NY false 0001636519 0001636519 2021-11-16 2021-11-16

 

 

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): November 16, 2021

 

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-36900   47-3373056

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

Two Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, New York   10121
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (212) 465-4111

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:

 

 

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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Class A Common Stock   MSGS   New York Stock Exchange

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 transition 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.

Approval of Executive Deferred Compensation Plan

On November 16, 2021, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (the “Company”) approved The Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the “EDCP”), pursuant to which certain employees, including the Company’s named executive officers, may elect to participate.

Pursuant to the EDCP, participants may make elective base salary or bonus deferral contributions. Participants may make individual investment elections that will determine the rate of return on their deferral amounts under the EDCP. The EDCP does not provide any above-market returns or preferential earnings to participants, and the participants’ deferrals and their earnings are always 100% vested. The EDCP does not provide for any Company contributions. Participants may elect at the time they make their deferral elections to receive their distribution either as a lump sum payment or in substantially equal annual installments over a period of 5 years.

Employment Agreement with Victoria Mink

On November 17, 2021, the Company and Victoria Mink, the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company, entered into an employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”), effective as of January 1, 2022. The Employment Agreement is substantially the same as the existing employment agreement between the Company and Ms. Mink, except that (i) the annual base salary will be not less than $900,000, (ii) it is expected that Ms. Mink will receive annual grants of cash and/or equity long-term incentive awards with an aggregate target value of not less than $1,200,000 as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board in its discretion and (iii) the scheduled expiration date of the Employment Agreement is December 31, 2024.

The foregoing descriptions of the EDCP and the Employment Agreement do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by, the full text of the EDCP and the Employment Agreement, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d)

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   

Description of Exhibit

10.1    Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.
10.2    Employment Agreement, dated November 17, 2021, between the Company and Victoria Mink.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).


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.

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

(Registrant)

By:  

    /s/ Mark. C. Cresitello

      Name:     Mark C. Cresitello
      Title:       Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel & Secretary

Dated: November 19, 2021

Exhibit 10.1

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

Executive Deferred Compensation Plan

The Company has established the Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan for the purpose of permitting a select group of highly-compensated employees to defer the employee’s annual base salary and bonus into the Plan with returns on such deferrals tracking the performance of certain investments. The Plan is adopted effective as of November 16, 2021 (the “Effective Date”).

Article 1. Definitions

Whenever the following words and phrases are used in the Plan, with the first letter capitalized, they shall have the meanings specified below.

 

1.1

Administrator means the Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. Investment and Benefits Committee or any other committee of at least three members appointed by the Compensation Committee of the Board. The administration of the Plan, the exclusive power to interpret it and the responsibility for carrying out its provisions are vested in the Administrator.

 

1.2

Affiliate means any entity that is, or would be, aggregated and treated as a single employer with the Company under Sections 414(b) or (c) of the Code; provided, however, that an ownership threshold of at least 50% shall be used hereunder instead of the 80% minimum ownership threshold that would otherwise apply under such sections of the Code.

 

1.3

Annual Enrollment Letter means the letter provided prior to the Deferral Deadline by the Administrator to an Eligible Employee for each Plan Year in which an employee is an Eligible Employee setting forth the Eligible Employee’s eligibility to defer compensation under the Plan, the maximum amount that the Eligible Employee is eligible to defer under the Plan and such other terms as the Administrator may determine.

 

1.4

Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

1.5

Change in Control means a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of its assets, in each case within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code, other than the acquisition, in a transaction or a series of related transactions by Charles F. Dolan or members of the immediate family of Charles F. Dolan or trusts for the benefit of Charles F. Dolan or his immediate family (or an entity or entities controlled by any of them) or any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company, of the power to direct the management of the Company or substantially all of its assets (as constituted immediately prior to such transaction or transactions).


1.6

Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute. Any reference to any section of the Code shall also be a reference to any successor provision and any Treasury Regulation promulgated thereunder.

 

1.7

Company means Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. and any successor company thereto.

 

1.8

Deferral Deadline means the date by which the Participation Agreement must be completed.

 

1.9

Deferred Compensation Account means the account, which may be by book-keeping entry, maintained by the Employer for each Participant that reflects the sum of the amounts in the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Principal Account and the Deferred Compensation Earnings Account (including any negative amount as a result of any net losses). The Deferred Compensation Account may be divided into subaccounts (based on the source of the Deferred Compensation Amount, on a Plan Year basis, or such other basis determined by the Administrator).

