurement Date Value”) is less than the Base Amount (as defined below), Executive shall become entitled to receive from Live Nation an amount equal to the difference obtained by subtracting the Measurement Date Value from the Base Amount (such difference, the “Settlement Amount”). Subject to paragraph (h) of this section 11, payment of the Settlement Amount, if any, shall be made, at the election of Live Nation, (1) in a number of shares of Live Nation Common Stock, the resale of which by Executive shall be registered on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or another available form, or which Executive may sell in reliance on Rule 144 under the Securities Act (rounded up to the nearest whole share), equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the portion of the Settlement Amount to be settled in shares of Live Nation Common Stock by the closing price of a share of Live Nation Common Stock on the Measurement Date (such shares, if any, the “Make Whole Shares,” and together with the Live Nation Restricted Shares, the “Price Protected Shares”), (2) an amount in cash equal to the Settlement Amount or (3) a combination of shares of Live Nation Common Stock (determined in accordance with clause (1)) and cash. Payment of the Settlement Amount, if any, shall be made on the earlier of November 1, 2013 and the third business day immediately following the two year anniversary of the date of Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation (such date, the “Payment Date”). In the event that Live Nation distributes cash or other assets in respect of the Live Nation Common Stock (other than payment of regular cash dividends, if any) after the LN Effective Date and prior to the Measurement Date, “Measurement Price” shall mean the closing price of a share of Live Nation Common Stock on the Measurement Date plus the value on the Measurement Date of all such distributions determined on a per share basis for each Live Nation Restricted Share.

 

(d) For each Price Protected Share that Executive sells following the LN Effective Date in “brokers’ transactions” (as such term is used in Rule 144 of the Securities Act) during the Sale Period, Executive shall be entitled to receive from Live Nation an amount equal to the positive difference, if any, obtained by subtracting the average sale price of all Price Protected Shares sold during the Sale Period from the Measurement Price. This paragraph (d) shall apply only if and to the extent that Executive provides to Live Nation, within a reasonable period of time following the Sale Period and prior to November 3, 2014, true and complete brokerage statements (or similarly reliable statements from a bona fide institution) evidencing that such sales were made in brokers’ transactions and indicating the number of Price Protected Shares that Executive sold during the Sale Period and the per share price of each such sale. For purposes of this paragraph (d) “Sale Period” means the first 10 trading days following the Payment Date during which Executive is not prohibited by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or by Live Nation from selling shares of Live Nation Common Stock (which trading days may be non-consecutive). Subject to paragraph (h) of this section 11, any payment pursuant to this paragraph (d) shall be made at the election of Live Nation, (1) in a number of shares of Live Nation Common Stock, the resale of which by Executive shall be registered on Form S-3 under the Securities Act or another available form, or which Executive may sell in reliance on Rule 144 under the Securities Act (rounded up to the nearest whole share) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the portion of the payment to be settled in shares of Live Nation

 

11



 

Common Stock by the closing price of a share of Live Nation Common Stock on November 3, 2014 (or if there is no trading of Live Nation Common Stock on such date, the last preceding trading day of Live Nation Common Stock), (2) in cash, or (3) a combination of shares of Live Nation Common Stock (determined in accordance with clause (1)) and cash. Any payment pursuant to this paragraph (d) shall be made on November 5, 2014, with interest on the cash portion (if any) determined as of the last day of the Sale Period, for the period from and including the last day of the Sale Period, to and including the date of payment, such interest to be calculated at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code.

 

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this section 11, none of paragraphs (c) or (d) of this section 11 shall apply if the Live Nation Restricted Shares vest and the Transfer Restrictions applicable to the Live Nation Restricted Shares lapse, and following such lapse and prior to the Measurement Date, the product of (i) the number of Live Nation Restricted Shares and (ii) the closing price of a share of Live Nation Common Stock equals or exceeds the Base Amount on one or more dates during which Executive is not prohibited by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or by Live Nation from selling all of the Live Nation Restricted Shares, whether on a single day or during the course of multiple days. Any calculation pursuant to this paragraph (e) shall take into account the value of all distributions of cash or other assets in respect of Live Nation Common Stock (other than payment of regular cash dividends, if any) after the LN Effective Date and prior to the applicable calculation date.

 

(f) For purposes of this section 11, (i) “Base Amount” means the difference obtained by subtracting (A) the aggregate amount of all Excess Proceeds from (B) $15 million and (ii) “Excess Proceeds” means, with respect to each Live Nation Restricted Share, if any, sold or disposed of prior to the Measurement Date, the excess of the value of (A) the consideration received in respect of the sale or disposition of such share over (B) the Measurement Price.

 

(g) In the event (i) that Live Nation is succeeded by another company whose shares are publicly listed on a national securities exchange or (ii) of any fundamental change in capitalization of Live Nation, this section 11 shall apply mutatis mutandis with appropriate adjustments to preserve the economic result intended by this section 11.

 

(h) In the event that Live Nation registers the resale of shares by Executive as contemplated by paragraph (c) or (d) of this section 11, Executive reasonably shall cooperate with Live Nation to facilitate such registration. To the extent that Executive cannot sell shares of Live Nation Common Stock in reliance on Rule 144 under the Securities Act or pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act or another available form (other than due to any blackout or similar period contemplated by Executive’s registration rights) and provided that Executive shall have complied with his obligations in the preceding sentence, Live Nation may not use shares of Live Nation Common Stock to satisfy its obligations pursuant to paragraph (c) or (d) of this section 11.

 

12.       Exchange of Ticketmaster Restricted Preferred Stock

 

(a) The Azoff Trust holds 1,750,000 shares of restricted series A convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share of Ticketmaster (“Ticketmaster Series A Preferred Stock”).

 

(b) Subject to the occurrence of the Merger, Ticketmaster and Executive agree that immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger, Ticketmaster shall redeem any then

 

12



 

outstanding shares of Ticketmaster Series A Preferred Stock in exchange for a note in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Note”).

 

13.       FLMG Equity

 

(a) Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement of FLMG (as amended from time to time (including pursuant to this section 13 and section 20(g) of this Agreement), the “FSA”).

 

(b) Subject to the occurrence of the LN Effective Date, the Azoff Trust shall have the right, exercisable by the irrevocable delivery of written notice by the Azoff Trust to Live Nation at any time during the sixty (60) day period following October 29, 2014, to sell to Live Nation, and cause Live Nation to buy from the Azoff Trust, 100% of the Azoff Trust’s Shares (as defined in the FSA) as of such date. The purchase price of the Shares (as defined in the FSA), if any, purchased pursuant to this section 13(b) and any other procedures relating to the purchase of Shares (as defined in the FSA) pursuant to this section 13(b) shall be governed by Section 3.4(c)-(e) of the FSA (replacing any references to “FLMG Holdings” with “Live Nation”); provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 3.4(c) of the FSA, Selected Fair Value (as defined in the FSA) shall be determined as of the date of delivery of the notice of exercise.

 

(c) In the event of a Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation occurring after the LN Effective Date, by Live Nation without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or Disability), or by Executive for Good Reason, the Azoff Trust shall have the right, exercisable by the irrevocable delivery of written notice by the Azoff Trust to Live Nation at any time during the ten (10) day period following the date of such Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation to require Live Nation to buy from the Azoff Trust, 50% of the Azoff Trust’s Shares (as defined in the FSA) as of such date. The purchase price of the Shares (as defined in the FSA), if any, purchased pursuant to this section 13(c) and any other procedures relating to the purchase of Shares (as defined in the FSA) pursuant to this section 13(c) shall be governed by Section 3.4(c)-(e) of the FSA (replacing any references to “FLMG Holdings” with “Live Nation”); provided, however, that (x) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 3.4(c) of the FSA, Selected Fair Value (as defined in the FSA) shall be determined as of the date of delivery of the notice of exercise and (y) the timing of any such purchase shall be as follows:

 

(i) if the Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation occurs prior to March 31, 2010, the Azoff Trust’s Shares (as defined in the FSA) purchased pursuant to this section 13(c) shall be purchased in equal monthly installments over twenty-four months beginning in the first month following the final determination of Selected Fair Value (as defined in the FSA), each such monthly installment to be paid on the last business day of the month;

 

(ii) if the Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation occurs on or after March 31, 2010 and prior to December 31, 2011, the Azoff Trust’s Shares (as defined in the FSA) purchased pursuant to this section 13(c) shall be purchased in equal monthly installments over the number of months from and including the first full month following the final determination of Selected Fair Value (as defined in the FSA) through and including March 31, 2012, each such monthly installment to be paid on the last business day of the month; and

 

(iii) if the Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation occurs on or after December 31, 2011, the Azoff Trust’s Shares (as defined in the FSA) purchased

 

13



 

pursuant to this section 13(c) shall be purchased in a lump sum not later than the later to occur of the 30th day following (A) the date of receipt of the relevant exercise notice, and (B) the final determination of Selected Fair Value (as defined in the FSA);

 

provided, further, however, that if the approval of any governmental authority is imposed by or required under any legal requirement with respect to the consummation of any purchase and sale of the Azoff Trust’s Shares (as defined in the FSA), the closing with respect to such purchase and sale shall be deferred to a date not later than the fifth business day following the date the last such approval shall have been obtained or occurred.

 

(d) In the event of a Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation occurring after the LN Effective Date, by Live Nation without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or Disability), or by Executive for Good Reason, on the second anniversary of such Termination of Executive’s Employment, the Azoff Trust shall have the right, exercisable by the irrevocable delivery of written notice by the Azoff Trust to Live Nation at any time during the ten (10) day period following the second anniversary of the date of such Termination of Executive’s Employment to require Live Nation to buy from the Azoff Trust, up to 100% of the Azoff Trust’s Shares (as defined in the FSA) as of such date. The purchase price of the Shares (as defined in the FSA), if any, purchased pursuant to this section 13(d) and any other procedures relating to the purchase of Shares (as defined in the FSA) pursuant to this section 13(d) shall be governed by Section 3.4(c)-(e) of the FSA (replacing any references to “FLMG Holdings” with “Live Nation”); provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 3.4(c) of the FSA, Selected Fair Value (as defined in the FSA) shall be determined as of the date of delivery of the notice of exercise.

 

(e) For purposes of the FSA, (i) with respect to the transfers contemplated by paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this section 13, Live Nation shall constitute a Permitted Transferee (as defined in the FSA) of the Azoff Trust, and (ii) the transfers contemplated by paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this section 13, (A) will not entitle Madison Square Garden, L.P. (“MSG”) to exercise any rights pursuant to Section 3.4(b)(ii) of the FSA and (B) will not entitle MSG or any other party to exercise any rights pursuant to Section 3.2 of the FSA. MSG has consented in writing to the changes to the FSA contemplated by this paragraph (e); accordingly, this paragraph (e) shall constitute an amendment to the FSA.

 

(f) Neither Live Nation nor any of its affiliates shall have any obligation to make any payment pursuant to this section 13, unless (i) Executive has complied with his obligations pursuant to (A) Section 6.7 of the 2004 Agreement (as extended pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement and as further extended pursuant to the terms of this Agreement), (B) Exhibit C to this Agreement and (C) Section 8 of the FLMG Employment Agreement and (ii) immediately prior to each such payment, Executive reaffirms his obligations pursuant to (A) Section 6.7 of the 2004 Agreement (as extended pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement and as further extended pursuant to the terms of this Agreement), (B) Exhibit C to this Agreement and (C) Section 8 of the FLMG Employment Agreement.

 

14.       Live Nation Severance

 

(a) In the event of a Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation occurring after the LN Effective Date, (i) by Live Nation without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or Disability), or (ii) by Executive for Good Reason, Executive will be entitled to payment by Live Nation of a cash lump sum equal to the LN Net Amount, such

 

14



 

payment to be made on the thirtieth day following the Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation.

 

(b) For purposes of this section 14:

 

(i) “Applicable Multiplier” means the greater of (A) three, and (B) the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the number of days from and including the date of Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation through and including June 8, 2014, by (2) 365.

 

(ii) “FLMG Amount” means the aggregate amount of all payments, if any, that Executive is entitled to receive from FLMG pursuant to Section 7(c)(ii)(B) of the FLMG Employment Agreement.

 

(ii) “LN Amount” means the product of (A) the Applicable Multiplier and (B) the Severance Inputs.

