8-K

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): December 31, 2008

Morgans Hotel Group Co.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-33738	16-1736884
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

475 Tenth Avenue New York, NY	10018
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 277-4100

Not applicable

(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:

o 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 8.01. Other Events.

Amendments to Employment Agreements

As of December 31, 2008, Morgans Hotel Group Co. (the “Company”) entered into amendments to employment agreements with Fred J. Kleisner, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Richard Szymanski, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (collectively, the “Amendments”).  The principal reason for the Amendments is to ensure compliance with the requirements of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”), including the final regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service.  Section 409A governs the deferral under nonqualified compensation plans of compensation that is earned by a director, officer, or employee in one year but payable in a future year.  Section 409A imposes new requirements having to do with deferral elections, payment events, and payment elections.

None of the changes affect the amount of benefits to which the employee was entitled under his existing employment agreement. 

Copies of the Amendments are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 and are incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Amendments does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amendments.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description
10.1	Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement for Fred J. Kleisner
10.2	Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement for Richard Szymanski

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.

MORGANS HOTEL GROUP CO.

Date: January 7, 2009

By: /s/ Richard Szymanski            
Richard Szymanski
Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description
10.1	Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement for Fred J. Kleisner
10.2	Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement for Richard Szymanski

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR FRED J. KLEISNER
AMENDMENT NO. 1

This Amendment No. 1 to the Employment Agreement for Fred J. Kleisner (“Amendment No. 1”) is made, effective as of December 31, 2008, by and between Morgans Hotel Group Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Fred J. Kleisner (“Executive”).

Recitals:

WHEREAS, Executive and the Company previously entered into an Employment Agreement, effective as of December 10, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Executive and the Company desire to further amend the Employment Agreement to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Agreement:

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements contained herein and of such other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which Executive acknowledges, the Company and Executive, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1. Section 3(c) of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended to read as follows:

“(c) Termination by Employee with Good Reason.

(i) Employee may terminate this Agreement for Good Reason, as defined below, by notifying the Company of his intent to terminate his employment with Good Reason, and, thereafter, the Employer shall: (1) pay Employee his pro-rata Annual Bonus, if any, for the current calendar year through the date of his termination; (2) continue to pay Employee his Base Salary for twenty-four (24) months after his date of termination; and (3) continue paying for Employee’s health insurance benefits for a period of twenty-four (24) months after such termination.

(ii) The term Good Reason shall mean, subject to the conditions described in Section 3(c)(iii), the occurrence of one or more of the following without Employee’s written consent: (i) any material failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Agreement, other than insubstantial and inadvertent failures not in bad faith which are remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Employee; (ii) the assignment to Employee, or the removal from Employee, of any duties or responsibilities that result in a material diminution of Employee’s authority; (iii) a material diminution of the budget over which Employee has responsibility, other than for a bona fide business reason; (iv) any material failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 9(c) of this Agreement; (v) the imposition of any requirement that Employee relocate his office to a location other than Manhattan; or (vi) a material breach by the Company of any written agreement between the Company and Employee.

(iii) For an act or omission described in Section 3(c)(ii) to constitute Good Reason, (i) Employee must notify the Company in writing within sixty (60) days after Employee has knowledge that an event constituting Good Reason has occurred; (ii) such act or omission must be capable of being cured and continue after Employee has given the Company notice thereof beyond thirty (30) days following Company’s receipt of the required notice; and (iii) Employee actually terminates employment within thirty (30) days of the end of the 30-day cure period.”

2. Section 3(h) of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended to read as follows:

“(h) Release of Claims. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else contained in this Agreement to the contrary, prior to the payment by Employer of the termination payments and benefits provided for in clause (c), (f), or (g) of this paragraph 3, to the extent that such payments or benefits are conditioned upon the execution and delivery by the Executive of a release of claims, the Executive shall forfeit all rights to such payments and benefits unless such release is signed and delivered (and no longer subject to revocation). Within three (3) days of such a termination, the Company shall provide a general customary release to Employee, which Employee must sign within thirty (30) days following the termination.”

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3. Section 8(a) of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended to read as follows:

“(a) Limitations Under Code Section 409A

(i) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if (A) on the date of termination of Executive’s employment with the Company or a subsidiary, any of the Company’s stock is publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “Code”)), (B) Executive is determined to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B), (C) the payments exceed the amounts permitted to be paid pursuant to Treasury Regulations section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) and (D) such delay is required to avoid the imposition of the tax set forth in Section 409A(a)(1), as a result of such termination, the Executive would receive any payment that, absent the application of this Section 5(g), would be subject to interest and additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A(a) as a result of the application of Section 409A(2)(B)(i), then no such payment shall be payable prior to the date that is the earliest of (1) six (6) months and one day after the Executive’s termination date, (2) the Executive’s death or (3) such other date (the “Delay Period”) as will cause such payment not to be subject to such interest and additional tax (with a catch-up payment equal to the sum of all amounts that have been delayed to be made as of the date of the initial payment). In particular, with respect to any lump sum payment otherwise required hereunder, in the event of any delay in the payment date as a result of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) and (B)(i), the Company will adjust the payments to reflect the deferred payment date by crediting interest thereon at the prime rate in effect at the time such amount first becomes payable, as quoted by the Company’s principal bank.

