UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

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

 

 

June 7, 2018

(Date of earliest event reported)

 

Cinedigm Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware 001-31810 22-3720962
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

45 West 36 th Street, 7 th Floor, New York, New York 10018
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

212-206-8600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

(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 ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ 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))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ¨  

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transmission period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨    

 

 

 

 

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

 

On June 7, 2018, Cinedigm Corp. (the “Company”) entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of August 22, 2013 and amended on August 4, 2017, between the Company and Christopher J. McGurk (the “Employment Agreement”). Pursuant to the Amendment, Mr. McGurk will continue to serve as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the Company through March 31, 2021. The Amendment also provides that (i) if Mr. McGurk’s employment continues after March 31, 2021 without an extension or renewal of the Employment Agreement, as amended, or entry into another employment agreement, then such employment will be at-will and, for the duration of the at-will employment, Mr. McGurk will be entitled to receive the Base Salary (as defined in the Employment Agreement) and participate in the bonus, stock incentive, and benefit programs in effect at the expiration of the Term (as defined in the Amendment).

 

The Amendment also provides that Mr. McGurk is eligible for (i) under the Company’s Management Annual Incentive Plan, a target bonus opportunity percentage of 100% of the Base Salary, to be adjusted higher or lower at the sole and absolute discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”), consistent with goals established from time to time by the Compensation Committee, (ii) under the Company’s 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, performance share units for up to 640,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock (the “Common Stock”), subject to the EBITDA targets to be determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the Compensation Committee, with 50% of such shares to vest on March 31 of each of 2019 and 2020, and (iii) under the Company’s 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, 700,000 stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) having an exercise price of $1.47 and a term of ten (10) years, and one-third (1/3) of which will vest on March 31 of each of 2019, 2020 and 2021.

 

The Amendment provides that, in the event of a termination without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement), Mr. McGurk shall be entitled to payment of (i) the greater of any Base Salary for the remainder of the Term or one year’s Base Salary and (ii) an amount equivalent to the average of the last three (3) bonus payments under the MAIP, if any, under the Employment Agreement. In addition, the Amendment provides that the existing severance terms in connection with a Change in Control apply if all conditions to such payment occur prior to March 31, 2020, and that if such conditions apply occur thereafter, then Mr. McGurk shall be entitled to the payments described in the first sentence of this paragraph instead.

 

All terms of the Employment Agreement that were not affected by the Amendment remain in full force and effect.

 

The foregoing description of the Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to such agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1. A form of Notice of Stock Appreciation Right Grant is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2.

 

 

 

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

  

    EXHIBIT INDEX
     

Exhibit No.

 

Description

     
10.1   Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Cinedigm Corp. and Christopher J. McGurk dated as of June 7, 2018.
10.2   Form of Notice of Stock Appreciation Right Grant.

 

 

 

 

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

    CINEDIGM CORP.
Dated: June 11, 2018   By: 

 

 

 

/s/ Gary S. Loffredo

      Gary S. Loffredo
President of Digital Cinema, General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Amendment to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (“Amendment”) is made as of June 7, 2018 by and between Cinedigm Corp., a Delaware Corporation, 45 West 36 th St., 7 th Floor, New York, NY 10018 (the “Company”) and Christopher J. McGurk, having an address at 8383 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 400, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 (the “Employee”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS , the Company and the Employee entered into an Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement on August 4, 2017 (the “Amendment”), which expired as of March 31, 2018;

 

WHEREAS , the Company desires to continue to employ the services of the Employee, and the Employee notified the Company prior to March 31, 2018 of his intention to extend the Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.       All terms and conditions of the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between the Employee and the Company, dated as of August 22, 2013 and as modified by Amendment (together, the “Agreement”) shall remain in full force and effect except as expressly modified herein, and there shall be no modification of such terms and conditions except as expressly made herein.

 

2.       Paragraph 3 of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“The term of this Agreement shall commence on April 1, 2018 (the “Effective Date”) and terminate on March 31, 2021 (the “Term”). The parties agree to provide written notice to each other no later than six (6) months before the expiration of the Term regarding whether or not each would like to negotiate a renewal of this Agreement. Upon the expiration of the Term, this Agreement, except for the provisions that survive pursuant to this paragraph 3 and paragraph 8, will have no further force or effect.

 

In the event the Employee remains employed by the Company after the Term expires and the parties have not executed a successor written agreement, the Employee’s employment will be at-will. In such event, the Employee, for the duration of his at-will employment, will be entitled to receive the Base Salary and participate in the bonus, stock incentive, and benefit programs in effect at the expiration of the Term.”