 

(iii) “LN Net Amount” means (A) the difference obtained by subtracting (1) the FLMG Amount from (2) the LN Amount, if such difference is a positive number or (B) zero, if such difference is not a positive number.

 

(iv) “Severance Inputs” means the sum of (A) the FLMG base salary on the date of this Agreement ($2,000,000), plus (B) the product of (1) two and (2) the amount of the Annual Bonus paid or payable in respect of the fiscal year immediately prior to the year in which the Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation occurs (or, if such Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation occurs prior to the first time that the compensation committee (or similar committee) of the Live Nation Board determines the amount of an Annual Bonus, $1.5 million).

 

In no event shall Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amount payable to Executive pursuant to this section 14, and such amount shall not be reduced whether or not Executive obtains other employment.

 

15.       Certain Defined Terms

 

Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, capitalized terms used in this Agreement that are not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in Exhibit B to this Agreement and Exhibit B to this Agreement hereby is incorporated by reference into this Agreement as if fully set forth in this Agreement.

 

16.       Restrictive Covenants

 

(a) Executive acknowledges and reaffirms Executive’s obligations under Section 6.7 of the 2004 Agreement, as modified pursuant to Section 9.5 of the Stock Purchase Agreement (which obligations, as modified by this Agreement, are incorporated by reference into this Agreement as if fully set forth in this Agreement); provided, that, in exchange for good and valuable consideration, including payment of the purchase price of the purchased Shares (as defined in the FSA), pursuant to section 13 of this Agreement, effective on the LN Effective Date, Executive’s obligations pursuant to Section 6.7 of the 2004 Agreement shall apply until the latest of (i) June 8, 2012, (ii) the one year anniversary of the date of Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation, and (iii) the later of (A) the latest date that the Azoff Trust has the right to exercise a put pursuant to section 13 of this

 

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Agreement and (B) the two year anniversary of the latest date that the Azoff Trust exercises any rights pursuant to section 13 of this Agreement.

 

(b) Effective on the LN Effective Date, Executive shall be subject to the restrictive covenants set forth in Exhibit C to this Agreement and Exhibit C to this Agreement hereby is incorporated by reference into this Agreement as if fully set forth in this Agreement.

 

(c) Effective on the LN Effective Date, if (i) (A) Live Nation fails to make payment in full when due in respect of its obligation under section 13 or section 14 of this Agreement or (B) FLMG fails to make any payment in full when due under Section 7(c)(ii)(B) of the FLMG Employment Agreement and (ii) Executive provides written notice of such failure to Live Nation and (iii) Live Nation or FLMG, as applicable, fails to cure such non-payment within 30 days of Live Nation’s receipt of such notice, then each of (x) Section 6.7(c) of the 2004 Agreement, (y) Section (c) of Exhibit C to this Agreement and (z) clauses (ii) and (iv) of the Section 8 Activities (as defined in the FLMG Employment Agreement) shall cease to apply; provided, however, that this paragraph (c) shall not apply if Live Nation has not satisfied its obligations due to Executive’s failure to satisfy the Release Conditions (as defined below) or due to Executive’s failure to satisfy his obligations pursuant to section 16(a) of this Agreement.

 

17.       Release of Claims

 

Each of (a) the payment of the Annual Bonus contemplated by the second to last sentence of section 6 of this Agreement, (b) the accelerated vesting of the Stock Option contemplated by the first sentence of section 7(d) of this Agreement, (c) the deemed satisfaction of the Continued Employment Requirement contemplated by the first sentence of section 8(c) of this Agreement, (d) the accelerated vesting of the Merger Milestone RSUs contemplated by the first sentence of section 9(c) of this Agreement, (e) the accelerated vesting of the Additional Ticketmaster RSUs contemplated by the first sentence of section 10(c) of this Agreement, (f) payment of the LN Net Amount contemplated by section 14 of this Agreement and (g) the exercise by the Azoff Trust of the rights pursuant to section 13(c) and (d) of this Agreement shall be subject to (x) Executive’s execution and delivery to Ticketmaster (prior to the LN Effective Date) or Live Nation (on and after the LN Effective Date) of a release of claims in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Executive Release”) within twenty-one days of (1) the date of termination of Executive’s employment with Ticketmaster prior to the LN Effective Date or (2) the date of Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation on or after the LN Effective Date and (y) Executive’s non-revocation of the Executive Release for seven days after execution and delivery to Ticketmaster (prior to the LN Effective Date) or Live Nation (on and after the LN Effective Date) of the Executive Release (clauses (x) and (y) together, the “Release Conditions”). Following satisfaction of the Release Conditions, Ticketmaster (prior to the LN Effective Date) or Live Nation (on and after the LN Effective Date) shall execute a release of claims in favor of Executive substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “Company Release”). The Executive Release shall not be effective unless and until Ticketmaster (prior to the LN Effective Date) or Live Nation (on and after the LN Effective Date) executes the Company Release. For the avoidance of doubt, the execution or non-execution of the Company Release shall not affect whether or not the Release Conditions have been satisfied.

 

18.       FLMG Employment Agreement

 

The FLMG Employment Agreement shall remain in effect unless and until terminated in accordance with the terms of the FLMG Employment Agreement. Executive will continue

 

16



 

to receive base salary and annual bonuses under the FLMG Employment Agreement, subject to, and in accordance with, its terms.

 

19.       Ticketmaster Employment Agreement

 

(a) Effective on the LN Effective Date, the provisions in the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement under the heading “Position” automatically shall be deleted in their entirety without further action so that they cease to have any effect, it being understood that on and after the LN Effective Date Executive’s position with Live Nation shall be governed by section 2 of this Agreement.

 

(b) Effective on the LN Effective Date, any reference in the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement to a termination of Executive’s employment with Ticketmaster shall mean a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation and references in the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement to the terms “Good Reason,” “Cause” and “Disability,” insofar as they apply to employment with Ticketmaster, (i) shall apply to employment with Live Nation, (ii) shall have the meanings set forth in Exhibit B to this Agreement with respect to Live Nation and (iii) no longer shall be defined by reference to Exhibit A of the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement.

 

20.       Miscellaneous

 

(a) Executive acknowledges and agrees that neither the consummation of the Merger nor any of the management arrangements, including position(s), authority, duties or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement will constitute Good Reason (as defined in the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement) under the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement or Good Reason (as defined in the FLMG Employment Agreement) under the FLMG Employment Agreement or Good Reason under this Agreement.

 

(b) For the avoidance of doubt, (i) on and after the LN Effective Date, Executive shall be an employee of Live Nation and no longer shall be an employee of Ticketmaster, (ii) Executive acknowledges and agrees that the change in Executive’s employment status resulting from the occurrence of the LN Effective Date shall not constitute a termination of Executive’s employment with Ticketmaster for any purpose under the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement or this Agreement, and (iii) on and after the LN Effective Date, Executive no longer may experience a termination of employment with Ticketmaster for any purpose under the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement or this Agreement.

 

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each of Ticketmaster, Live Nation, FLMG and FLMG Holdings Corp. (as applicable) may withhold from any amounts payable or benefits provided under this Agreement any Federal, state, and local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

 

(d) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

 

(e) This Agreement, and all of Executive’s rights and duties under this Agreement, shall not be assignable or delegable by Executive. Any purported assignment or delegation by Executive in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void ab initio and of no force and effect. This Agreement may be assigned by Ticketmaster (prior to the Merger) or Live Nation (following the Merger) to a person or entity that is an affiliate or a successor in interest to substantially all of the business operations of Ticketmaster (prior to the Merger)

 

17



 

or Live Nation (following the Merger). Upon such assignment, the rights and obligations of Ticketmaster and Live Nation under this Agreement shall become the rights and obligations of such affiliate or successor person or entity.

 

(f) Prior to the LN Effective Date, a termination of Executive’s employment with Ticketmaster shall not constitute an automatic termination of Executive’s employment with FLMG and a termination of Executive’s employment with FLMG shall not constitute an automatic termination of employment with Ticketmaster, it being understood that it is expressly contemplated by the parties that Executive may experience a termination of employment at one such entity while remaining employed by the other such entity. On and after the LN Effective Date, Executive’s employment with Live Nation will be treated as a single employment relationship with Live Nation as a consolidated entity, including FLMG, and a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation shall constitute a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation as a consolidated entity, including FLMG. Accordingly, on and after the LN Effective Date, (i) a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation by Live Nation without Cause shall constitute a termination of Executive’s employment with FLMG by FLMG without Cause for purposes of the FLMG Employment Agreement, (ii) a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation by Live Nation for Cause shall constitute a termination of Executive’s employment with FLMG by FLMG for Cause for purposes of the FLMG Employment Agreement, (iii) a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation by Executive for Good Reason shall constitute a termination of Executive’s employment with FLMG by Executive for Good Reason for purposes of the FLMG Employment Agreement, (iv) a voluntary termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation by Executive without Good Reason shall constitute a voluntary termination of Executive’s employment with FLMG by Executive without Good Reason for purposes of the FLMG Employment Agreement, (v) a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation due to Executive’s death shall constitute a termination of Executive’s employment with FLMG due to Executive’s death for purposes of the FLMG Employment Agreement, and (vi) a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation due to Executive’s Disability shall constitute a termination of Executive’s employment with FLMG due to Executive’s Disability for purposes of the FLMG Employment Agreement.

 

(g) MSG has consented in writing to the changes to the FSA contemplated by this paragraph (g); accordingly, upon the occurrence of the LN Effective Date, Section 3.4(d)(ii) of the FSA shall be amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

Alternatively, in the case of FLMG Holdings, FLMG Holdings may in its discretion elect to pay all or a portion of the Put/Call Purchase Price payable by FLMG Holdings in freely transferable (either pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 or another suitable registration form for the issuance by Live Nation to the Put/Call Seller, or pursuant to a resale prospectus on Form S-3 or similar form) listed shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share of Live Nation, Inc. (the “Live Nation Common Stock”) with a Live Nation Common Stock fair market value equal to the Put/Call Purchase Price payable by FLMG Holdings (or, if applicable, the portion of the Put/Call Purchase Price payable by FLMG Holdings being paid with shares of Live Nation Common Stock). For purposes of this Agreement, the “Live Nation Common Stock fair market value” shall be equal, on the date of the closing, to the average of the last reported sales prices over the ten (10) trading day period ending on the day immediately prior to the date of the closing, during regular trading hours, of the Live Nation Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (or, if the Live Nation Common Stock is listed on a different securities exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system

 

18



 

with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Live Nation Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading). In the event that any portion of the Put/Call Purchase Price payable by FLMG Holdings is paid in Live Nation Common Stock pursuant to this Section 3.4(d)(ii) and the Put/Call Seller’s ability to resell the shares of Live Nation Common Stock during the ten (10) day period following their delivery pursuant to this Section 3.4(d)(ii) would be limited or restricted in any fashion other than by actions of the Put/Call Seller, including as a result of any standstill agreement, blackout period, failure of Live Nation to be timely in its filings under applicable securities laws or regulations, restrictions imposed by Live Nation on sales pursuant to any registration statement, cessation of trading in the Live Nation Common Stock or generally, failure of Live Nation to retain the listing of Live Nation Common Stock on a national securities exchange, or any similar restriction, then the payment in question shall be in cash rather than in Live Nation Common Stock. In the event that Live Nation, Inc. is succeeded by another company whose shares are publicly listed on a national securities exchange, this clause (ii) shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to such successor company and such successor company’s shares.

 

(h) Subject to the occurrence of the LN Effective Date, Live Nation shall indemnify, defend and hold Executive harmless for any claims, costs, liabilities, expenses and judgments (including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees and costs) arising from, in connection with or as a result of any acts and omissions in Executive’s capacity as an officer, director and/or employee of Live Nation and/or any of its subsidiaries to the maximum extent that Live Nation or such subsidiary, as applicable, would be permitted under applicable law to so indemnify Executive, including the advancement of fees and expenses. This paragraph (h) shall survive the termination or expiration of Executive’s employment and this Agreement.

 

21.       Governing Law

 

Except as set forth in the immediately succeeding sentence, this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without reference to principles of conflict of laws and the parties hereto irrevocably agree to submit to the jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of California, in any action or proceeding brought with respect to or in connection with this Agreement. The Ticketmaster Series A Preferred Stock and the shares of Restricted Ticketmaster Common Stock granted pursuant to the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of, the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflicts of laws and the parties hereto irrevocably agree to submit to the jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of Delaware, in any action or proceeding brought with respect to or in connection with such matters.