 

1.10

Deferred Compensation Amount means the amount voluntarily deferred under Article 2.

 

1.11

Deferred Compensation Earnings Account means the account, which may be by book-keeping entry, maintained by the Employer for each Participant that reflects the earnings, if any, with respect to such Participant’s Deferred Compensation Amount debited by amounts equal to all distributions to the Participant. The Deferred Compensation Earnings Account may be divided into subaccounts (based on a Plan Year basis or such other basis determined by the Administrator).

 

1.12

Deferred Compensation Principal Account means the account, which may be by book-keeping entry, maintained by the Employer for each Participant that reflects such Participant’s Deferred Compensation Amount adjusted by amounts equal to all distributions to the Participant. The Deferred Compensation Principal Account may be divided into subaccounts (based on a Plan Year basis or such other basis determined by the Administrator).

 

1.13

Disability means that the Participant received short term disability income replacement payments for six months, and thereafter (A) has been determined to be disabled in accordance with the Company’s long term disability plan in which employees of the Company are generally able to participate, if one is in effect at such time, or (B) to the extent no such long term disability plan exists, has been determined to have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months as determined by the department or vendor directed by the Company to determine eligibility for unpaid medical leave.

 

1.14

Eligible Employee means a full-time employee of the Employer at a manager level of Senior Vice President or Above, who otherwise has been designated as eligible to participate in the Plan in accordance with the parameters established by the Administrator.

 

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1.15

Employer means the Company and any Participating Affiliate. All acts required of the Employers under the Plan may be performed by the Company for itself and its Participating Affiliates.

 

1.16

ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute. Any reference to any section of ERISA shall also be a reference to any successor provision and any Department of Labor regulation promulgated thereunder.

 

1.17

Investments means one or more investment alternatives as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator.

 

1.18

Participant means an Eligible Employee who has become a Participant in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 and who has not received a complete distribution of all amounts credited to his or her Deferred Compensation Account.

 

1.19

Participating Affiliate means an Affiliate that the Administrator has designated as a Participating Affiliate. At such times and under such conditions as the Administrator may direct, one or more other Affiliates may become Participating Affiliates or a Participating Affiliate may be withdrawn from the Plan. An initial list of the Participating Affiliates is set forth in Appendix A to the Plan.

 

1.20

Participation Agreement means the agreement, in a form prescribed by the Administrator, filed by a Participant on a Plan Year basis on or prior to December 31 of the calendar year prior to the calendar year during which services for which the Eligible Compensation is paid are performed.

 

1.21

Plan means the Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

1.22

Plan Year means the calendar year or any other 12-consecutive-month period that may be designated by the Company as the plan year of the Plan.

 

1.23

Scheduled Withdrawal Date means the date elected by the Participant for an in-service withdrawal, if any, as set forth on the applicable Participation Agreement executed by the Participant.

 

1.24

Termination or Termination of Employment means that a Participant shall have incurred a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and other applicable guidance issued thereunder. Whether a Termination has occurred, including as a result of military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence, shall be determined in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. In the event of any dispute as to whether a Participant has separated from service, the Administrator shall make the final determination in accordance with the Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code.

 

1.25

Treasury Regulations means the regulations promulgated under the Code by the United States Internal Revenue Service, as they may be from time to time amended.

 

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Article 2. Deferred Amounts

 

2.1

General. For each Plan Year, on or prior to the Deferral Deadline, an Eligible Employee may elect to participate in the Plan by filing a Participation Agreement with the Company. An employee who is newly eligible to participate in the Plan after a Deferral Deadline may elect to participate in the Plan by filing a Participation Agreement with the Company within 30 days after becoming an Eligible Employee. A Participation Agreement must be filed in the manner specified by the Administrator. A new Participation Agreement shall be filed by the Eligible Employee for each Plan Year in which he or she is permitted to elect to make a deferral election. After the Deferral Deadline (or, for a newly eligible Participant, the applicable 30-day period, subject to Section 6.2 and Section 6.3), an Eligible Employee’s election to defer Eligible Compensation shall be irrevocable. An Eligible Employee’s eligibility to participate in the Plan in any Plan Year shall not be a guarantee of the Eligible Employee’s eligibility to participate in the Plan for future Plan Years.

 

2.2

Eligible Deferrals. Each Eligible Employee may elect to defer receipt of one or more of the following to his or her Deferred Compensation Account (the “Eligible Compensation”):

 

   

up to a maximum of 75% of his or her annual base salary, in increments of 5%; and

 

   

all or any portion of his or her earned award, if any, under the Management Performance Incentive Plan (MPIP), in increments of 25%.

