UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549  



FORM 8-K



C URRENT REPORT



Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934  



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 21 , 2016



World   Wrestling   Entertainment,   Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)







 

 

 

 





 

 

 

 

Delaware

 

001-16131

 

04-2693383

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

of incorporation)

 

 

 

Identification No.)

 



 

 





 

 

1241 East Main Street, Stamford, CT

 

06902

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)





Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (203) 352-8600



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 (see General Instruction A.2.):





 

 



 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

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 Arrangements of Certain Officers.



(e)  On April 21, 2016, the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (the “Company”) was held, at which the Company’s stockholders approved the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”). A description of the material terms and conditions of the Omnibus Plan is provided under the heading "PROPOSAL 2 - APPROVAL OF WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC. 2016 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN " starting on page 35 of the Company's Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2016, which description is incorporated herein by reference.



Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.



(a) and (b)  Of the 451,143,874 votes in respect of shares outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, 442,785,443 votes were represented at the meeting, or approximately a 98.14 % quorum.  The final results of voting for each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders at the meeting are as follows:



Proposal 1 – Election of Directors



·

Elected the following ten individuals to the Board of Directors to serve as directors until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2017 and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.





 

 

 

 

 



 

For

 

 

Withheld

 

Broker

Non-Votes



 

 

 

 

 

Vincent K. McMahon

437,537,718

 

109,774

 

5,137,951

Stephanie McMahon

437,204,774

 

442,718

 

5,137,951

Paul Levesque

437,202,835

 

444,657

 

5,137,951

Stuart U. Goldfarb

437,581,794

 

65,698

 

5,137,951

Patricia A. Gottesman

437,550,770

 

96,722

 

5,137,951

Laureen Ong

437,586,439

 

61,053

 

5,137,951

Joseph H. Perkins

437,576,969

 

70,523

 

5,137,951

Robyn W. Peterson

437,582,334

 

65,158

 

5,137,951

Frank A. Riddick, III

437,582,576

 

64,916

 

5,137,951

Jeffrey R. Speed

437,585,126

 

62,366

 

5,137,951



Proposal 2 – Approval of the Company’s 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan.



·

Approved the Company’s 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan.





 

 

 

For

Against

Abstentions

Broker Non Votes



 

 

 

436,054,992

1,529,269

63,231

5,137,951



Proposal 3 – Approval of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation .



·

Approved the Amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to allow Directors to be removed by the stockholders with or without cause.





 

 

 

For

Against

Abstentions

Broker Non Votes



 

 

 

442,364,439

163,619

257,385

0





 


 





Proposal 4 – Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditors



·

Ratified the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2016.  There were 442,639,111 votes for the ratification of the appointment, 103,361 votes against the ratification of the appointment, and 42,971 abstentions.



Proposal 5 – Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation



·

In an advisory vote, approved the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. 





 

 

 

For

Against

Abstentions

Broker Non Votes



 

 

 

436,185,163

1,390,934

71,395

5,137,951





Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits





 

3.1B

Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Annex B to the Proxy Statement filed March 11, 2016).



 

10.16*  

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex A to the Proxy Statement filed March 11, 2016).



 

10.16A*

Form of Performance Stock Units to the Company’s executive officers under the Company’s 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed herewith).



 

10.16B*

Form of Restricted Stock Units to the Company’s executive officers under the Company’s 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed herewith).



 

*  Indicated management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 


 





SIGNATURE



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.







 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



Dated:

  April 21 , 2016

 

By:

/s/ JAMES W. LANGHAM

 



 

 

 

 

James W. Langham

 



 

 

 

 

SVP, Assistant General Counsel

 



 

 


Exhibit 10.16A



WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.



AGREEMENT FOR PERFORMANCE STOCK UNITS



THIS AGREEMENT FOR PERFORMANCE STOCK UNITS (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of February ___, 2016, by and between World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and <Employee Name> a management employee of the Company (the “Employee”).



WHEREAS, the Company’s Board of Directors has approved a 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the Company will be seeking approval of the Plan at the 2016 annual meeting (the “Stockholder Approval”);



WHEREAS, the Company intends to make a grant under the Plan of performance stock units (each a “Performance Stock Unit” or “PSU”), which grant shall be conditional upon receipt of the Stockholder Approval and subject to the Company meeting certain prescribed performance criteria and, if those conditions are met, subject to vesting based on Employee’s continued employment with the Company as provided herein ; and



WHEREAS, Employee wishes to receive such Performance Stock Units in accordance with the Plan and this Agreement;



NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants stated herein, and intending to be legally bound, the Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:



1.