 

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22.       Waiver; Modification

 

Failure by any party to this Agreement to insist upon strict compliance with any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof shall not be deemed a waiver of such term, covenant, or condition, nor shall any waiver or relinquishment of, or failure to insist upon strict compliance with, any right or power under this Agreement at any one or more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right or power at any other time or times. This Agreement shall not be modified in any respect except by a writing executed by (a) Executive, on the one hand, and (b) (i) Ticketmaster (prior to the LN Effective Date) or (ii) Live Nation (on or after the LN Effective Date).

 

23.       Notices

 

All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

If to Executive:

 

At the most recent address on file for Executive (a) at Ticketmaster prior to the LN Effective Date and (b) at Live Nation on and after the LN Effective Date.

 

If to Ticketmaster:

 

Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc.
8800 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Phone:  (310) 360-3300
Facsimile:  (310) 360-3733
Attention:  General Counsel

 

If to Live Nation:

 

Live Nation, Inc.
9348 Civic Center Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone:  (310) 867-7000
Facsimile:  (310) 867-7158
Attention:  General Counsel

 

or to such other address as a party shall have furnished to the other parties in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.

 

24.       Section 409A of the Code

 

(a) It is intended that this Agreement shall comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury regulations relating thereto, or an exemption to Section 409A of the Code. Any payments that qualify for the “short-term deferral” exception or another exception under Section 409A of the Code shall be paid under the applicable exception. For purposes of the limitations on nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, each payment of compensation under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment of compensation for purposes of applying the Section 409A

 

20



 

of the Code deferral election rules and the exclusion under Section 409A of the Code for certain short-term deferral amounts. All payments of deferred compensation to be made upon a termination of employment under this Agreement may be made only upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A of the Code. In no event may Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment under this Agreement.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all (i) reimbursements and (ii) in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, including, where applicable, the requirement that (w) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during Executive’s lifetime (or during a shorter period of time specified in this Agreement); (x) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in kind benefits provided, during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in kind benefits to be provided, in any other calendar year; (y) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made no later than the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred; and (z) the right to reimbursement or in kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if Executive is considered a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company as in effect on the date of termination), any payment that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code that is otherwise due to Executive under this Agreement during the six (6) month period following his separation from service (as determined in accordance with Section 409A of the Code) on account of his separation from service shall be accumulated and paid to Executive on the first business day of the seventh month following his separation from service (the “Delayed Payment Date”). If Executive dies during the postponement period, the amounts and entitlements delayed on account of Section 409A of the Code shall be paid to the personal representative of his estate on the first to occur of the Delayed Payment Date or thirty (30) days after the date of Executive’s death.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, (i) Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. has caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer, (ii) Irving Azoff has executed and delivered this Agreement, and (iii) the Azoff Family Trust has caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized Co-Trustee, each as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

TICKETMASTER ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Chris Riley

 

Name: Chris Riley

 

Title: General Counsel, Secretary and SVP

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Irving Azoff

 

IRVING AZOFF

 

 

 

 

 

AZOFF FAMILY TRUST OF 1997

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Irving Azoff

 

Name: Irving Azoff

 

Title: Co-Trustee

 

 

 

 

Consented to:

 

 

 

FLMG HOLDINGS CORP.

 

 

 

/s/ Chris Riley

 

Name: Chris Riley

 

Title: General Counsel, Secretary and SVP

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT]

 



 

Exhibit A

 

FORM OF NOTE

 

[DATE]

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Merger, Payee, Executive and Maker have agreed that Maker shall redeem any and all of the Payee Preferred Stock and all accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon through the date of this Note for this Note.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.          (a) FOR VALUE RECEIVED, subject to satisfaction of the Continued Employment Requirement through each applicable Vesting Date, and subject to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 1, on the first day of each month commencing on [January 1, 2010](1) through and including October 1, 2013 (each such date, a “Vesting Date”), this note (the “Note”) will vest with respect to the “Monthly Installment Amount” corresponding to the applicable Vesting Date, each as set forth on Annex A to this Note and Maker shall pay to the order of Payee, on the applicable Vesting Date (or, if the applicable Vesting Date is not a Business Day, on the first Business Day thereafter), the “Monthly Installment Amount” corresponding to the applicable Vesting Date, each as set forth on Annex A to this Note.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Note, upon a Qualifying Termination or an Event of Default on or prior to October 1, 2013, the Payout Amount immediately shall vest and Maker shall pay the Payout Amount in a lump sum (i) in the event of a Qualifying Termination, within five Business Days of Executive’s Qualifying Termination, or (ii) in the event of an Event of Default, within five Business Days of the Event of Default. Payment of the Payout Amount pursuant to this Section 1(b) shall satisfy fully Maker’s obligations under this Note and this Note shall be cancelled upon payment of the Payout Amount pursuant to this Section 1(b). For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that a Qualifying Termination or Event of Default occurs on a Vesting Date, Payee shall not be entitled to the “Monthly Installment Amount” corresponding to such Vesting Date, each as set forth on Annex A to this Note.

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Note, upon any termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation by Live Nation for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, Executive immediately shall forfeit this Note, this Note immediately shall be cancelled and Executive immediately shall forfeit any then unpaid “Monthly Installment Amount” and “Unpaid Amount,” each as set forth on Annex A to this Note. For purposes of this Section 1(c), “Cause” shall have the meaning set forth in Exhibit B to the Live Nation Employment Agreement.

 


(1) Note:  If the Note issuance date occurs after January 1, 2010, insert first day of first month after the Note issuance date. Payment schedule will provide that the payment on the first day of the first month after the Note issuance date will include the “Monthly Installment Amount” scheduled for that date as well as the “Monthly Installment Amount” with respect to any Vesting Date  that elapsed after December 31, 2009 through the Note issuance date.

 



 

(d) Any payments due under this Note shall be made by wire transfer to such bank account of Payee as Payee may from time to time designate, in lawful money of the United States of America in same day funds.

 

2.          Certain Definitions. As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

(a) “Business Day” shall mean any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed.

 

(b) “Continued Employment Requirement” means Executive’s continued employment with Live Nation as a senior executive officer of Live Nation or as a senior executive officer of FLMG.

 

(c) “Event of Default” means (i) the first date on which the Monthly Installment Amounts corresponding to at least two Vesting Dates that have elapsed remain unpaid in full (i.e., not fully paid) (such unpaid amounts, “Default Amounts”); or (ii) Maker has instituted or consented to the institution of any proceeding under the United States Bankruptcy Code or under any other bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency law or other law for the relief of debtors and affecting the rights of creditors generally from time to time in effect, or any such proceeding is instituted without the consent of Maker and such proceeding continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or (iii) Maker has applied for or consented to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, intervenor, custodian or liquidator of it or all or a substantial part of its assets; or (iv) Maker has made a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (v) Maker has a receiver, trustee, intervenor, custodian or liquidator appointed in an involuntary proceeding for it or all or a substantial part of its assets and such proceeding continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding.

 

(d) “Executive” means Irving Azoff.

 

(e) “FLMG” means Front Line Management Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

(f) “Live Nation” means Live Nation, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

(g) “Live Nation Employment Agreement” means that certain Employment Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2009, by and among Executive, Maker, Payee and, following the Merger, Live Nation, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

(h) “Maker” means Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

(i) “Merger” has the meaning given such term in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 10, 2009, among Maker, Live Nation and, from and after its accession to such agreement, a Delaware limited liability company to be formed by Live Nation, pursuant to which following such Merger Maker shall become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Live Nation.

 

(j) “Payee” means  the Azoff Family Trust of 1997, dated May 27, 1997, as amended.

 

A-2



 

(k) “Payee Preferred Stock” means the 1,750,000 shares of restricted Series A Preferred granted to Payee on October 29, 2008.

 

(l) “Payout Amount” means:(2)

 

(i) [if the Qualifying Termination or Event of Default giving rise to a payment obligation pursuant to Section 1(b) occurs on or after January 2, 2010:] an amount equal to the “Unpaid Amount” corresponding to the Vesting Date (each as set forth on Annex A to this Note) immediately preceding the date of the Qualifying Termination or Event of Default (as applicable) (provided, that, with respect to an Event of Default, such amount will also include any Default Amounts), plus accrued interest on such amount from such Vesting Date to the payment date, payable at a rate of 3% per annum computed on the basis of a 365 day year and paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day); or

 

(ii) if the Qualifying Termination or Event of Default giving rise to a payment obligation pursuant to Section 1(b) occurs prior to January 2, 2010: an amount equal to $[      ],(3) plus accrued interest on such amount, from the issuance date of this Note to the payment date, payable at a rate of 3% per annum computed on the basis of a 365 day year and paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

 

(m) “Qualifying Termination” means a Termination of Executive’s Employment with Live Nation by Live Nation without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason or due to death or Disability. For purposes of this Section 2(m), “Cause,” “Good Reason,” “Disability” and “Termination of Executive’s Employment” shall have the meanings set forth in Exhibit B to the Live Nation Employment Agreement.

 

(n) “Series A Preferred Stock” means series A convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, of Maker.

 

3.          Certain Transactions. If (a) all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Live Nation are converted into cash (pursuant to a sale transaction or otherwise) and (b) this Note remains outstanding, Maker will cause to be placed in trust or escrow for the benefit of Payee an amount in cash or government securities adequate to make payment to Payee of any then remaining Monthly Installment Amounts when due in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of this Note.

 

4.          Representations and Warranties. Maker represents and warrants to Payee that:

 


(2) Note: If the Note issuance date occurs on or after January 2, 2010, delete prong (ii) of the definition and eliminate the bracketed language in prong (i).

 

(3) Note: Insert amount equal to $35,184,110 ($35 million plus first PIK) plus additional interest from 1/1/2009 through the Note issuance date payable at a rate of 3% per annum computed on the basis of a 365 day year (including the first day but excluding the last day). For example, if the Note issuance date occurs on November 1, 2009, insert $36,063,231.

 

A-3



 

(a) Maker is a duly organized and validly existing corporation, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization;

 

(b) the execution, delivery and performance by Maker of this Note does not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or the organizational documents of Maker or of any agreement, judgment, order or other instrument binding on Maker and will not result in the creation or imposition of any lien on any asset of Maker; and

 

(c) the execution, delivery and performance by Maker of this Note has been duly authorized by all required corporate action and this Note is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Maker, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

5.          Assignments; Restrictions on Transfer. This Note shall be binding upon Maker and its successors and assigns and is for the benefit of Payee and its successors and assigns, except that, other than by operation of law (including pursuant to the Merger), Maker may not assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations under this Note without Payee’s prior written consent. No sale, offer, assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance or other disposition, whether by merger, operation of law or otherwise, of this Note or any interest therein by Payee shall be permitted.

 

6.          Certain Tax Matters. Maker, Executive and Payee agree to treat, for federal income tax purposes, this Note as an unfunded, unsecured promise to pay. Maker shall deduct and withhold from any payment under this Note, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes required to be withheld with respect to the vesting of the Note or any payment made pursuant to the Note.

 

7.          Miscellaneous. (a) Any waiver of any kind or character on the part of Payee in respect of this Note must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing and any notice to be given under this Note shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when received by the recipient. No delay on the part of Payee in exercising any of its powers or rights, and no partial or single exercise, shall constitute a waiver thereof.

 

(b)           Maker shall have the right at any time (i) to incur, and to issue evidence of, indebtedness that is senior in right of payment to this Note and (ii) to subordinate this Note to any or all other indebtedness of Maker. Upon written notice by Maker to Payee, this Note automatically and without the consent of or any other action by Payee shall become a subordinated obligation of Maker, subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness of Maker, and thereafter, Maker may not make, and Payee may not accept, any payments of principal or interest on the Note if there exists a payment default (whether for principal, premium, interest or fees) on any Senior Indebtedness, or if any other default exists with respect to any Senior Indebtedness and the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness is as a result permitted to be accelerated by the holders thereof, unless, in either case, such default has been cured or waived by the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, or such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash. “Senior Indebtedness” is all indebtedness of Maker (whether as a primary obligor or a guarantor) (including interest thereon, including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or reorganization at the rate provided in the documentation governing such

 

A-4



 

indebtedness, whether or not a claim for such interest is allowed in such proceeding), and other amounts (including fees, expenses, reimbursement obligations under letters of credit and indemnities) owing in respect thereof, whether outstanding on the date hereof, on the date of such notice, or thereafter incurred, unless the instrument creating or evidencing such indebtedness expressly provides that such obligations are subordinated in right of payment to any other indebtedness.