For a newly eligible Participant, Eligible Compensation only includes such portions of salary and MPIP awards earned with respect to service after the date on which the Participation Agreement becomes irrevocable as determined by the Administrator in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.

 

2.3

Allocation of Deferred Compensation Amounts. A Participant’s Deferred Compensation Amount shall be credited to his or her Deferred Compensation Principal Account as soon as administratively practicable following the time the Participant is paid the Eligible Compensation for that Plan Year (or, if all of the Eligible Compensation is deferred, at the time such Eligible Compensation would otherwise have been paid). The amount initially credited to the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Principal Account shall equal the amount deferred.

Article 3. Vesting

 

3.1

Deferred Compensation Principal Account. A Participant shall at all times be fully vested in his or her Deferred Compensation Principal Account.

 

3.2

Deferred Compensation Earnings Account. A Participant shall at all times be fully vested in his or her Deferred Compensation Earnings Account.

 

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Article 4. [Reserved]

Article 5. Investments

 

5.1

The Administrator shall have the sole discretion to determine the Investments in which the Deferred Compensation Amounts will be invested and may change, limit or eliminate an Investment from time to time.

 

5.2

In the manner specified by the Administrator, Participants may elect one or more Investments in which the funds in their Deferred Compensation Earnings Account are invested and may elect to change the Investment allocations of the Deferred Compensation Account by filing an election on a form or in the manner provided by the Administrator. Except as provided below, Participants may prospectively change their Investment elections once each calendar month, and the new investment allocations will be effective on the first day of the next month.

Article 6. Timing and Form of Benefit Distributions

 

6.1

Form and Timing. Subject to the provisions of this Article 6, the Deferred Compensation Account for a Participant for each Plan Year shall be distributed to the Participant in a lump sum, cash payment, or up to five annual cash installments, in each case on or beginning 90 days following the first to occur of: (i) the Scheduled Withdrawal Date, (ii) a Termination of Employment, (iii) the Participant’s Disability and (iv) a Change in Control. Participants must file such payment timing elections on or prior to the Deferral Deadline for the applicable Plan Year. For those Participants who fail to file a timely election, payment will be made in the form of a lump sum payment. Subject to the provisions of this Article 6, the Deferred Compensation Account for a Participant for each Plan Year shall be distributed to the Participant’s estate in a lump sum, cash payment, on the 90th day following the Participant’s death.

 

6.2

Domestic Relations Orders. To the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code, and notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may elect to accelerate the time or form of payment of a benefit owed to a Participant hereunder in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ii).

 

6.3

Unforeseeable Emergency. In the event the Administrator, upon written request of a Participant, determines in its sole discretion that the Participant has suffered an unforeseeable emergency, consistent with the guidance contained in Section 1.409A-3(i)(3) of the Treasury Regulations, the Administrator may (i) revoke the Participant’s deferral election with respect to future Eligible Compensation in accordance with Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(viii) of the Treasury Regulations and/or (ii) pay to a Participant as soon as practicable following such determination, an amount from a Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account that shall not exceed the minimum amount necessary to satisfy the emergency, including payment of applicable taxes, consistent with the guidance in Section 1.409A-3(i)(3)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations. A Participant who receives a hardship distribution pursuant to this Section 6.3 shall be ineligible to make any additional deferrals under the Plan for the balance of the Plan Year in which the hardship distribution occurs and for the immediately following Plan Year.

 

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6.4

Subsequent Elections. With respect to any Deferred Compensation Account for a Plan Year that a Participant elected to receive in a lump sum, in the event of a distribution pursuant to Section 6.1(i), the Participant may delay the distribution of such Deferred Compensation Amount subject to the following requirements: (A) the new election may not take effect until at least 12 months after the date on which the new election is made; (B) the new election must provide for the deferral of the distribution for a period of at least five years from the date such distribution otherwise would have been made and (C) the new election must be made at least 12 months prior to the date such distribution otherwise would have been made.

Article 7. Administration

 

7.1

Administration by the Committee. The Administrator shall be responsible for the general operation and administration of the Plan and for carrying out the provisions thereof.

 

7.2

General Powers of Administration. The Administrator shall have all the authority that may be necessary or helpful to enable it to discharge its responsibilities with respect to the Plan. The Administrator may, subject to the provisions of the Plan, establish such rules and regulations as it deems necessary or advisable for the proper administration of the Plan, and may make determinations and may take such other action in connection with or in relation to the Plan as it deems necessary or advisable. Each determination or other action made or taken pursuant to the Plan, including interpretation of the Plan, shall be final and conclusive for all purposes and persons. The Administrator shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon all certificates, opinions, and information furnished by any counsel, or other person employed or engaged by the Administrator with respect to the Plan.