Certain Definitions



Each capitalized term used in this Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in the Plan unless otherwise defined herein.  The following capitalized terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:



(a)

“Date of Grant” for any PSU shall mean the date hereof.



(b)

“Dividend Units” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 4.



(c)

“Employee Account” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2(b). 



(d)

“Performance Criteria” shall mean the performance criteria set forth in Exhibit A hereto.



(e)

“PSU” shall mean a Performance Stock Unit under which Employee shall have the right to receive one Share and Dividend Units (as ascribed thereto in Section 4), accruing as a result of such PSU, upon the Company achieving performance criteria set forth in Exhibit A .  

Page 1 of 7

 


 



(f)

“Shares” shall mean the shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, including any such shares issuable upon the vesting of an PSU or Dividend Unit.



2.

Grant of PSUs; Restrictions



(a)

Subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and of this Agreement, including the Stockholder Approval (and subject to the execution or electronic acceptance of this Agreement by Employee), the Company hereby grants to Employee those PSUs listed in Exhibit A to this Agreement.



(b)

Each PSU shall be recorded in a PSU bookkeeping account maintained by the Company in the name of Employee (the “Employee Account”).  The Company’s obligations under this Agreement shall be unfunded and unsecured, and no special or separate fund shall be established and no other segregation of assets shall be made.  The rights of Employee under this Agreement shall be no greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.  Employee shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company by virtue of any PSU unless and until such PSU vests and resulting Shares are issued to Employee, and



i.

All terms and conditions stated in the Plan and all those stated in this Agreement shall apply to each PSU and  Dividend Unit;



ii.

No PSU or  Dividend Unit may be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or disposed by Employee; and



iii.

Each PSU and Dividend Unit shall remain restricted and subject to forfeiture unless and until it has vested in accordance with the Plan and this Agreement.



3.

Performance and Vesting



(a)

Performance; Time Vesting .  No Shares may be issued hereunder in excess of those determined by the Performance Criteria.  Provided the Company meets the Performance Criteria, the PSUs granted hereunder, at the levels dictated by the Company’s performance vis-à-vis the Performance Criteria, shall vest based on Employee’s continued employment with the Company in three substantially equal annual installments, with the first such installment occurring in the first calendar year after the year for which the Performance Criteria have been met, with actual vest dates for this award outlined in your account at Fidelity under the vesting schedule section. Associated Dividend Units and other dividends and distributions thereon, shall

Page 2 of 7

 


 

vest as provided in Section 4(ii).  In the event the Performance Criteria are not met, the PSUs and all Dividend Units shall terminate ab   initio and be of no further force or effect.



(b)

Dividend Unit Vesting .  Dividend Units and other dividends and distributions, shall vest as provided in Section 4(ii). 



(c)

Other Vesting



i.

Optional Vesting.  Provided Performance Criteria have theretofore been met, the Committee may determine that any other PSUs and Dividend Units shall become vested prior to the dates provided in Section 3(a) based on such factors as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion (including, without limitation and by way of example only, performance of Employee’s operating unit, performance of the Company as a whole, benefits of providing additional long-term incentive compensation to Employee in light of the competitive market for Employee’s services, severance arrangements, etc.).  If the Committee makes such a determination, then such additional PSUs and/or Dividend Units as may be specified by the Committee in such determination shall become vested at the time specified by the Committee in such determination. 



ii.

Change in Control.  If a Change in Control occurs and within twenty-four (24) months thereafter (x) the Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion); or (y) the Employee terminates his or her employment as a result of (i) a decrease in base salary; (ii) a material adverse change in responsibility or reporting structure; or (iii) a change in employment to a location more than twenty-five miles from the place of employment at the time of the Change in Control;   provided, in the case of clause (y), the Employee notifies the Company within ninety (90) days of such event and provides the Company thirty (30) days in which to cure.  In each case (x) and (y) ,   then all PSUs and Dividend Units shall immediately vest at the target level. 



(d)

Effects of Vesting .  With respect to each PSU and Dividend Unit that vests, the Company shall, within a reasonable time after the vesting (and in no event later than the latest date permitted by Section 409A of the Code ) , issue one Share to Employee without restrictions under the Plan or this Agreement.  Any such issuance shall be subject to all laws (including without limitation those governing withholding of taxes and those governing securities and transfer thereof). 