 

(c)           This Note supersedes the letter, dated February 10, 2009, from Maker to Executive, which letter shall have no further force or effect after the date of this Note. Upon issuance by Maker to Payee of a fully executed version of this Note, Payee immediately and irrevocably shall surrender and forfeit for immediate cancellation all Payee Preferred Stock and all accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon through the date of this Note.

 

8.          GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF. EACH OF MAKER AND PAYEE HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY FOR PURPOSES OF ALL LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS NOTE. EACH OF MAKER AND PAYEE IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. EACH OF MAKER AND PAYEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS NOTE.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

A-5



 

 

TICKETMASTER ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

Address for notices:

 

 

 

Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc.

 

8800 Sunset Boulevard

 

West Hollywood, CA 90069

 

Phone:  (310) 360-3300

 

Facsimile:  (310) 360-3733

 

Attention:  General Counsel

 

 

 

and

 

 

 

Live Nation, Inc.

 

9348 Civic Center Drive

 

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

 

Phone:  (310) 867-7000

 

Facsimile:  (310) 867-7158

 

Attention:  General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

AZOFF FAMILY TRUST OF 1997

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

Irving Azoff

 

 

Title:

Co-Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

Address for notices:

 

 

 

 

 

At the most recent address on file for Executive at Live Nation.

 

 

 

 

CONSENTED TO:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Irving Azoff

 

 

[Signature Page to Note]

 



 

Annex A

 

 

 

Vesting
Date

 

Monthly
Installment
Amount
($)

 

Unpaid
Amount
($)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

36,239,632.88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12/31/2009)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

1/1/2010

 

834,968.98

 

35,495,262.98

 

2

 

2/1/2010

 

834,968.98

 

34,749,032.16

 

3

 

3/1/2010

 

834,968.98

 

34,000,935.77

 

4

 

4/1/2010

 

834,968.98

 

33,250,969.13

 

5

 

5/1/2010

 

834,968.98

 

32,499,127.57

 

6

 

6/1/2010

 

834,968.98

 

31,745,406.41

 

7

 

7/1/2010

 

834,968.98

 

30,989,800.96

 

8

 

8/1/2010

 

834,968.98

 

30,232,306.48

 

9

 

9/1/2010

 

834,968.98

 

29,472,918.27

 

10

 

10/1/2010

 

834,968.98

 

28,711,631.60

 

11

 

11/1/2010

 

834,968.98

 

27,948,441.70

 

12

 

12/1/2010

 

834,968.98

 

27,183,343.82

 

13

 

1/1/2011

 

834,968.98

 

26,416,333.21

 

14

 

2/1/2011

 

834,968.98

 

25,647,405.06

 

15

 

3/1/2011

 

834,968.98

 

24,876,554.59

 

16

 

4/1/2011

 

834,968.98

 

24,103,777.00

 

17

 

5/1/2011

 

834,968.98

 

23,329,067.47

 

18

 

6/1/2011

 

834,968.98

 

22,552,421.16

 

19

 

7/1/2011

 

834,968.98

 

21,773,833.23

 

20

 

8/1/2011

 

834,968.98

 

20,993,298.84

 

21

 

9/1/2011

 

834,968.98

 

20,210,813.11

 

22

 

10/1/2011

 

834,968.98

 

19,426,371.16

 

23

 

11/1/2011

 

834,968.98

 

18,639,968.11

 

24

 

12/1/2011

 

834,968.98

 

17,851,599.06

 

25

 

1/1/2012

 

834,968.98

 

17,061,259.08

 

26

 

2/1/2012

 

834,968.98

 

16,268,943.25

 

27

 

3/1/2012

 

834,968.98

 

15,474,646.64

 

28

 

4/1/2012

 

834,968.98

 

14,678,364.28

 

29

 

5/1/2012

 

834,968.98

 

13,880,091.21

 

30

 

6/1/2012

 

834,968.98

 

13,079,822.47

 

31

 

7/1/2012

 

834,968.98

 

12,277,553.05

 

32

 

8/1/2012

 

834,968.98

 

11,473,277.95

 

33

 

9/1/2012

 

834,968.98

 

10,666,992.16

 

34

 

10/1/2012

 

834,968.98

 

9,858,690.67

 

35

 

11/1/2012

 

834,968.98

 

9,048,368.42

 

 



 

 

 

Vesting
Date

 

Monthly
Installment
Amount
($)

 

Unpaid
Amount
($)

 

36

 

12/1/2012

 

834,968.98

 

8,236,020.36

 

37

 

1/1/2013

 

834,968.98

 

7,421,641.44

 

38

 

2/1/2013

 

834,968.98

 

6,605,226.56

 

39

 

3/1/2013

 

834,968.98

 

5,786,770.65

 

40

 

4/1/2013

 

834,968.98

 

4,966,268.60

 

41

 

5/1/2013

 

834,968.98

 

4,143,715.30

 

42

 

6/1/2013

 

834,968.98

 

3,319,105.61

 

43

 

7/1/2013

 

834,968.98

 

2,492,434.39

 

44

 

8/1/2013

 

834,968.98

 

1,663,696.51

 

45

 

9/1/2013

 

834,968.98

 

832,886.77

 

46

 

10/1/2013

 

834,968.98

 

0.01

 

 

A-2



 

Exhibit B

 

CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS

 

Capitalized terms used in this Exhibit B that are not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated October 21, 2009, by and among Irving Azoff (“Executive”), Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. (“Ticketmaster”), and the Azoff Family Trust of 1997, dated May 27, 1997, as amended.

 

For purposes of the Agreement, the terms set forth below shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

Applicable Company” means (A) with respect to a termination of Executive’s employment with FLMG, FLMG (B) with respect to a termination of Executive’s employment with Ticketmaster, Ticketmaster and (C) with respect to a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation, Live Nation.

 

Beneficial Ownership” has the meaning given in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Cause” means:

 

(A) Prior to the LN Effective Date only, with respect to FLMG, Cause as defined in the FLMG Employment Agreement.

 

(B) Prior to the LN Effective Date only, with respect to Ticketmaster, (1) the willful and continued failure of Executive to perform substantially his material duties with Ticketmaster (other than any such failure resulting from Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness and shall not include a failure to achieve particular results or to perform at any particular level) after a written demand for performance is delivered to Executive by the Ticketmaster Board of Directors which identifies the manner in which the Ticketmaster Board of Directors believes that Executive has not performed Executive’s duties and Executive, after a period established by the Ticketmaster Board of Directors and communicated in writing to Executive (which period may be no less than twenty (20) days), has failed to cure such failure, (2) the willful engaging by Executive in gross misconduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to Ticketmaster, (3) any material breach by Executive of the obligations set forth in Section 8 of the FLMG Employment Agreement or Section 6.7 of the 2004 Agreement (as extended pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement) or Exhibit B of the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement (in each case, if such breach continues beyond a five (5) day cure period), (4) Executive’s conviction of, or pleading guilty or no lo contendere to, a felony, or (5) a material breach by Executive of a fiduciary duty. A termination of Executive’s employment for Cause shall not be effective unless and until Ticketmaster has delivered to Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by a majority of the Ticketmaster Board of Directors (excluding Executive, if he is a member of the Ticketmaster Board of Directors) stating that the Ticketmaster Board of Directors has determined to terminate Executive’s employment for Cause; provided, however, that no such resolution shall be permitted to be adopted without Ticketmaster having afforded Executive the opportunity to make a presentation to the Ticketmaster Board of Directors and to answer any questions its members may ask him.

 

(C) On and after the LN Effective Date only, with respect to Live Nation, (1) the willful and continued failure of Executive to perform substantially his material duties with Live Nation (other than any such failure resulting from Executive’s incapacity due to physical

 



 

or mental illness and shall not include a failure to achieve particular results or to perform at any particular level) after a written demand for performance is delivered to Executive by the Live Nation Board of Directors which identifies the manner in which the Live Nation Board of Directors believes that Executive has not performed Executive’s duties and Executive, after a period established by the Live Nation Board of Directors and communicated in writing to Executive (which period may be no less than twenty (20) days), has failed to cure such failure, (2) the willful engaging by Executive in gross misconduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to Live Nation, (3) any material breach by Executive of the obligations set forth in Section 8 of the FLMG Employment Agreement or Section 6.7 of the 2004 Agreement (as extended pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement and as further extended pursuant to the terms of the Agreement) or Exhibit C of the Agreement (in each case, if such breach continues beyond a five (5) day cure period), (4) Executive’s conviction of, or pleading guilty or no lo contendere to, a felony, or (5) a material breach by Executive of a fiduciary duty. A termination of Executive’s employment for Cause shall not be effective unless and until Live Nation has delivered to Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by a majority of the Live Nation Board of Directors (excluding Executive, if he is a member of the Live Nation Board of Directors) stating that the Live Nation Board of Directors has determined to terminate Executive’s employment for Cause; provided, however, that no such resolution shall be permitted to be adopted without Live Nation having afforded Executive the opportunity to make a presentation to the Live Nation Board of Directors and to answer any questions its members may ask him.

 

Disability” means, with respect to each Applicable Company, personal injury, illness or other cause which has rendered Executive unable to perform substantially his material duties and responsibilities with the Applicable Company for a period of one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days, or one hundred twenty (120) out of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days, as determined jointly by a physician selected by the Applicable Company reasonably acceptable to Executive (or if he is incapacitated, his legal representative) and a physician selected by Executive (or if he is incapacitated, his legal representative) and reasonably acceptable to the Applicable Company. If such physicians cannot agree as to whether Executive has suffered a Disability, they shall jointly select a third physician who shall make such determination. The determination of Disability made in writing to the Applicable Company and Executive shall be final and conclusive for all purposes of the Agreement.

 

Good Reason” means:

 

(A) prior to the LN Effective Date only, with respect to FLMG, Good Reason as defined in the FLMG Employment Agreement;

 

(B) prior to the LN Effective Date only, with respect to Ticketmaster, without Executive’s express written consent, (1) a material and adverse change in Executive’s position(s), authority, duties or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) with Ticketmaster (excluding any change relating to Executive’s employment with FLMG), (2) Executive no longer serving as Chief Executive Officer of Ticketmaster, (3) any material breach by Ticketmaster of the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement, or (4) Ticketmaster requiring Executive to be based in a location other than Beverly Hills, California or West Los Angeles, California; and

 

(C) on and after the LN Effective Date only, with respect to Live Nation, without Executive’s express written consent, (1) a material and adverse change in Executive’s position(s), authority, duties or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) with Live Nation, it being understood that an increase in position(s), authority, duties or

 

B-2



 

responsibilities resulting from Executive becoming Chief Executive Officer and/or President of Live Nation shall not constitute Good Reason, (2) Executive no longer serving as the Executive Chairman of Live Nation (or any more senior position), (3) Executive no longer serving as Chief Executive Officer of FLMG, (4) any material breach by FLMG of the FLMG Employment Agreement, (5) any material breach by Live Nation of the Agreement, (6) a material reduction in Executive’s base salary under the FLMG Employment Agreement, unless agreed to by Executive, or (7) Live Nation requiring Executive to be based in a location other than Beverly Hills, California or West Los Angeles, California.

 

With respect to any Applicable Company, a termination of Executive’s employment by Executive for Good Reason shall be effective only if Executive delivers to the Applicable Company a notice of termination of Executive’s employment with the Applicable Company for Good Reason within 60 days after learning of the circumstances constituting Good Reason. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if within 30 days following Executive’s delivery of such notice of termination of Executive’s employment with the Applicable Company for Good Reason (the “Cure Period”), the Applicable Company has cured the circumstances giving rise to the Good Reason claim, then such notice of termination of Executive’s employment with the Applicable Company shall be ineffective and no Good Reason shall be deemed to exist. In the event that the Applicable Company fails to remedy the condition constituting Good Reason during the Cure Period, Executive must terminate employment, if at all, within 90 days following the Cure Period in order for such termination of Executive’s employment to constitute a termination of Executive’s employment for Good Reason. Moreover, Executive shall be required to give the Applicable Company at least 30 days advance written notice of any termination of Executive’s employment for Good Reason.