 

7.3

Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Investment and Benefits Committee, or as its delegatees, the members of the Committee and its delegatees shall be indemnified by the Company against (a) the reasonable expenses (as such expenses are incurred), including attorneys’ fees actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding (or in connection with any appeal therein), to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan; and (b) against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such member or delegatee is liable for gross negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duties; provided that within 60 days after institution of any such action, suit or proceeding a member or delegatee shall in writing the Company offer the opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same.

 

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7.4

Section 409A of the Code. It is intended that the payments and benefits under the Plan comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code. The Plan will be administered and interpreted in a manner consistent with this intent, and any provision that would cause the Plan to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code will have no force and effect until amended to comply therewith (which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code). In addition, for purposes of the Plan, each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided to the Participant pursuant to the Plan, which constitutes deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to any Participant, beneficiary or otherwise if the Plan or any amounts paid or payable hereunder are subject to the additional taxes and penalties under Section 409A.

To the extent that any amount payable to the Participant pursuant to the Plan is determined by the Company to constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code and is payable to the Participant by reason of the Participant’s termination of employment (other than death), then if the Participant is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A as determined by the Company), such payment shall not be made before the date that is six months after the date of the Participant’s termination of employment (or, if earlier than the expiration of such six month period, the date of death). Any amount not paid at the end of such six-month period shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum on the expiration of such six-month period.

Article 8. Claims Appeal Procedure

 

8.1

Initial Claims. After first discussing any claims a Participant (or anyone claiming through a Participant) may have under the Plan with the Company’s Vice President, Benefits, the Participant may then make a claim under the Plan in writing to the Administrator. The Administrator shall make all determinations concerning such claim. Any decision by the Administrator denying such claim shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the Participant, or if applicable, anyone who makes claim in respect of the Participant. Such decision shall set forth the reasons for denial in plain language. Pertinent provisions of the Plan shall be cited and, where appropriate, an explanation as to how the claimant can perfect the claim will be provided. This notice of denial of benefits will be provided within 90 days of the Administrator’s receipt of the claimant’s claim for benefits (or within 180 days if special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim and if written notice of such extension and special circumstances is given to the claimant within the initial 90-day period). If the Administrator fails to notify the claimant of its decision regarding the claim within such period, the claim shall be considered denied as of the last day of such period, and the claimant shall then be permitted to proceed with the appeal as provided in Section 8.2.

 

8.2

Appeals. A claimant who has been completely or partially denied a benefit shall be entitled to appeal this denial of his/her claim by filing a written statement of his/her position with the Administrator no later than 60 days after receipt of the written notification of such claim denial. If the claimant does not request a review within such

 

7


  60-day or 180-day period, he or she shall be barred and estopped from challenging the Administrator’s determination. The Administrator shall schedule an opportunity for a full and fair review of the issue within 30 days of receipt of the appeal. The decision on review shall set forth specific reasons for the decision, and shall cite specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision is based. Following the review of any additional information submitted by the claimant, either through the hearing process or otherwise, the Administrator shall render a decision on the review of the denied claim. The Administrator shall make its decision regarding the merits of the denied claim within 60 days following receipt of the request for review (or within 120 days after such receipt, in a case where there are special circumstances requiring extension of time for reviewing the appealed claim). The Administrator shall deliver the decision to the claimant in writing. If an extension of time for reviewing the appealed claim is required because of special circumstances, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant prior to the commencement of the extension. If the decision on review is not furnished within the prescribed time, the claim shall be deemed denied on review.

 

8.3

General. The Administrator may at any time alter the claims procedure set forth above. The claims procedure set forth in this Article 8 is intended to comply with United States Department of Labor Regulation §2560.503-1 and should be construed in accordance with such regulation. In no event shall the claims procedure be interpreted as expanding the rights of claimants beyond what is required by United States Department of Labor Regulation §2560.503-1. A claimant must exhaust all administrative remedies under the Plan prior to bringing an action. No such action may be brought later than three years from the date the claim arose. The Administrator’s interpretations, determinations and decisions with respect to any claim shall be made in its sole discretion based on the Plan and other relevant documents and shall be final and binding on all persons.