Page 3 of 7

 


 



4.

Dividend Units; Vesting  



With respect to each PSU, whether or not vested, that has not been forfeited (but only between the end of a fiscal period for which the Performance Criteria have been met and the time that the underlying Shares have been issued), the Company shall, with respect to any cash dividends paid to Shares (based on the same record and payment date as the dividends paid on such Shares) accrue into the Employee Account the number of Shares (“Dividend Units”) as could be purchased with the aggregate dividends that would have been paid with respect to such PSU if it were an outstanding Share (together with any other cash accrued in the Employee Account at that time) at the price per Share equal to the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (or a comparable price, if the Shares are not then listed on the NYSE) on the date of the dividend payment.  These Dividend Units thereafter (i) will be treated as PSUs for purposes of future dividend accruals pursuant to this Section 4; and (ii) will vest in such amounts (rounded to the nearest whole Dividend Unit) at the same time as the PSUs with respect to which such Dividend Units were received.  Any dividends or distributions on Shares paid other than in cash shall accrue in the Employee Account and shall vest at the same time as the PSUs in respect of which they are made (in each case in the same form, based on the same record date and at the same time, as such dividend or other distribution is paid on such Share). 



5.

Forfeiture    



Except as provided for vesting on termination of employment following a Change in Control as contemplated in Section 3(c)(ii) or vesting as part of a severance arrangement as contemplated in Section 3(c)(i), upon termination of Employee’s employment (regardless of whether caused by resignation, termination by the Company, death, disability or otherwise), each PSU, Dividend Unit and other remaining accrued dividends in the Employee Account, in each case that has not previously vested, shall be forfeited by the Employee to the Company.  Employee shall thereafter have no right, title or interest in such unvested PSUs, Dividend Units and accrued dividends and distributions and Employee shall immediately return to the Secretary of the Company any and all documents representing such forfeited items.  Upon such termination of employment any vested PSUs, Dividend Units and dividends and distributions thereon that have not been issued and paid in accordance herewith shall immediately be paid or issued, as the case may be, to the Employee (and in all events within such period of time as may be permitted by Section 409A of the Code). 



6.

No Continuation of Employment    



This Agreement shall not give Employee any right to employment or continued employment, and the Company may terminate Employee’s

Page 4 of 7

 


 

employment or otherwise treat Employee without regard to any effect such termination may have upon Employee under this Agreement. 



7.

Terms Subject to Plan    



Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each and every term, condition and provision of this Agreement shall be, and shall be construed to be, consistent in all respects with all terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan.  If any term, condition or provision of this Agreement is (or is alleged to be) inconsistent with the Plan in any respect, the Plan shall govern in all circumstances.



8.

Entire Agreement: Amendments    



This Agreement and the Plan contain all terms and conditions with respect to the subject matter hereof and no amendment, modification or other change hereto shall be of any force or effect unless and until set forth in a writing executed by Employee and the Company (in each case except for such amendments as the Company is expressly authorized hereunder, or under the Plan, to make without Employee’s consent).  No amendment to the Plan after the date hereof shall affect the terms and conditions hereof in a manner that is adverse to the Employee.



9.

Governing Law



This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.  If any dispute arises with respect to this Agreement or any matter hereunder, (x) such dispute shall be submitted to the Federal or state courts sitting in the State of Connecticut, with each party waiving any defense to such venue; and (y) each party irrevocably waives its right to a jury trial.  The prevailing party shall be reimbursed by the other party for any costs of any proceeding relating to this Agreement in any matter hereunder incurred by the prevailing party, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

10.

Taxes



Employee shall be liable for any and all taxes, including withholding taxes, arising out of this grant or the vesting of PSUs or distribution of Shares hereunder. Employee may elect to satisfy such withholding tax obligation by having the Company retain Shares having a fair market value equal to the Company's minimum withholding obligation.



11.

Stockholder   Approval



Th e gran t  o f   P SU s hereunde r   is   subject   to th e conditio n  o f receivin g the Stockholder   Approval,   and   in   the   event tha t Stockholde r Approva l  i s denied, the   P SUs   shall   t e r m inate   ab initio   and   be   of   no   further   force   and   effect.    

Page 5 of 7

 


 

Pending   Stockholder   Approval,   no   P SUs   or   Dividend   Units   shall   vest   and   no Shares   shall   be   issued  o r   issuable.