 

3.       Paragraph 4(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

MAIP Bonus . Employee shall be eligible for a bonus under the Company’s Management Annual Incentive Plan or any amended or successor plan thereto (the “MAIP Bonus”). The Employee shall be eligible for a target bonus opportunity percentage of 100% of the Employee’s base salary (i.e., a target value of $600,000), to be adjusted higher or lower at the sole and absolute discretion of the Compensation Committee and the Company’s Board of Directors consistent with goals established from time to time by the Committee. MAIP Bonuses shall be paid at the same time bonuses are paid to other executives of the Company, which payment shall be during the calendar year that includes the close of such fiscal year, but no later than August 31st following the fiscal year for which the bonus is earned, and shall be subject to the terms of the MAIP.”

 

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4.       A new paragraph 4(g) is hereby added to the Agreement as follows:

 

Performance Share Units . The Employee is a participant in the Company’s 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (“EIP”) and has been awarded performance share units (“PSUs”) as approved by the Board of Directors. Subject to EBITDA targets to be determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors of the Company, the Employee will be eligible to receive up to 640,000 shares of Company common stock (“PSU Shares”), subject to the Company’s discretion to pay such award in cash or in stock. The award described in this paragraph will be subject to the specific terms of separate Notices of Award that will be provided to the Employee.”

 

5.       A new paragraph 4(h) is hereby added to the Agreement as follows:

 

Long-Term Incentive Awards . The Employee shall receive an award of 700,000 stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) pursuant to the EIP upon mutual execution of this Agreement. The SARs will have an exercise/strike price equal to the fair market value of the date of the grant. One-third of the SARs will vest on the last day of each of the 2019, 2020, and 2021 fiscal years. SARs may be settled by the Company in cash or shares at the sole and absolute discretion of the Compensation Committee, which may consider, among other factors, the availability of shares under the EIP. Other SARs features such as length of term, and termination provisions shall be consistent with prior option grants, subject to the sole and absolute discretion of the Compensation Committee. The award described in this paragraph will be subject to the specific terms of separate Notices of Award that will be provided to the Employee.”

 

6.       Paragraph 6(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended to provide that, in the event of a termination without Cause under paragraph 6(b) of the Agreement, the Employee shall be entitled to payment of (i) any Salary for the remainder of the Term or one year’s Salary, whichever is greater and (ii) an amount equivalent to the average of the last three (3) payments of the MAIP Bonus, if any, under this Agreement. To the extent that any remaining provision of paragraph 6(b) is inconsistent with the provisions of this paragraph, the terms of this paragraph supersede and control.

 

7.        Paragraph 6(c) of the Agreement is hereby amended to provide that the Employee shall be entitled to the payments provided in that paragraph if all conditions to such payment occur prior to March 31, 2020; and to further provided that, following March 31, 2020, if all conditions provided in Paragraph 6(c) occur, then in lieu of the payments provided in Paragraph 6(c), the Employee shall be entitled to the payments provided in Paragraph 6(b).

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have executed and delivered this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

 

  CINEDIGM CORP.     CHRISTOPHER J. MCGURK    
             
             
             
By: /s/ Gary S. Loffredo     /s/ Christopher J. McGurk    
  Gary S. Loffredo          
  EVP, General Counsel          

 

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Exhibit 10.2 

 

NOTICE OF SAR GRANT

under the

CINEDIGM CORP . 2017 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

No. of shares subject to SAR: _________________

 

This GRANT, made as of the _____ day of ______, 20___ by Cinedigm Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), to ____________________, is made pursuant and subject to the provisions of the Company’s 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), a copy of which has been given to Participant. All terms used herein that are defined in the Plan have the same meanings given them in the Plan.

 

1.        Grant of SARs . Pursuant to the Plan, the Company, on __________ __ , 20__ (“Grant Date”), granted to Participant, an aggregate of ____________ stock appreciation rights (“SAR” or “SARs”) subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and subject further to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Each SAR entitles the Participant to receive, upon exercise, an amount (referred to herein as the “Stock Appreciation Amount”) equal to the excess of (a) the Market Price per share of the Common Stock on the exercise date, over (b) $XX.XX , being not less than the Market Price per share of the Common Stock on the Grant Date (the amount in (b) referred to herein as the “Exercise Price”). Such SARs will be exercisable as hereinafter provided.

 

2.        Expiration Date . The Expiration Date of the SARs is the date that is ten (10) years from the Grant Date. The SARs may not be exercised on or after the Expiration Date.