 

Group” has the meaning given in Section 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Live Nation Change in Control” means:

 

(A) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (a “Person”), other than Live Nation of Beneficial Ownership of equity securities of Live Nation representing more than 50% of the voting power of the then outstanding equity securities of Live Nation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Live Nation Voting Securities”); provided, however, that any acquisition that would constitute a Live Nation Change in Control under this subsection (A) that is also a Live Nation Business Combination shall be determined exclusively under subsection (C) below; or

 

(B) Individuals who, on the first business day following consummation of the Merger (such date, the “Merger Date”), constitute the Live Nation Board of Directors (the “Live Nation Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Live Nation Board of Directors; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Merger Date, whose election, or nomination for election by Live Nation’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Live Nation Incumbent Directors at such time shall become a Live Nation Incumbent Director, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Live Nation Board of Directors; or

 

(C) Consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Live Nation, the purchase of assets or stock of another entity, or other similar corporate transaction (a “Live Nation Business

 

B-3



 

Combination”), in each case, unless immediately following such Live Nation Business Combination, (1) more than 50% of the Live Nation Resulting Voting Power shall reside in Outstanding Live Nation Voting Securities retained by Live Nation’s stockholders in the Live Nation Business Combination and/or voting securities received by such stockholders in the Live Nation Business Combination on account of Outstanding Live Nation Voting Securities, and (2) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body, if applicable) of the entity resulting from such Live Nation Business Combination were Live Nation Incumbent Directors at the time of the initial agreement, or action of the Live Nation Board of Directors, providing for such Live Nation Business Combination; or

 

(D) Approval by the stockholders of Live Nation of a complete liquidation or dissolution of Live Nation.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the Merger shall not constitute a Live Nation Change in Control.

 

Live Nation Resulting Voting Power” means the outstanding combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or equivalent governing body, if applicable) of the entity resulting from a Live Nation Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns Live Nation or all or substantially all of Live Nation’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries).

 

Termination of Executive’s Employment” means Executive’s “separation from service” as defined under Section 409A of the Code.

 

Ticketmaster Change in Control” means:

 

(A) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (a “Person”), other than Ticketmaster of Beneficial Ownership of equity securities of Ticketmaster representing more than 50% of the voting power of the then outstanding equity securities of Ticketmaster entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Ticketmaster Voting Securities”); provided, however, that any acquisition that would constitute a Ticketmaster Change in Control under this subsection (A) that is also a Ticketmaster Business Combination shall be determined exclusively under subsection (C) below; or

 

(B) Individuals who, on the date of this Agreement (such date, the “Agreement Date”), constitute the Ticketmaster Board of Directors (the “Ticketmaster Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Ticketmaster Board of Directors; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Agreement Date, whose election, or nomination for election by Ticketmaster’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Ticketmaster Incumbent Directors at such time shall become a Ticketmaster Incumbent Director, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Ticketmaster Board of Directors; or

 

(C) Consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Ticketmaster, the purchase of assets or stock of another entity, or other similar corporate transaction (a “Ticketmaster Business Combination”), in each case, unless immediately following such Ticketmaster Business Combination, (1) more than 50% of the Ticketmaster Resulting Voting Power shall reside in

 

B-4



 

Outstanding Ticketmaster Voting Securities retained by Ticketmaster’s stockholders in the Ticketmaster Business Combination and/or voting securities received by such stockholders in the Ticketmaster Business Combination on account of Outstanding Ticketmaster Voting Securities, and (2) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body, if applicable) of the entity resulting from such Ticketmaster Business Combination were Ticketmaster Incumbent Directors at the time of the initial agreement, or action of the Ticketmaster Board of Directors, providing for such Ticketmaster Business Combination; or

 

(D) Approval by the stockholders of Ticketmaster of a complete liquidation or dissolution of Ticketmaster.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the Merger shall not constitute a Ticketmaster Change in Control.

 

Ticketmaster Resulting Voting Power” means the outstanding combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or equivalent governing body, if applicable) of the entity resulting from a Ticketmaster Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns Ticketmaster or all or substantially all of Ticketmaster’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries).

 

B-5



 

Exhibit C

 

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; NON-COMPETITION;

NON-SOLICITATION; AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS

 

Capitalized terms used in this Exhibit C that are not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated October 21, 2009, by and among Irving Azoff (“Executive”), Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. (“Ticketmaster”), and the Azoff Family Trust of 1997, dated May 27, 1997, as amended. For purposes of the covenants contained in this Exhibit C, for so long as FLMG is a majority-owned subsidiary of Live Nation, actions taken by Executive in furtherance of his duties with FLMG shall not be deemed a violation of such covenants. In consideration of the benefits provided to Executive under the Agreement:

 

(a) CONFIDENTIALITY. Executive acknowledges that, while employed by Live Nation, Executive will occupy a position of trust and confidence. Live Nation, its subsidiaries and/or affiliates may provide Executive with “Confidential Information” as referred to below. Executive shall not, except in connection with the good faith performance by Executive of his duties hereunder, as required by applicable law or in connection with the enforcement of his rights under the Agreement, without limitation in time, communicate, divulge, disseminate, disclose to others or otherwise use, any Confidential Information regarding Live Nation and/or any of its subsidiaries and/or affiliates.

 

Confidential Information” shall mean information about Live Nation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, and their respective businesses, employees, consultants, contractors, clients and customers that is not disclosed by Live Nation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates for financial reporting purposes or otherwise generally made available to, or in the possession of, the public (other than by Executive’s breach of the terms hereof) and that was learned or developed by Executive in the course of employment by Live Nation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, including (without limitation) any proprietary knowledge, trade secrets, data, formulae, information and client and customer lists and all papers, resumes, and records (including computer records) of the documents containing such Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, if Executive is required to disclose any such confidential or proprietary information pursuant to applicable law or a subpoena or court order, Executive shall promptly notify Live Nation of any such requirement so that Live Nation may seek an appropriate protective order or other appropriate remedy or waive compliance with the provisions hereof. Executive shall reasonably cooperate with Live Nation (at Live Nation’s sole expense) to obtain such a protective order or other remedy. If such order or other remedy is not obtained prior to the time Executive is required to make the disclosure, or Live Nation waives compliance with the provisions hereof, Executive shall be permitted to disclose only that portion of the confidential or proprietary information which he is advised by counsel that he is legally required to so disclose. Executive acknowledges that such Confidential Information is specialized, unique in nature and of great value to Live Nation and its subsidiaries or affiliates, and that such information gives Live Nation and its subsidiaries or affiliates a competitive advantage. Executive agrees to deliver or return to Live Nation, at Live Nation’s request at any time or upon termination or expiration of Executive’s employment with Live Nation or as soon thereafter as possible, all documents, computer tapes and disks, records, lists, data, drawings, prints, notes and written information (and all copies thereof) furnished by Live Nation and its subsidiaries or affiliates or prepared by Executive in the course of Executive’s employment by Live Nation and its subsidiaries or affiliates, other than Executive’s personal files that do not contain Confidential Information and a copy of Executive’s rolodex. As used in this Exhibit C, “subsidiaries” and “affiliates” shall mean any

 



 

company controlled by, controlling or under common control with Live Nation. A company, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity (“Person”) shall be deemed to “control” another Person if such Person owns, directly or indirectly, or controls the right to vote, more than 50% of the equity of such other Person.

 

(b) NON-SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. Executive recognizes that he may possess Confidential Information about other employees, consultants and contractors of Live Nation and its subsidiaries or affiliates relating to their education, experience, skills, abilities, compensation and benefits, and inter-personal relationships with suppliers to and customers of Live Nation and its subsidiaries or affiliates. Executive recognizes that the information he possesses about these other employees, consultants and contractors is not generally known, may be of substantial value to Live Nation and its subsidiaries or affiliates in developing their respective businesses and in securing and retaining customers, and will be acquired by Executive because of Executive’s business position with Live Nation. Executive agrees that, until the later of (i) the twelve month anniversary of his termination of employment with Live Nation for any reason and (ii) the later of (A) the latest date that the Azoff Trust has the right to exercise a put pursuant to section 13 of the Agreement and (B) the two year anniversary of the latest date that the Azoff Trust exercises any rights pursuant to section 13 of the Agreement (the “Restricted Period”), Executive will not, directly or indirectly, solicit or recruit any employee of (1) Live Nation and/or (2) its subsidiaries and/or affiliates with whom Executive has had direct contact during his employment hereunder, in all cases, for the purpose of being employed by Executive or by any business, individual, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity on whose behalf Executive is acting as an agent, representative or employee and that Executive will not convey any such Confidential Information or trade secrets about employees of Live Nation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates to any other person except within the scope of Executive’s duties hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive is not precluded from soliciting any individual who (x) responds to any public advertisement or general solicitation; (y) has been terminated by Live Nation prior to the solicitation; or (z) was Executive’s personal assistant or secretary.

 

(c) NON-SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS. During the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, without the written consent of Live Nation, solicit, request or instruct, directly or indirectly, any venue, promoter, touring artist, team, league or any other party, in each case with respect to which Live Nation and/or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates provided such party with services pursuant to a contractual relationship during the last twelve (12) months of the LN Employment Term (collectively, the “Business Partners”) to use the services of any competitor of Live Nation in a manner that could reasonably be expected to result in the cessation or a material reduction in the amount of business between the Business Partners and Live Nation and/or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive may solicit Business Partners during the Restricted Period with respect to transactions or matters that are not competitive with the business of Live Nation and/or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates without being in violation of this Section (c).

 

(d) PROPRIETARY RIGHTS; ASSIGNMENT. All Employee Developments (defined below) shall be considered works made for hire by Executive for Live Nation or, as applicable, its subsidiaries or affiliates, and Executive agrees that all rights of any kind in any Employee Developments belong exclusively to Live Nation. In order to permit Live Nation to exploit such Employee Developments, Executive shall promptly and fully report all such Employee Developments to Live Nation. Except in furtherance of his obligations as an employee of Live Nation, Executive shall not use or reproduce any portion of any record associated with any Employee Development without prior written consent of Live Nation or,

 

C-2



 

as applicable, its subsidiaries or affiliates. Executive agrees that in the event actions of Executive are required to ensure that such rights belong to Live Nation under applicable laws, Executive will cooperate and take whatever such actions are reasonably requested by Live Nation, whether during or after the LN Employment Term, and without the need for separate or additional compensation. “Employee Developments” means any idea, know-how, discovery, invention, design, method, technique, improvement, enhancement, development, computer program, machine, algorithm or other work of authorship, in each case, (i) that (A) concerns or relates to the actual or anticipated business, research or development activities, or operations of Live Nation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, or (B) results from or is suggested by any undertaking assigned to Executive or work performed by Executive for or on behalf of Live Nation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, whether created alone or with others, during or after working hours, or (C) uses, incorporates or is based on Live Nation equipment, supplies, facilities, trade secrets or inventions of any form or type, and (ii) that is developed, conceived or reduced to practice during the period that Executive is employed with Live Nation. All Confidential Information and all Employee Developments are and shall remain the sole property of Live Nation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. Executive shall acquire no proprietary interest in any Confidential Information or Employee Developments developed or acquired during the LN Employment Term. To the extent Executive may, by operation of law or otherwise, acquire any right, title or interest in or to any Confidential Information or Employee Development, Executive hereby assigns and covenants to assign to Live Nation all such proprietary rights without the need for a separate writing or additional compensation. Executive shall, both during and after the LN Employment Term, upon Live Nation’s request, promptly execute, acknowledge, and deliver to Live Nation all such assignments, confirmations of assignment, certificates, and instruments, and shall promptly perform such other acts, as Live Nation may from time to time in its discretion deem necessary or desirable to evidence, establish, maintain, perfect, enforce or defend Live Nation’s rights in Confidential Information and Employee Developments.

 

(e) COMPLIANCE WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. During the period that Executive is employed with Live Nation hereunder, Executive shall adhere to the policies and standards of professionalism set forth in Live Nation’s Policies and Procedures applicable to all employees of Live Nation and its subsidiaries and/or affiliates as they may exist from time to time.