12.

International E m ployee   Acknowledge m ents   and   Consent s .

By   signing or electronically acknowledging this Agree m ent, the   E m ployee agrees   to   the attached Appendix A if located outside the United States.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employee has executed or electronically acknowledged this Agreement and the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer, all as of the day and year first above written.



EMPLOYEE WORLD WRESTLING

ENTERTAINMENT, INC.





 

 

 

<Employee Name>

 

By:

/s/ Blake T. Bilstad



 

 

Blake Bilstad



 

Title:

SVP, General Counsel & Secretary



Page 6 of 7

 


 

Exhibit A





Individual Target PSU Award

<PSU Target Amount>





Performance Criteria





Page 7 of 7

 


Exhibit 10.16B

WORL D   WRESTLIN G   ENTERTA I NMENT ,   INC. AGR E EM E N T   FO R   R E STRICT E D   STO CK   UNITS

THIS AGREEMENT FOR RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS   (this   “Agree m ent”)   is   ente r ed   into   as   of   ___________   by   and   between  W orld  W rest l ing   Entertain m ent,   Inc.,   a   Delaware   corporation   (the   “Co m pany”),   and <Employee Name> a  m anage me nt   e m ployee   of   t h e   Company   (the   “Employee”).



WHEREAS,   the   Co m p a ny’s   Board   of   Directors   has   approved a 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the Company will be seeking approval of the Plan by the   Company’s stockholders at their 2016 annual meeting   (the “Stockholder Approval”);



WHEREAS,   the   Co m p a ny   intends   to  m ake   a   g r ant   under   the   Plan   of   r e stricted   stock   u n its   (each   a   “Re s tricted   Stock   Unit”   or   “RSU”),   which   gra n t   s h all  b e   con d itional   upon   receipt   of   the   Stockholder   Approval   and   s ubjec t  t o vestin g based on Employee’s continued employment with the Company  a s   provided   herein;   and



WHEREAS,   E m ployee   wishes   to   receive   s uch   Restricted   Stock   Units   in   accorda n ce   with   the   Plan   and   this   Agree m en t ,   in   each   case   subject   to   Stockholder   Approval   as   provided   herein;



NOW,   THEREFORE,   i n   consideration   of   the   pre m ises   and   the   m utual   covenants   stated   herein,   and   intending   to   be   legally   bound,   the   Company   and   Employee   hereby   agree   as   follows:



1.

Certain   Definitions



Each   capitalized   term used   in   this   A g ree m ent   shall   h ave   t h e   m eaning   ascribed   to   t h at   term   in   the   P l a n   unless   oth erwis e   define d   herein .   Th e   following   capitalized   ter m s   shall   h ave   the   res p ecti v e   m eanings   set   forth   below:



(a)

“Date   of   Grant”   for   any   RSU   shall   mean   the   date   hereof.



(b)

“Dividend   Units”   sh a ll   have   the   m ean i ng   ascribed   thereto   in   Section   4.



(c)

“E m ployee Account” shall have t h e   m eaning ascribed thereto in   Section   2(b).



(d)

“RSU”   shall  m ean   a   Restricted   Stock   Unit   under   which   E m p l oyee   shall   have   the   right   to   receive   one   Share   and   Dividend   Units   and   other dividend s an d distribution s   thereon,   accruing   as   a   result   of   such   RSU, upon   vesting.



(e)

“Shares”   s h all   m ean   the   shares   of   t h e   Co m pany’s   Class   A   Com m on Stock,   including   any   such   shares   i ssuabl e   upo n   th e   vestin g   o f   a n   RSU or   Dividend   Unit.

Page 1 of 6

 


 



2.

Grant   of   RSUs;   Restrictions



(a)

Subject   to   all   ter m s   and   conditions   of   the   Plan   and   of   this   Agreement including the Stockholder Approval (and subject to execution or electronic acceptance   of this Agreement by Employee), the Company hereby   grants   to   E m ployee   those   RSUs   li s ted   in Exhibit A to   this   Ag re e m ent.