(ii) To the extent that any benefits to be provided during the Delay Period are considered deferred compensation under Code Section 409A provided on account of a “separation from service,” and such benefits are not otherwise exempt from Section 409A, the Executive shall pay the cost of such benefits during the Delay Period, and the Company shall reimburse the Executive, to the extent that such costs would otherwise have been paid by the Company or to the extent that such benefits would otherwise have been provided by the Company at no cost to the Executive, the Company’s share of the cost of such benefits upon expiration of the Delay Period, and any remaining benefits shall be reimbursed or provided by the Company in accordance with the procedures specified herein.

(iii) In addition, other provisions of this Agreement or any other such plan notwithstanding, the Company shall have no right to accelerate any such payment or to make any such payment as the result of any specific event except to the extent permitted under Section 409A.

(iv) For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made after termination of employment, including COBRA continuation reimbursement payment, will be considered one of a series of separate payments.

(v) A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.”

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(vi) Any amount that Executive is entitled to be reimbursed under this Agreement that may be treated as taxable compensation, including any gross-up payment, will be reimbursed to Executive as promptly as practical and in any event not later than sixty (60) days after the end of the calendar year in which the expenses are incurred; provided that Executive shall have provided a reimbursement request to the Company no later than thirty (30) days prior to the date the reimbursement is due. The amount of the expenses eligible for reimbursement during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses for reimbursement in any other calendar year, except as may be required pursuant to an arrangement providing for the reimbursement of expenses referred to in Section 105(b) of the Code.

(vii) The Company shall not be obligated to reimburse Executive for any tax penalty or interest or provide a gross-up in connection with any tax liability of Executive under Section 409A.

(viii) Any annual bonus that is earned pursuant to Section 2 shall be paid, whether is cash or equity as provided above, between January 1 and March 15 of the year following the year for which such annual bonus was earned; provided,  however, that if the Board shall determine that it is administratively impracticable, which may include inability of the Company to gain certification of its financial statements, to make such annual bonus payment by March 15, any such payment shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable after such period and in no event later than December 31 of the year following the year for which such annual bonus was earned.

(ix) Whenever a payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., “payment shall be made within thirty (30) days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.

(x) Unless this Agreement provides a specified and objectively determinable payment schedule to the contrary, to the extent that any payment of base salary or other compensation is to be paid for a specified continuing period of time beyond the date of termination of Executive’s employment in accordance with the Company’s payroll practices (or other similar term), the payments of such base salary or other compensation shall be made on a monthly basis.”

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4. The provisions of this Amendment No. 1 may be amended and waived only with the prior written consent of the parties hereto. This Amendment No. 1 may be executed and delivered in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

5. Except as set forth in this Amendment No. 1, the Employment Agreement shall remain unchanged and shall continue in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Amendment No. 1 on the date first written above.

MORGANS HOTEL GROUP CO.

By: /s/ Fred J. Kleisner           
Name: Fred J. Kleisner
Title: Chief Executive Officer

EXECUTIVE

/s/ Fred J. Kleisner             
Fred J. Kleisner

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EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR RICHARD SZYMANSKI
AMENDMENT NO. 1

This Amendment No. 1 to the Employment Agreement for Richard Szymanski (“Amendment No. 1”) is made, effective as of December 31, 2008, by and between Morgans Hotel Group Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Richard Szymanski (“Executive”).

Recitals:

WHEREAS, Executive and the Company previously entered into an Employment Agreement, effective as of October 1, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Executive and the Company desire to further amend the Employment Agreement to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Agreement:

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements contained herein and of such other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which Executive acknowledges, the Company and Executive, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1. Section 3(c) of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended to read as follows:

“(c) Termination by Employee with Good Reason.

(i) Employee may terminate this Agreement for Good Reason, as defined below, by notifying the Company of his intent to terminate his employment with Good Reason, and, thereafter, the Employer shall: (1) pay Employee his pro-rata Annual Bonus, if any, for the current calendar year through the date of his termination; (2) continue to pay Employee his Base Salary for twenty-four (24) months after his date of termination; (3) pay Employee a bonus equal to the greater of (i) the bonus he actually received for the prior two years or (ii) twice his annual target bonus; and (4) continue paying for Employee’s health insurance benefits for a period of twenty-four (24) months after such termination.