 

(f) SURVIVAL OF PROVISIONS. The obligations contained in this Exhibit C shall, to the extent provided in this Exhibit C, survive the termination or expiration of Executive’s employment with Live Nation and, as applicable, shall be fully enforceable thereafter in accordance with the terms of the Agreement. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that any restriction in this Exhibit C is excessive in duration or scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable under applicable law, it is the intention of the parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

 

C-3



 

Exhibit D

 

FORM OF EXECUTIVE RELEASE OF CLAIMS

 

FOR AND IN CONSIDERATION OF the benefits to be provided to Irving Azoff (“Executive”) in connection with the termination of Executive’s employment, as set forth in the Employment Agreement (“Agreement”), dated October 21, 2009, by and among Irving Azoff (“Executive”), Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. (“Ticketmaster”), and the Azoff Family Trust of 1997, dated May 27, 1997, as amended, which are conditioned on Executive signing this release of claims (“Release of Claims”) and to which Executive is not otherwise entitled, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Executive, on Executive’s behalf and on behalf of Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators, beneficiaries, representatives and assigns, and all others connected with or claiming through Executive, hereby releases and forever discharges [Ticketmaster](1) [Live Nation, Inc.](2) (“Company”), and all of its subsidiaries and other affiliates, past, present and future officers, directors, trustees, stockholders, employees, agents, general and limited partners, members, managers, joint venturers, representatives, successors and assigns and all others connected with any of them, all of the foregoing both individually and in their official capacities, from any and all causes of action, rights or claims of any type or description, known or unknown, which Executive has had in the past, now has, or might now have, through the date of Executive’s signing of this Release of Claims, in any way resulting from, arising out of or connected with Executive’s employment by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates or the termination of that employment, including, without limitation: any and all claims relating to the foregoing under federal, state or local laws pertaining to employment, including, without limitation the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Section 621, et seq., Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e et seq., the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq., the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq., the Reconstruction Era Civil Rights Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 1981 et seq., the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Section 701 et seq., the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1992, 29 U.S.C. Section 2601 et seq., and any and all state or local laws regarding employment discrimination and/or federal, state or local laws of any type or description regarding employment.

 

Excluded from the scope of this Release of Claims are (i) any rights that Executive may have with respect to arrangements that by their terms are to be performed after the date of this Release of Claims; (ii) any right of indemnification or contribution that Executive has pursuant to the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates and (iii) any claims under any of the equity incentive plan and equity-based award agreements referenced in the Agreement with respect to any securities (including shares, options and any other equity-based rights) that Executive or the Azoff Trust (as defined in the Agreement) continues to hold after Executive signs this Release of Claims.

 


(1) If termination of employment occurs prior to the Merger (as defined in the Agreement).

 

(2) If termination of employment occurs following the Merger (as defined in the Agreement).

 



 

This Release of Claims covers both claims that Executive knows about and those Executive may not know about. Executive expressly waives all rights afforded by any statute which limits the effect of a release with respect to unknown claims. Executive understands the significance of Executive’s release of unknown claims and Executive’s waiver of statutory protection against a release of unknown claims, including, without limitation, claims otherwise protected under California Civil Code Section 1542 (“Section 1542”) or any other applicable similar state or federal law. Section 1542 provides: “A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him or her must have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor.”

 

For a period of two years following the date hereof, Executive agrees that Executive will not make or cause to be made any statements, verbally, electronically, in writing or in any other form, with the intent to be derogatory or disparaging about the Company, its businesses, affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors or employees.

 

In signing this Release of Claims, Executive acknowledges Executive’s understanding that Executive may not sign it prior to the termination of Executive’s employment, but that Executive may consider the terms of this Release of Claims for up to 21 days (or such longer period as the Company may specify) from the later of the date Executive’s employment with the Company terminates or the date Executive receives this Release of Claims. Executive also acknowledges that Executive is advised by the Company and its subsidiaries and other affiliates to seek the advice of an attorney prior to signing this Release of Claims; that Executive has had sufficient time to consider this Release of Claims and to consult with an attorney, if Executive wished to do so, or to consult with any other person of Executive’s choosing before signing; and that Executive is signing this Release of Claims voluntarily and with a full understanding of its terms.

 

Executive further acknowledges that, in signing this Release of Claims, Executive has not relied on any promises or representations, express or implied, that are not set forth expressly in the Agreement. Executive understands that Executive may revoke this Release of Claims at any time within seven days of the date of Executive’s signing by written notice to the Company provided in accordance with section 23 of the Agreement and that this Release of Claims will take effect only upon the expiration of such seven day revocation period and only if Executive has not timely revoked it.

 

This Release of Claims shall in all respects be governed, construed and enforced by and in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to and excluding California choice of law rules, and except as specifically governed by Federal law. If any section of this Release of Claims is determined to be void, voidable or unenforceable, it shall have no effect on the remainder of the Release of Claims, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Intending to be legally bound, Executive has signed this Release of Claims as of the date written below.

 

 

 

 

Date

 

IRVING AZOFF

 

D-2



 

Exhibit E

 

FORM OF COMPANY RELEASE OF CLAIMS

 

FOR GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and as required by the Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated October 21, 2009, by and among Irving Azoff (“Executive”), Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. (“Ticketmaster”), and the Azoff Family Trust of 1997, dated May 27, 1997, as amended, [Ticketmaster](1) [Live Nation, Inc.](2) (the “Company”) on its behalf, and on behalf of its predecessors, affiliates and successors, and each of its past, present and future officers, directors, employees, representatives, attorneys, insurers, agents and assigns, individually and in their official capacities, hereby releases and forever discharges Executive from any and all known causes of action, rights or claims of any type or description, which they have had in the past, now have, or might now have, through the date of signing of this Release of Claims, in any way resulting from, arising out of or connected with Executive’s employment by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates or the termination of that employment or pursuant to any federal, state or local law, regulation or other requirements, including, without limitation, those arising under common law. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement.

 

Excluded from the scope of this Release of Claims is (i) any claim based on facts not known by the Company on the date of execution of this Release of Claims, (ii) any claim arising under [Exhibit B to the Ticketmaster Employment Agreement, Section 8 of the FLMG Employment Agreement or Section 6.7 of the 2004 Agreement (as extended pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement)](3) [Exhibit C to the Agreement, Section 8 of the FLMG Employment Agreement or Section 6.7 of the 2004 Agreement (as extended pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement and as further extended pursuant to the terms of the Agreement)](4) after the effective date of this Release of Claims and (iii) any claims relating to Executive’s commission of fraud or criminal acts against Company or its affiliates, or other substantial, willful and intentional misconduct related to Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its affiliates. Intending to be legally bound, the Company has signed this Release of Claims as of the date written below.

 

 

 

[TICKETMASTER ENTERTAINMENT, INC.]
[LIVE NATION, INC.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 


(1) If termination of employment occurs prior to the Merger.

 

(2) If termination of employment occurs following the Merger.

 

(3) If termination of employment occurs prior to the Merger.

 

(4) If termination of employment occurs following the Merger.

 


EX-10.2 3 a09-31963_1ex10d2.htm EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of October 21, 2009 (this “Agreement”), by and between Front Line Management Group, Inc. (the “Company”) and Irving Azoff (“Executive”).

 

WHEREAS, Executive and the Company previously entered into an employment agreement (the “Original Employment Agreement”), dated May 11, 2007; and

 

WHEREAS, Executive and the Company desire to amend and restate the Original Employment Agreement as set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company entered into that certain Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 11, 2007 (“Stock Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other matters, Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. (“Ticketmaster”) (as successor to IAC/InterActiveCorp) acquired a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, including a portion of the shares held by Executive (the “Transaction”), which purchase became effective as of the Closing (as such term is defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement); and

 

WHEREAS, as a condition to the parties’ willingness to enter into the Transaction, the Company requested, and Executive agreed, that the Stock Purchase Agreement would incorporate by reference and extend the term of the non-competition and non-solicitation provisions with respect to Executive and the Company set forth in the “2004 Agreement” (as such term is defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement) (the “2004 Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, Executive, Ticketmaster, and The Azoff Family Trust of 1997, dated May 27, 1997 (the “Azoff Trust”) are contemporaneously herewith entering into an employment agreement (the “LN Employment Agreement”), dated October 21, 2009, pursuant to which, among other matters, the parties agreed that Live Nation, Inc. (“Live Nation”) would, under specified circumstances, purchase shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”), held by Executive and his affiliates;

 

WHEREAS, as a condition to the parties’ willingness to enter into the LN Employment Agreement and to commit to the share purchase provisions set forth in Section 13 of the LN Employment Agreement, Executive has agreed, subject to the occurrence of the LN Effective Date (as defined in the LN Employment Agreement) (the “LN Effective Date”), to extend the term of the non-competition and non-solicitation provisions set forth in Section 8 of this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, Executive desires to continue employment with the Company and enter into this Agreement on the terms and conditions contained herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:

 



 

1.             Effectiveness; Term of Employment.

 

a.             Effectiveness.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Effective Date” means June 8, 2007.  On the Effective Date, the employment agreement, dated December 31, 2004, between Executive and the Company (the “2004 Employment Agreement”), terminated and ceased to have any further force or effect and was superseded by this Agreement in its entirety.

 

b.             Subject to the provisions of Section 7 of this Agreement, Executive shall be employed by the Company for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the seventh anniversary of the Effective Date, subject to any applicable extension or early termination of this Agreement by Executive or the Company (“Employment Term”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

2.             Position.

 

a.             During the Employment Term, Executive shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company.  In such position, Executive shall have such duties and authority as are customary for a chief executive officer and as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), and shall report to the Board.

 

b.             Subject to Executive’s obligations under the LN Employment Agreement during the LN Employment Term (as such term is defined in the LN Employment Agreement), during the Employment Term, Executive will devote substantially all of Executive’s business time and best efforts to the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder and will not engage in any other business, profession or occupation, for compensation or otherwise, except as specifically provided in Section 8 hereof, which would conflict or interfere with the rendition of such services either directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Board; provided, that nothing herein shall preclude Executive from accepting appointment to, subject to the prior approval of the Board, or continuing to serve on any board of directors or trustees of any business corporation or any charitable organization; provided, in each case, and in the aggregate, that such activities do not conflict or interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder or conflict with Section 8 of this Agreement.

 

3.             Base Salary.  During the Employment Term, the Company shall pay Executive a base salary at the annual rate of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000), payable in regular installments in accordance with the Company’s usual payment practices.  Executive shall be entitled to such increases in Executive’s base salary, if any, as may be determined from time to time in the sole discretion of the Board.  Executive’s annual base salary, as in effect from time to time, is hereinafter referred to as the “Base Salary.”

 

4.             Annual Bonus.  With respect to each full fiscal year during the Employment Term, the Company shall pay Executive a bonus award at the annual rate of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) (the “Annual Bonus”), which shall be payable in full within ten (10) business days after the end of each such full fiscal year.  The Company shall pay a pro rated bonus if required pursuant to Section 7(d) hereof.

 

5.             Employee Benefits.  During the Employment Term, Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s employee benefit plans (other than annual bonus and incentive plans) and receive perquisites as in effect from time to time (collectively “Employee

 

2



 

Benefits”), on the same basis as those benefits are generally made available to other senior executives of the Company, including a vacation policy substantially similar to that provided chief executive officers of similar businesses (as reasonably determined by the Board).

 

6.             Business Expenses.  During the Employment Term, any and all business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder shall be reimbursed by the Company consistent with Company practices under the 2004 Employment Agreement, so long as such expenses do not constitute compensation to Executive under IRS or other applicable standards or regulations.

 

7.             Termination.  The Employment Term and Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by either party only pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; provided that except as otherwise specified in this Section 7, Executive will be required to give the Company at least 60 days advance written notice of any resignation of Executive’s employment.  Executive’s employment with the Company may be terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined below), by Executive for Good Reason (as defined below) or due to death or Disability (as defined below), in each case in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, whether prior to, on or after the LN Effective Date.  Following the LN Effective Date, Executive’s employment with the Company also may be terminated by the Company without Cause or voluntarily by Executive without Good Reason, in each case in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 7 exclusively shall govern Executive’s rights upon termination of employment with the Company.

 

a.             By the Company For Cause; by Executive without Good Reason.