 

3.        Vesting of SARs . Except as provided in paragraphs 7, 8, 9, or 10, the SARs shall become vested in three annual installments pursuant to the following table:

 

Date of Vesting Number of SARs that will Vest
_______ ___, 20___ ______________
_______ ___, 20___ ______________
_______ ___, 20___ ______________

 

 

4.        Exercisability of SARs . Except as provided in paragraphs 7, 8, 9, or 10, the SARs shall become exercisable at the time they become vested pursuant to paragraph 4. Once the SARs have become exercisable in accordance with the preceding sentence, they shall continue to be exercisable until the termination of Participant’s rights hereunder pursuant to paragraphs 7, 8, 9, or 10, or until the Expiration Date, if earlier. A partial exercise of this SAR shall not affect Participant’s right to exercise the SARs with respect to the remaining shares, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and those set forth herein.

 

5.        Method of Exercising SARs and Form of Payment of Stock Appreciation Amount . The SARs shall be exercised pursuant to procedures established by the Committee for exercising the SARs. Upon exercise of the SARs, the Stock Appreciation Amount , less any amounts withheld pursuant to paragraph 18, shall be paid, as determined solely at the discretion of the Company, in (a) whole shares of Common Stock, (b) cash, or (c) a combination of both cash and Common Stock.

 

 

 

 

6.        Nontransferability . This SARs are nontransferable except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. During Participant’s lifetime, the SARs may be exercised only by Participant.

 

7.        Upon a Qualifying Termination Event .

 

(a)       Notwithstanding anything in this SAR to the contrary, if, prior to the forfeiture of the SARs under paragraph 9, Participant experiences a Qualifying Termination Event (as defined below), the SARs shall become vested and exercisable as to a pro-rata number of the unvested SARs, as determined in accordance with the following sentence. The pro-rata number of the unvested SARs that shall vest and become exercisable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be equal to a fraction of the remaining unvested SARs; the numerator of such fraction shall be “x” where x equals the number of full months of service performed by the Participant after the Grant Date and prior to the Qualifying Termination Event, and the denominator of the fraction shall be 36. The non-vested portion of the SARs shall be forfeited.

 

(b)        The portion of the SARs vested pursuant to paragraph 3 or subparagraph (a) of this paragraph 7 may be exercised beginning on the date the SAR becomes vested and shall remain exercisable according to the terms provided in paragraph 4 , and the Participant or Participant’s beneficiary (or estate as the case may be) may exercise this SAR during the remainder of the period preceding the Expiration Date. Participant shall have the right to designate his beneficiary in accordance with procedures established under the Plan for such purpose. If Participant fails to designate a beneficiary, or if at the time of his death there is no surviving beneficiary, the SARs may be exercised by his estate.

 

8.        Exercise of Vested SARs After Other Termination of Employment . Except as provided in paragraph 7, in the event Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or an Affiliate, the rules under this paragraph 8 shall apply. If Participant ceases to be employed after the SARs are vested, but prior to the Expiration Date, Participant may exercise the SARs with respect to the shares he is entitled to purchase pursuant to paragraphs 3 and 4 above within sixty (60) days of the date of such termination of employment (but in no event later than the Expiration Date). Any portion of the vested SARs that is not exercised within the foregoing sixty (60) day period shall be immediately forfeited.

 

9.        Forfeiture . Any non-vested portion of the SARs that does not become vested pursuant to paragraph 3, 7(a) or 10, shall be forfeited if Participant’s employment with the Company or an Affiliate terminates for any reason.

 

10.       Change in Control . In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan) prior to the forfeiture of the SARs under paragraph 9, the provisions of this paragraph 10 shall apply in addition to the provisions of Article 17 (and related provisions) of the Plan.

 

(a)     Any Replacement Award made to the Participant shall provide that if the Participant is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or voluntarily resigns for Good Reason (as defined in paragraph 11) concurrent with or within two (2) years after the date of the Change in Control, the non-vested Replacement Award shall become immediately vested and shall be exercisable as provided in paragraph 7(b), at the time of the termination or resignation. The Committee shall have the discretion to determine the terms of any Replacement Award in compliance with the Plan and applicable law. For purposes of paragraphs 9 and 11, references to the Company or an Affiliate shall also include any successor entity.

 

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(b)    Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) hereof, in connection with a Change in Control where the Company’s shares continue to be traded on the Nasdaq Global Market or another established securities market and this SAR remains in effect, if the Participant is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or voluntarily resigns for Good Reason (as defined in paragraph 11) concurrent with or within two (2) years after the date of the Change in Control, the non-vested SARs shall become immediately vested and shall be exercisable as provided in paragraph 7(b), as of the time of the termination or resignation.