(ii) The term Good Reason shall mean, subject to the conditions described in Section 3(a)(iii), the occurrence of one or more of the following without Employee’s written consent: (i) any material failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Agreement, other than insubstantial and inadvertent failures not in bad faith which are remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Employee; (ii) the assignment to Employee, or the removal from Employee, of any duties or responsibilities that result in a material diminution of Employee’s authority; (iii) a material diminution of the budget over which Employee has responsibility, other than for a bona fide business reason; (iv) any material failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 8(c) of this Agreement; (v) the imposition of any requirement that Employee relocate his office to a location other than Manhattan; or (vi) a material breach by the Company of any written agreement between the Company and Employee.

(iii) For an act or omission described in Section 3(c)(ii) to constitute Good Reason, (i) Employee must notify the Company in writing within sixty (60) days after Employee has knowledge that an event constituting Good Reason has occurred; (ii) such act or omission must be capable of being cured and continue after Employee has given the Company notice thereof beyond thirty (30) days following Company’s receipt of the required notice; and (iii) Employee actually terminates employment within thirty (30) days of the end of the 30-day cure period.”

2. Section 3(h) of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended to read as follows:

“(h) Release of Claims. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else contained in this Agreement to the contrary, prior to the payment by Employer of the termination payments and benefits provided for in clause (c), (f), or (g) of this paragraph 3, to the extent that such payments or benefits are conditioned upon the execution and delivery by the Executive of a release of claims, the Executive shall forfeit all rights to such payments and benefits unless such release is signed and delivered (and no longer subject to revocation). Within three (3) days of such a termination, the Company shall provide a general customary release to Employee, which Employee must sign within thirty (30) days following the termination.”

3. Section 7 of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following paragraphs as a new Section 7(c):

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“(c) To the extent that any benefits to be provided during the six month period commencing on a separation from service (the “Delay Period”) are considered deferred compensation under Code Section 409A provided on account of a “separation from service,” and such benefits are not otherwise exempt from Section 409A, the Executive shall pay the cost of such benefits during the Delay Period, and the Company shall reimburse the Executive, to the extent that such costs would otherwise have been paid by the Company or to the extent that such benefits would otherwise have been provided by the Company at no cost to the Executive, the Company’s share of the cost of such benefits upon expiration of the Delay Period, and any remaining benefits shall be reimbursed or provided by the Company in accordance with the procedures specified herein.

In addition, other provisions of this Agreement or any other such plan notwithstanding, the Company shall have no right to accelerate any such payment or to make any such payment as the result of any specific event except to the extent permitted under Section 409A.

For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made after termination of employment, including COBRA continuation reimbursement payment, will be considered one of a series of separate payments.

A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.”

Any amount that Executive is entitled to be reimbursed under this Agreement that may be treated as taxable compensation, including any gross-up payment, will be reimbursed to Executive as promptly as practical and in any event not later than sixty (60) days after the end of the calendar year in which the expenses are incurred; provided that Executive shall have provided a reimbursement request to the Company no later than thirty (30) days prior to the date the reimbursement is due. The amount of the expenses eligible for reimbursement during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses for reimbursement in any other calendar year, except as may be required pursuant to an arrangement providing for the reimbursement of expenses referred to in Section 105(b) of the Code.

The Company shall not be obligated to reimburse Executive for any tax penalty or interest or provide a gross-up in connection with any tax liability of Executive under Section 409A.

Any annual bonus that is earned pursuant to Section 2 shall be paid, whether is cash or equity as provided above, between January 1 and March 15 of the year following the year for which such annual bonus was earned; provided, however, that if the Board shall determine that it is administratively impracticable, which may include inability of the Company to gain certification of its financial statements, to make such annual bonus payment by March 15, any such payment shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable after such period and in no event later than December 31 of the year following the year for which such annual bonus was earned.

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Whenever a payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., “payment shall be made within thirty (30) days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.

Unless this Agreement provides a specified and objectively determinable payment schedule to the contrary, to the extent that any payment of base salary or other compensation is to be paid for a specified continuing period of time beyond the date of termination of Executive’s employment in accordance with the Company’s payroll practices (or other similar term), the payments of such base salary or other compensation shall be made on a monthly basis.”

4. The provisions of this Amendment No. 1 may be amended and waived only with the prior written consent of the parties hereto. This Amendment No. 1 may be executed and delivered in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

5. Except as set forth in this Amendment No. 1, the Employment Agreement shall remain unchanged and shall continue in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Amendment No. 1 on the date first written above.

MORGANS HOTEL GROUP CO.

By: /s/ Fred J. Kleisner            
Name: Fred J. Kleisner
Title: Chief Executive Officer

EXECUTIVE

/s/ Richard Szymanski          
Richard Szymanski

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