 

(i)            This clause (i) shall apply solely with respect to the period prior to the LN Effective Date. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” means (A) the willful and continued failure of Executive to perform substantially his material duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness and shall not include a failure to achieve particular results or to perform at any particular level) after a written demand for performance is delivered to Executive by the Board which identifies the manner in which the Board believes that Executive has not performed Executive’s duties and Executive, after a period established by the Board and communicated in writing to Executive (which period may be no less than twenty (20) days), has failed to cure such failure, (B) the willful engaging by Executive in gross misconduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or any material breach by Executive of his Non-Solicitation or Non-Competition obligations either under Section 8 of this Agreement or under the 2004 Agreement (the duration of which has been extended as provided in the Stock Purchase Agreement) (if such breach continues beyond a five (5) day cure period), (C) Executive’s conviction of, or pleading guilty to, a felony involving moral turpitude or dishonesty or (D) a material breach by Executive of a fiduciary duty.  A termination of Executive’s employment with the Company by the Company for Cause shall not be effective unless and until the Company has delivered to Executive, along with a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 7(e)), a copy of a resolution duly adopted by a majority of the Board (excluding Executive, if he is a member of the Board) stating that the Board has determined to terminate Executive’s employment with the Company for Cause; provided, however, that no such resolution shall be permitted to be adopted without

 

3



 

the Company having afforded Executive the opportunity to make a presentation to the Board and to answer any questions its members may ask him.

 

(ii)           For purposes of this Agreement, (A) “Affiliate” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such person, where “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management policies of the Company, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, as trustee or executor, or otherwise, and, with respect to any individual, any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same home as such person; and (B) “Subsidiary” means (x) any corporation more than fifty percent (50%) of whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries of the Company and (y) any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or other entity in which the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries of the Company has more than a fifty percent (50%) equity interest or the right to control the management of such entity.

 

(iii)          If Executive’s employment is terminated (x) by the Company for Cause or (y) solely with respect to periods on and after the LN Effective Date, voluntarily by Executive without Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to receive:

 

(A)          the Base Salary through the date of termination;

 

(B)           any Annual Bonus earned but unpaid as of the date of termination for any previously completed fiscal year;

 

(C)           reimbursement for any unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred by Executive in accordance with Company policy prior to the date of Executive’s termination; and

 

(D)          such Employee Benefits, if any, as to which Executive may be entitled under the employee benefit plans of the Company (the amounts described in clauses (A) through (D) hereof being referred to as the “Accrued Rights”).

 

The Accrued Rights shall be paid to Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the date of termination of Executive’s employment, provided that any amounts paid in respect of Accrued Rights pursuant to clause (D) above shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the applicable employee benefit plan.  Following a termination of Executive’s employment (x) by the Company for Cause or (y) solely with respect to periods on and after the LN Effective Date, voluntarily by Executive without Good Reason, except as set forth in this Section 7(a)(iii), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

 

4



 

b.             Disability or Death.

 

(i)            The Employment Term and Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon Executive’s death and may be terminated by the Company if Executive suffers a Disability.

 

(ii)           This clause (ii) shall apply solely with respect to the period prior to the LN Effective Date.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” means personal injury, illness or other cause which has rendered Executive unable to perform substantially his material duties and responsibilities hereunder for a period of one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days, or one hundred twenty (120) out of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days, as determined jointly by a physician selected by the Company reasonably acceptable to Executive (or, if he is incapacitated, his legal representative) and a physician selected by Executive (or, if he is incapacitated, his legal representative) and reasonably acceptable to the Company.  If such physicians cannot agree as to whether Executive has suffered a Disability, they shall jointly select a third physician who shall make such determination.  The determination of Disability made in writing to the Company and Executive shall be final and conclusive for all purposes of the Agreement.

 

(iii)          Upon termination of Executive’s employment hereunder for either Disability or death, Executive or Executive’s estate (as the case may be) shall be entitled to receive:

 

(A)          the Accrued Rights (paid as set forth in Section 7(a)(iii) above);

 

(B)           a pro rata portion of the Annual Bonus that Executive would have been entitled to receive pursuant to Section 4 hereof in such year based upon the percentage of the fiscal year that shall have elapsed through the date of Executive’s termination of employment, payable when such Annual Bonus would have otherwise been payable had Executive’s employment not terminated; and

 

(C)           (I) in the event of termination on account of death, a lump sum payment equal to one year’s Base Salary, payable within 30 days of the date of termination of Executive’s employment; and

 

(II) in the event of termination on account of Disability, subject to Executive’s continued compliance with the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 of this Agreement, (x) continued payment of the Base Salary on the same basis as provided prior to such termination for twelve months after the date of such termination, (y) a lump sum payment of $20,000, payable within 30 days of the date of termination of Executive’s employment and (z) access to the Company’s medical insurance for one year following the date of termination of employment; provided that Executive will be responsible for all applicable premiums.

 

Following Executive’s termination of employment due to death or Disability, except as set forth in this Section 7(b)(iii), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

 

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c.             Termination by Company without Cause; Resignation by Executive for Good Reason.

 

(i)            This clause (i) shall apply solely with respect to the period prior to the LN Effective Date.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means, without Executive’s express written consent:

 

(A)          (x)  a material and adverse change in the position(s), authority, duties or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) of Executive with the Company and its Subsidiaries, or (y) Executive no longer serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Company during the Employment Term;

 

(B)           any material reduction in salary not agreed to by Executive;

 

(C)           any willful breach by the Company of any other material obligation of the Company under this Agreement; or

 

(D)          the Company requiring Executive to be based somewhere other than Beverly Hills, California or West Los Angeles, California.

 

A termination by Executive for Good Reason shall be effective only if Executive delivers to the Company a Notice of Termination for Good Reason within 60 days after learning of the circumstances constituting Good Reason.  Executive will be required to give the Company at least 30 days advance written notice of any resignation of Executive’s employment with Good Reason.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if within 30 days following Executive’s delivery of such Notice of Termination (the “Cure Period”), the Company has cured the circumstances giving rise to the Good Reason claim, then such Notice of Termination shall be ineffective and no Good Reason shall be deemed to exist. In the event that the Company fails to remedy the condition constituting Good Reason during the Cure Period, Executive must terminate employment with the Company, if at all, within 90 days following the Cure Period in order for such termination of Executive’s employment to constitute a termination of Executive’s employment for Good Reason.

 

(ii)           If (x) Executive resigns for Good Reason or (y) solely with respect to periods on and after the LN Effective Date, the Company terminates Executive’s employment without Cause (other than due to death or Disability), Executive shall be entitled to receive:

 

(A)          the Accrued Rights (paid as set forth in Section 7(a)(iii) above);

 

(B)           subject to Executive’s continued compliance with (x) prior to the LN Effective Date, the 2004 Agreement (the duration of which has been extended as provided in the Stock Purchase Agreement), and (y) on and after the LN Effective Date, the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 of this Agreement (including Executive’s obligations under the 2004 Agreement (the duration of which has been extended as provided in the Stock Purchase Agreement and, subject to the occurrence of the LN Effective Date, the duration of which shall be further extended pursuant to the LN Employment Agreement)), continued payment of the Base Salary and Annual Bonus on the same basis

 

6



 

as provided prior to such termination until the expiration of the Employment Term as if such termination had not occurred;

 

(C)           a lump sum payment equal to the product of (x) the number of years (including partial years) from and after the date of termination of employment through and including June 8, 2014, and (y) $20,000, payable within 30 days of the date of termination of employment; and

 

(D)          access to the Company’s medical insurance through and until June 8, 2014; provided that Executive will be responsible for all applicable premiums.

 

Following Executive’s termination of employment (x) by reason of Executive’s resignation for Good Reason or (y) solely with respect to periods on and after the LN Effective Date, by the Company without Cause (other than due to death or Disability), except as set forth in this Section 7(c), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

 

(iii)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in this Agreement, if Executive resigns for Good Reason prior to the LN Effective Date, Executive shall thereupon and thereafter no longer be subject to the provisions of Section 8 of this Agreement; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not affect Executive’s obligations under the 2004 Agreement (the duration of which has been extended as provided in the Stock Purchase Agreement). On and after the LN Effective Date, the first sentence of this clause (iii) shall have no force or effect. For the avoidance of doubt, on and after the LN Effective Date, upon a termination of Executive’s employment with the Company by the Executive for Good Reason or by the Company without Cause, Executive shall be subject to Section 8 and Section 9 of this Agreement (including Executive’s obligations under the 2004 Agreement (the duration of which has been extended as provided in the Stock Purchase Agreement and, subject to the occurrence of the LN Effective Date, the duration of which shall be further extended pursuant to the LN Employment Agreement)).

 

d.             Expiration of Employment Term.

 

(i)            Expiration of the Employment Term.  Unless Executive’s employment is earlier terminated pursuant to paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 7, the termination of Executive’s employment hereunder (whether or not Executive continues as an employee of the Company thereafter) shall be deemed to occur on the close of business on the last day of the Employment Term and Executive shall be entitled to receive:

 

(A)          the Accrued Rights (paid as set forth in Section 7(a)(iii) above); and

 

(B)           if the last day of the Employment Term occurs on or after March 31 of the then current fiscal year, a pro rata portion of the Annual Bonus that Executive would have been entitled to receive pursuant to Section 4 hereof in such year based upon the percentage of the fiscal year that shall have elapsed through the date of Executive’s

 

7



 

termination of employment, payable when such Annual Bonus would have otherwise been payable had Executive’s employment not terminated.

 

Following termination of Executive’s employment hereunder as a result of the expiration of the Employment Term, except as set forth in this Section 7(d)(i), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

 

(ii)           Continued Employment Beyond the Expiration of the Employment Term.  Unless the parties otherwise agree in writing, continuation of Executive’s employment with the Company beyond the expiration of the Employment Term shall be deemed an employment at-will and shall not be deemed to extend any of the provisions of this Agreement and Executive’s employment may thereafter be terminated at will by either Executive or the Company; provided, that the provisions of Sections 8, 9 and 10 of this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement or termination of Executive’s employment hereunder.

 

e.             Notice of Termination.  Any purported termination of employment by the Company or by Executive (other than due to Executive’s death) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 12(h) hereof.  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of employment under the provision so indicated.

 

f.              Limits on Termination Rights prior to the LN Effective Date; Certain Termination Rights on and after the LN Effective Date.  Prior to the LN Effective Date, the Company may not terminate the Employment Term or Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause.  Prior to the LN Effective Date, Executive may not terminate the Employment Term or Executive’s employment hereunder without Good Reason. On and after the LN Effective Date, (i) a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation by Live Nation without Cause (as defined in the LN Employment Agreement) shall constitute a termination of Executive’s employment with the Company by the Company without Cause for purposes of this Agreement, (ii) a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation by Live Nation for Cause (as defined in the LN Employment Agreement) shall constitute a termination of Executive’s employment with the Company by the Company for Cause for purposes of this Agreement, (iii) a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation by Executive for Good Reason (as defined in the LN Employment Agreement) shall constitute a termination of Executive’s employment with the Company by the Executive for Good Reason for purposes of this Agreement, (iv) a voluntary termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation by Executive without Good Reason (as defined in the LN Employment Agreement) shall constitute a voluntary termination of Executive’s employment with the Company by the Executive without Good Reason for purposes of this Agreement, (v) a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation due to Executive’s death shall constitute a termination of Executive’s employment with the Company due to Executive’s death for purposes of this Agreement, and (vi) a termination of Executive’s employment with Live Nation due to Executive’s Disability (as defined in the LN Employment Agreement) shall constitute a termination of Executive’s employment with the Company due to Executive’s Disability for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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8.             Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation.  Executive acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company and its Affiliates and accordingly agrees, as a condition of employment and as a condition to the parties entering into the Transaction, to the non-competition and non-solicitation provisions contained in the 2004 Agreement (the duration of which has been extended as provided in the Stock Purchase Agreement, and, subject to the occurrence of the LN Effective Date, the duration of which shall be further extended pursuant to the LN Employment Agreement), which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, during the Employment Term and as otherwise stated in the 2004 Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement and the LN Employment Agreement.