 

11.        Qualifying Termination Event and Other Terms .

 

(a)     For purposes of this SAR, Qualifying Termination Event shall mean a Participant’s death, Disability, termination by the Company or an Affiliate other than for Cause, or voluntary termination for Good Reason.

 

(b)     “Disability” shall mean a Participant’s permanent and total disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

 

(c)     If the events described in subparagraph (a) or paragraph 10 occur after the date that the Participant is advised (upon recommendation by the Committee) that his employment is being, or will be, terminated for Cause, on account of performance or in circumstances that prevent him from being in good standing with the Company, accelerated vesting shall not occur and all rights under this SAR shall terminate, and this SAR shall expire on the date of Participant’s termination of employment. The Committee shall have the authority to determine whether Participant’s termination from employment is for Cause or for any reason other than Cause.

 

(d)     “Good Reason” means (1), (2) or (3), as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion without Participant’s written consent: (1) a material and substantially adverse reduction in Participant’s title or job responsibilities compared with Participant’s title or job responsibilities on the Date of Grant, (2) the Company’s requiring the office nearest to Participant’s principal residence to be located at a place that is more than fifty (50) miles from where such office is currently located, or (3) any material breach of an employment agreement by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Good Reason will be deemed to exist only in the event that: (x) Participant gives written notice to the Company of his or her claim of Good Reason and the specific grounds for the claim within ninety (90) days following the occurrence of the event upon which the claim rests, (y) the Company fails to cure such breach within thirty days (30) of receiving such notice (“Cure Period”), and (z) Participant gives written notice to the Company to terminate his or her employment within fifteen (15) days following the Cure Period.

 

12.        Fractional Shares . Fractional shares shall not be issuable hereunder, and when any provision hereof may entitle Participant to a fractional share such fraction shall be disregarded.

 

13.        No Right to Continued Employment . This SAR does not confer upon Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment by the Company or an Affiliate, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate his employment at any time.

 

14.        Change in Capital Structure . The terms of this SAR shall be adjusted as the Committee determines is equitable in the event the Company effects one or more stock dividends, stock split-ups, subdivisions or consolidations of shares or other similar changes in capitalization.

 

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15.       Governing Law . This SAR shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware and applicable Federal law. All disputes arising under this SAR shall be adjudicated solely within the state or Federal courts located within the State of Delaware.

 

16.        Conflicts .

 

(a)       In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Plan as in effect on the date hereof and the provisions of this SAR, the provisions of the Plan shall govern. All references herein to the Plan shall mean the Plan as in effect on the date hereof.

 

(b)       In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this SAR and the provisions of any separate Agreement between the Company and the Participant, including, but not limited to, any Severance Compensation Agreement, the provisions of that separate Agreement shall govern.

 

17.        Binding Effect . Subject to the limitations set forth herein and in the Plan, this SAR shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the legatees, distributees, and personal representatives of Participant and the successors of the Company. 

 

18.        Taxes . Tax withholding requirements attributable to the exercise of this SAR, including employment taxes, Federal income taxes, and state and local income taxes with respect to the state and locality where, according to the Company's system of records, the Participant resides at the time the SAR is exercised, except as otherwise might be determined to be required by the Company, will be satisfied by the Participant as instructed in the established procedures for exercising this SAR; provided, howeve r , that the foregoing employment, Federal, state and local income tax withholding provision shall be subject to any special rules or provisions that may apply to Participants who are non-US employees (working inside or outside of the United States) or US employees working outside of the United States. It is the Participant's responsibility to properly report all income and remit all Federal, state, and local taxes that may be due to the relevant taxing authorities as the result of exercising this SAR.

 

19.        Recoupment . In addition to any other applicable provision of the Plan, this SAR is subject to the terms of any separate Clawback Policy maintained by the Company, as such Policy may be amended from time to time.

 

20.        Acceptance . Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Agreement. Participant has read and understands the terms and provisions thereof, and accepts the SAR subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement. The Participant acknowledges that there may be adverse tax consequences upon exercise of the SARs or disposition of the underlying shares and that the Participant should consult a tax advisor prior to such exercise or disposition.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Participant have each caused this Notice of SAR Grant to be signed on their behalf.

 

 

    Cinedigm Corp.  
       
     
  By:    
       
       
       
       
       
    Participant  

 

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