(b)

Each   RSU   shall  b e   recor d ed   in   a   RSU   bookkeeping   account  m aintained   by the Company in the na m e of Employee (the “E m ployee Account”) . Th e Company’ s obligation s unde r thi s Agreemen t shal l  b e unfunde d an d unsecured , an d  n o specia l  o r separat e fun d shal l  b e establishe d an d  n o othe r segregatio n  o f asset s shal l  b e made . Th e right s   o f Employe e unde r thi s Agreemen t shal l  b e  n o greate r tha n thos e  o f   a genera l unsecure d credito r  o f th e Company .   Employee   shall   have   no rights   as   a   stockholder   of   the   Com p any   by   virtue   of   any   RSU   unless an d   unti l   suc h   RS U vest s   an d   result ing   Shares are issued to E m ployee,   and



i.

All   ter m s   and   conditions   stated   in   the   Plan   and   all   those   stated   in   this   Ag re e m ent   shall   apply   to  e a c h   RSU   and   Dividend   Unit;



ii.

No   RSU   or   Dividend   Unit  m ay   be   sold,   transferred,   pledged,   hypothecated or   otherwise   e n cumbered   or   disposed   by E m ployee;   and



iii.

Each   RSU   and   Di v i d end   Unit  s hall   re m ain   re s tricted   and   subje c t   to  f or f eitu r e   unl e ss   and   until   it   has   ve s ted   in   E m ployee   in   acc o rdance   with   the Pl an   and   this   Agree m ent.



3.

Vesting



(a)

Ti m e   Vestin g .   The   RSUs   granted   hereun d er   sh a ll   v e st   based on Employee’s continued employment with the Company   in   thr e e   substanti a lly   equal   annual i n st al l m ents , with the first such annual installment in July 2017 .   The   actual   vest   dates   for   this   award   are   outli n ed   on   your   accou n t   at   Fidelity   under   the   vesting   schedule   section   for   this   award.   Associated   Dividend   Units an d othe r dividend s an d distribution s thereon , sha ll   vest   as   provided   in   Section  4 (ii ) .



(b)

Dividend Unit Vesting .  Dividen d Units and other dividends and distributions shall vest as provided in Section 4(ii).



(c)

Other   Vesting



i.

Optional   Vesting.   The   Com m ittee   may also determine that any RSUs and /or Dividend Units shall become vested early based on such factors as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion (including, without limitation and by way of example only,  

Page 2 of 6

 


 

performance of   Employee’s operating unit, performance of the Company as a whole, benefits of providing additional long-term incentive compensation to Employee in light of the competitive market for Employee’s services, severance arrangements, etc.).   If the Committee makes such a determination, then such RSUs and/or Dividend Units as may be specified by the Com m ittee   in   such   d e ter m ination   shall  b ecome   vested   at   the   ti m e   specified   by   the   Committee.



ii.

Change   in   Control.   If a Change in Control occurs and within twenty-four (24)   months thereafter (x) the Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion); or (y) the Employee terminates his or her employment as a result of (i) a decrease in base salary; (ii) a material adverse change in responsibility or reporting structure; or (iii) a change in employment to a location more than twenty-five miles from the place of employment at the time of the Change in Control; provided, in the case of clause (y), the Employee notifies the Company within ninety (90) days of such event and provides the Company thirty (30) days in which to cure.  In each case (x) and (y), then   all RSUs and Dividend Units shall immediately vest.



(d)

Effects   of   Vestin g .   With respect to each RSU and Dividend Unit that vests, the Company shall, within a reasonable time after the vesting (and in no event later than the latest da te permitted by Section 409A of the   Code) , issue one Share to Employee without restrictions under the Plan or this Agreement. Any such issuance shall be subject to all laws (including without limitation those governing withholding of taxes and those governing securities and transfer thereof).



4.

Dividend   Units;   Ve s ting



W ith   respect   to   each   RSU,   whether   or no t vested , tha t ha s no t bee n forfeited (but   only  u ntil   the   un d erl y ing   Sha r es   a r e   issu e d),   the   Company shall, with respect to any cash dividends paid to Shares (based on the same record and payment date as the dividends paid on such Shares) accrue into the Employee Account the number of Shares (“Dividend Units”) as could be purchased with the aggregate dividends that would have been paid with respect to such RSU if it were an outstanding Share (together with any other cash accrued in the Employee Account at that time) at the price per Share equal to the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (or a comparable price, if the Shares are not then listed on the NYSE) on the date of the dividend payment. These Dividend Units thereafter (i) will be treated as RSUs for purposes of future dividend accruals pursuant to this Section 4; and (ii) will vest in such amounts (rounded to the nearest whole Dividend Unit) at the same time as the RSUs with respect to which such Dividend Units were received. Any dividends or distributions on Shares paid other than in cash shall accrue in the Employee

Page 3 of 6

 


 

Account and shall vest at the same time as the RSUs in respect of which they are made (in each case in the same form, based on t he   sa m e  r ecord   date   and   at   the   sa m e   ti m e,   as   such   di viden d  o r othe r distributio n  i s pai d on such   Share).