 

a.             This Section 8(a) shall apply prior to the LN Effective Date. Notwithstanding and in addition to the above, during the Employment Term and during any period thereafter during which Executive is continuing to receive payments of Base Salary and/or an Annual Bonus (provided, that in no event shall such period after the Employment Term during which Executive is subject to the restrictions in this Section 8 extend beyond the later of (x) the seventh anniversary of the Effective Date and (y) one year following the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company), Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of conducting or engaging in the Music Business (as defined in the 2004 Agreement):

 

(i)            call upon, solicit, advise, sign, hire, interfere with, or otherwise do, or attempt to do, business with any Artist (as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement) or other talent or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except on behalf of the Company and its Affiliates (other than Executive’s secretary, only if such person is only responsible for standard-secretarial duties); or

 

(ii)           take away or interfere or attempt to interfere with any custom, trade, business or patronage of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or

 

(iii)          induce or attempt to induce any person referenced and not excluded in this Section 8(a) under a written or oral agreement to leave the employ of, or violate the terms of their contracts or employment arrangements with, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or

 

(iv)          engage in any similar activity that is competitive with the Company or any of its businesses with respect to the Music Business (as defined in the 2004 Agreement) (clauses (i)-(iv) of this Section 8(a), the “Section 8 Activities”);

 

provided, that Executive’s investment in TBA Global Events LLC shall not be deemed a violation of this Section 8(a) so long as it does not materially interfere with the performance of his duties hereunder.

 

b.             This Section 8(b) shall apply on and after the LN Effective Date. Notwithstanding and in addition to the above, during the Employment Term and following a termination of Executive’s employment until the latest of (x) the last date that Executive receives payments of Base Salary and/or an Annual Bonus, (y) the one year anniversary of Executive’s termination of employment and (z) the Put Milestone Date (as defined below), Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of conducting or engaging in the Music Business (as defined in the 2004 Agreement) engage in any Section 8 Activities; provided, that Executive’s investment in TBA

 

9



 

Global Events LLC shall not be deemed a violation of this Section 8(b) so long as it does not materially interfere with the performance of his duties hereunder. For purposes of this Section 8(b), “Put Milestone Date” means the later of (1) the latest date that the Azoff Trust has the right to exercise a put pursuant to Section 13 of the LN Employment Agreement and (2) the second anniversary of the latest date that the Azoff Trust exercises any rights pursuant to Section 13 of the LN Employment Agreement.

 

c.             It is expressly understood and agreed that although Executive and the Company consider the non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions contained herein or contained in the 2004 Agreement, as incorporated by reference herein, to be reasonable, if a final judicial determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction in that regard is an unenforceable restriction against Executive, the provisions of this Agreement shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable.  Alternatively, if any court of competent jurisdiction finds that any such restriction incorporated by reference in this Agreement is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be amended so as to make it enforceable, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of any of the other restrictions contained herein.

 

d.             The provisions of this Section 8 shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason.

 

9.             Confidentiality; Intellectual Property.

 

a.             Confidentiality.

 

(i)            Executive will not at any time (whether during or after Executive’s employment with the Company), except as necessary for the conduct of the Company’s affairs in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (A) retain or use for the benefit, purposes or account of Executive or any other Person; or (B) disclose, divulge, reveal, communicate, share, transfer or provide access to any Person outside the Company (other than its professional advisers who are bound by confidentiality obligations), any non-public, proprietary or confidential information (including the existence or terms of any contract) concerning the past, current or future business, activities and operations of the Company, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates and/or any client of the Company or any other third party that has disclosed or provided, any of same to the Company on a confidential basis (“Confidential Information”) without the prior written authorization of the Board.

 

(ii)           “Confidential Information” shall not include any information that is (A) generally known to the industry or the public other than as a result of Executive’s breach of this covenant; (B) made legitimately available to Executive by a third party without breach of any confidentiality obligation; (C) independently developed by Executive following Executive’s termination of employment by the Company and without reference to Confidential Information or which contains only the names and contact information for any individual or business; or (D) required by law to be disclosed; provided, that Executive shall give prompt written notice to

 

10



 

the Company of such requirement, disclose no more information than is so required, and cooperate with any attempts by the Company to obtain a protective order or similar treatment.

 

(iii)                               Except as required by law, Executive will not disclose to anyone, other than Executive’s immediate family and legal or financial advisors, the existence or contents of this Agreement; provided, that Executive may disclose-to any prospective future employer the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 of this Agreement; provided they agree to maintain the confidentiality of such terms.

 

(iv)                              Upon termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, Executive shall (A) cease, and not thereafter commence, use of any Confidential Information owned or used by the Company or its Subsidiaries; (B) immediately destroy, delete, or return to the Company, at the Company’s option, all originals and copies in any form or medium (including memoranda, books, papers, plans, computer files, letters and other data) in Executive’s possession or control (including any of the foregoing stored or located in Executive’s office, home, laptop or other computer, whether or not Company property) that contain Confidential Information or otherwise relate to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, except that Executive may retain only those portions of any personal notes, notebooks and diaries that do not contain any Confidential Information and Executive’s personal compensation statements; and (C) notify and fully cooperate with the Company regarding the delivery or destruction of any other Confidential Information of which Executive is or becomes aware.

 

(v)                                 Executive shall not improperly use for the benefit of, bring to any premises of, divulge, disclose, communicate, reveal, transfer or provide access to, or share with the Company any confidential, proprietary or non-public information or intellectual property relating to a former employer or other third party without the prior written permission of such third party.  Executive hereby indemnifies, holds harmless and agrees to defend the Company and its officers, directors, partners, employees, agents and representatives from any breach of the foregoing covenant.

 

(vi)                              Executive shall be free to use, but may not disclose in any manner per this Section 9(a), information in intangible form retained in the memory of Executive, including, without limitation ideas, concepts, know-how or techniques, for any purpose.

 

b.                            Intellectual Property.

 

(i)                                     If Executive has created, invented, designed, developed, contributed to or improved any works of authorship, inventions, intellectual property, materials, documents or other work product (including without limitation, research, reports, software, databases, systems, applications, presentations, textual works, content, or audiovisual materials) related to the Music Management Business (as such term is defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement), including, without limitation, the music services business (“Works”), either alone or with third parties, prior to Executive’s employment by the Company, that are relevant to such employment (“Prior Works”), Executive hereby grants the Company a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, assignable, sublicensable license under all rights and intellectual property rights (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair

 

11



 

competition and related laws) therein for all purposes in connection with the Company’s current and future business.

 

(ii)                                  If Executive creates, invents, designs, develops, contributes to or improves any Works, either alone or with third parties, at any time during Executive’s employment by the Company and within the scope of such employment and/or with the use of any the Company resources (“Company Works”), Executive shall promptly and fully disclose same to the Company and hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, all rights and intellectual property rights therein (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition and related laws) to the Company to the extent ownership of any such rights does not vest originally in the Company.

 

(iii)                               Executive shall take all reasonably requested actions and execute all reasonably requested documents (including any licenses or assignments required by a government contract) at the Company’s expense (but without further remuneration) to assist the Company in validating, maintaining, protecting, enforcing, perfecting, recording, patenting or registering any of the Company’s rights in the Prior Works and Company Works.  If the Company is unable for any other reason to secure Executive’s signature on any document for this purpose, then Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as Executive’s agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in Executive’s behalf and stead to execute any documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts in connection with the foregoing.

 

c.                             The provisions of this Section 9 shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason.

 

10.                                 Specific Performance.  Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company’s remedies at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Section 8 or Section 9 would be inadequate and the Company would suffer irreparable damages as a result of such breach or threatened breach.  In recognition of this fact, Executive agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, in addition to any remedies at law, the Company, without posting any bond, shall be entitled to cease making any payments or providing any benefit otherwise required by this Agreement and obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available. The provisions of this Section 10 shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason.

 

11.                                 Section 409A.

 

a.                             General.  It is intended that this Agreement shall comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the Treasury regulations relating thereto, or an exemption to Section 409A of the Code.  Any payments that qualify for the “short-term deferral” exception or another exception under Section 409A of the Code shall be paid under the applicable exception.  For purposes of the limitations on nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, each payment of compensation under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment of compensation for purposes of applying the Section 

 

12



 

409A of the Code deferral election rules and the exclusion under Section 409A of the Code for certain short-term deferral amounts.  All payments of deferred compensation to be made upon a termination of employment under this Agreement may be made only upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A of the Code.  In no event may Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment under this Agreement.

 

b.                            In-Kind Benefits and Reimbursements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, including, where applicable, the requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during Executive’s lifetime (or during a shorter period of time specified in this Agreement); (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in kind benefits provided, during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in kind benefits to be provided, in any other calendar year; (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made no later than the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred; and (iv) the right to reimbursement or in kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

c.                             Delay of Payments.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if Executive is considered a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company as in effect on the date of termination), any payment that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code that is otherwise due to Executive under this Agreement during the six (6) month period following his separation from service (as determined in accordance with Section 409A of the Code) on account of his separation from service shall be accumulated and paid to Executive on the first business day of the seventh month following his separation from service (the “Delayed Payment Date”).  If Executive dies during the postponement period, the amounts and entitlements delayed on account of Section 409A of the Code shall be paid to the personal representative of his estate on the first to occur of the Delayed Payment Date or thirty (30) days after the date of Executive’s death.

 

12.                                 Miscellaneous.

 

a.                             Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

b.                            Entire Agreement/Amendments.  This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the employment of Executive by the Company.  There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants or undertakings between the parties with respect to the subject matter herein other than those expressly set forth herein.  This Agreement may not be altered, modified, or amended except by written instrument signed by the parties hereto.

 

c.                             No Waiver.  The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such party’s rights or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.

 

13



 

d.                            Severability.  In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

 

e.                             Assignment.  This Agreement, and all of Executive’s rights and duties hereunder, shall not be assignable or delegable by Executive.  Any purported assignment or delegation by Executive in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void ab initio and of no force and effect.  This Agreement may be assigned by the Company to a person or entity that is an Affiliate or a successor in interest to substantially all of the business operations of the Company.  Upon such assignment, the rights and obligations of the Company hereunder shall become the rights and obligations of such Affiliate or successor person or entity.

 

f.                               Set Off; No Mitigation.  The Company’s obligation to pay Executive the amounts provided and to make the arrangements provided hereunder shall be subject to set-off, counterclaim or recoupment of amounts owed by Executive to the Company or its Subsidiaries.  In the event of a termination of employment requiring the Company to make payments to Executive, any such payments shall be offset by amounts, if any, earned by Executive through other professional activities during the period commencing on such termination of employment and ending on the seventh anniversary of the Effective Date, provided Executive shall not be required to seek alternate employment.

 

g.                            Successors; Binding Agreement.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.

 

h.                            Notice.  For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three days after it has been mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth below in this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

If to the Company:

 

Front Line Management Group, Inc.
1100 Glendon Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90024
Facsimile:  (310) 209-3139
Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

 

With a copy to:

 

Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc.
8800 West Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Facsimile:  (310) 386-1244
Attention:  General Counsel

 

14



 

If to Executive:

 

To the most recent address of Executive set forth in the personnel records of the Company.

 

i.                                Conflicts of Interest.  In light of the fact that Affiliates and/or stockholders of the Company frequently enter into agreements with recording artists, songwriters and others who could potentially be represented by the Company, each party to this Agreement acknowledges that it is the intent of the parties that, in any situation in which the interests of the Company and/or any of its Artists are or may be adverse to the interests of such Affiliates and/or stockholders, Executive is to act solely in the interests of the Company and its Artists, and that Executive has no duty whatsoever to act in the interests of any such Affiliates and/or stockholders (except for the Company).  Executive further agrees to work with the Company to establish and maintain such procedures as are necessary to mitigate any conflict of interest.

 

j.                                Executive Representation.  Executive hereby represents to the Company that the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Executive and the Company and the performance by Executive of Executive’s duties hereunder shall not constitute a breach of, or otherwise contravene, the terms of any employment agreement or other agreement or policy to which Executive is a party or otherwise bound.

 

k.                             Prior Agreements.  This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (including verbal agreements) between Executive and the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and/or Affiliates regarding the terms and conditions of Executive’s employment with the Company.

 

l.                                Cooperation.  Executive shall provide Executive’s reasonable cooperation in connection with any action or proceeding (or any appeal from any action or proceeding) that relates to events occurring during Executive’s employment hereunder.  This provision shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

m.                          Withholding Taxes.  The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

 

n.                            Counterparts.  This Agreement shall be executed using separate signature pages for each signatory, and may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

 

[signature pages to follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Front Line Management Group, Inc, has duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

FRONT LINE MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

/s/ Colin Hodgson

 

By: Colin Hodgson

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT]

 



 

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

 

 

 

/s/ Irving Azoff

 

IRVING AZOFF

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT]

 


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