5.

Forfeiture



Except   as   provided   for   vesting   on   t e r m ination   of   employment following a Change of Control as contemplated in Section 3(b)(ii) or vesting as part of a severance arrangement as contemplated in Section 3(b)(i), upon termination of Employee’s employment (regardless of whether caused by resignation, termination by the Company, death, disability or otherwise), each RSU, Dividend Unit and other remaining accrued dividends in the Employee Account, in each case that has not previously vested, shall be forfeited by the Employee to the Company. Employee shall thereafter have no right, title or interest in such unvested RSUs, Dividend Units and accrued dividends and distributions and   Employee shall immediately return to the Secretary of the Company any and all documents representing such forfeited items. Upon such termination of employment , any vested RSUs, Dividend Units and dividends and distributions thereon that have not already been paid or issued shall immediately be paid or issued, as the case may be,   to   the Em ployee (and in no event later than the latest date permitted by Section 409A of the Code) .



6.

No   Continuation   of   Employ m ent



This Agreement shall not give Employee any right to employment or continued employment and the Company may terminate Employee’s employment or otherwise treat Employee without regard to any effect such termination may have upon Employee under this Agreement.



7.

Ter m s   Subject   to   Plan



Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each and every term, condition and provision of this Agreement shall be, and shall be construed to be , consistent in all respects with all terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan. If any term, condition or provision of this Agreement is (or is alleged to be) inconsistent with the Plan in any respect, the Plan shall govern in all circumstances .



8.

Entire   Agree m ent:   A m end m ents



This   Agree m ent   and   the   Plan contain all terms and conditions with respect to the subject matter hereof and no amendment, modification or other change hereto shall be of any force or effect unless and until set forth in a writing executed (or electronic acknowledgement made) by Employee and the Company (in each case except for such amendments as the Company is expressly authorized hereunder, or under the Plan, to make without Employee’s consent).  No amendment to the Plan after   the date hereof shall affect the terms and conditions hereof in a manner that is adverse to the  

Page 4 of 6

 


 

Employee.



9.

Governing   Law



This   Agree m ent   shall   be   governed   by   and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. If any dispute arises with respect to this Agreement or any matter hereunder, (x) such dispute shall be submitted to the Federal or state courts sitting in the State of Connecticut, with each party   waiving any defense to such venue; and (y) each party irrevocably waives its right to a jury trial. The prevailing party shall be reimbursed by the other party for any costs of any proceeding relating to this Agreement in any matter hereunder incurred by the prevailing party, including   reasonable   attor n eys’   fees   a n d   costs.



10.

Taxes



Employee shall be liable for any and all taxes applicable to one’s tax situation. Taxes   may include but not be limited to withholding taxes and any related social security contributions, arising out of this grant or the vesting of RSUs or distribution of Shares hereunder. Employee may elect to satisfy such withholding tax obligation by having the Company retain Shares having a fair market value equal to the Company's minimum withholding obligation.



11.

Stockholder   Approval



The grant of RSUs hereunder is subject to the condition of receiving the Stockholder Approval, and in the event that Stockholder Approval is denied, the RSUs shall terminate ab initio and be of no further force and effect. Pending Stockholder Approval, no RSUs or Dividend Units shall vest and no Shares shall be issued or issuable.



12.

International E m ployee   Acknowledge m ents   and   Consent s .



By   signing or electronically acknowledging   this Agree m ent, the   E m ployee agrees   to   the attached Appendix A if located outside the United States.



IN   W ITNE S S   WH E R E OF ,   E m ployee   has   executed   or electronically acknowledg ed   this   Agree m ent   and   the   Co m pany   has caused this Agree m ent   to be   executed   by   its d u ly   a u t h orized officer, all   as   of   the   day   and   year   first   above   written.





    EMPLOYE E WORL D   WRESTLING   ENTER T A I N M ENT ,   IN C .





 

 

 



 

By:

/s/ Blake T. Bilstad



 

 

Blake T. Bilstad



 

Page 5 of 6

 


 

Exhibit   A





Nu m ber   of   RSUs   granted   ____

Page 6 of 6