Article 9. Amendment and Termination of Plan

 

9.1

Amendment or Termination. The Company intends the Plan to be permanent but reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan when, in the sole opinion of the Company, such amendment or termination is advisable. Any such amendment or termination shall be made pursuant to a resolution of the Board or Compensation Committee. To the extent the Company has delegated the authority to amend the Plan to the Committee, any such amendment by the Administrator shall be made by resolution of the Administrator.

 

9.2

Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment or termination of the Plan shall directly or indirectly reduce the balance of any account held hereunder as of the effective date of such amendment or termination. No amendment, modification, suspension or termination will accelerate distributions unless such acceleration is approved by the Company and permitted under Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and other applicable guidance issued thereunder. A Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account shall continue to be credited with gains and losses pursuant to Article 3 of the Plan until the balance of such Deferred Compensation Account has been fully distributed to the Participant or such Participant’s beneficiary.

 

8


9.3

Employer’s Right to Terminate Plan. Any Employer may, at any time, by resolution of the Board or Compensation Committee, terminate participation in the Plan with respect to its employees, in accordance with Section 9.2. If the Plan is terminated by fewer than all Employers, the Plan shall continue in effect for employees of the remaining Employers. In the event that an Employer shall, for any reason, cease to exist, the Plan shall terminate with respect to the employees of such Employer, unless a successor organization adopts the Plan and thereby continues their participation.

Article 10. Miscellaneous

 

10.1

Participant’s Rights Unsecured. Except as set forth in Section 10.2, the Plan at all times shall be entirely unfunded and no provision shall at any time be made with respect to segregating any assets of the Company for payment of any distributions hereunder. The right of a Participant or his or her beneficiary to receive a distribution hereunder shall be an unsecured claim against the general assets of the Company and the Employer, and neither a Participant nor a beneficiary shall have any rights in or against any specific assets of the Company. All amounts credited to Deferred Compensation Accounts of Participants shall constitute general assets of the Company and may be disposed of by the Company at such time and for such purposes as it may deem appropriate.

 

10.2

Trust Agreement. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10.1, an Employer may, at its discretion, enter into a trust agreement (“Trust Agreement”) with a bank or trust company located in the continental United States as trustee, whereby the Employer may at its discretion contribute deferrals under the Plan to a trust (“Trust”). Such Trust Agreement shall be substantially in the form of the model trust agreement set forth in Internal Revenue Service Revenue Procedure 92-64, or any subsequent Internal Revenue Service Revenue Procedure, and shall include provisions required in such model trust agreement that all assets of the Trust shall be subject to creditors of the Employer in the event of insolvency. To the extent any benefits provided under the Plan are paid from the Trust, the Employer shall have no further obligation to pay them. If not paid from the Trust, such benefits shall remain the obligation of the Employer or the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Employer contributions shall be made to the Trust if doing so would violate the provisions of Section 409A.

 

10.3

No Guarantee of Benefits. Nothing contained in the Plan shall constitute a guaranty by the Company or any other person or entity that the assets of the Company shall be sufficient to pay any benefit hereunder.

 

10.4

No Enlargement of Employee Rights. No Participant or Beneficiary shall have any right to receive a distribution of contributions made under the Plan except in accordance with the terms of the Plan. Establishment of the Plan shall not be construed to give any Participant the right to be retained in the service of the Company or any Employer.

 

10.5

Spendthrift Provision. No interest of any person or entity in, or right to receive a distribution under, the Plan shall be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, attachment, garnishment, or other alienation or encumbrance of any kind, nor may such interest or right to receive a distribution be taken, either voluntarily or involuntarily for the satisfaction of the debts of, or other obligations or claims against, such person or entity, except with respect to claims for alimony, support or separate maintenance.

 

9


10.6

Applicable Law. The Plan shall be construed and administered under the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent preempted by applicable federal law.

 

10.7

Incapacity of Recipient. If any person entitled to a distribution under the Plan is deemed by the Administrator to be incapable of personally receiving and giving a valid receipt for such payment, then, unless and until claim therefor shall have been made by a duly appointed guardian or other legal representative of such person, the Administrator may provide for such payment or any part thereof to be made to any other person or institution then contributing toward, or providing for the care and maintenance of, such person. Any such payment shall be a payment for the account of such person and a complete discharge of any liability of the Administrator, the Company, Participating Affiliates and the Plan therefor.

 

10.8

Corporate Successors. The Plan shall not be automatically terminated by a transfer or sale of assets of the Company or by the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with any other corporation or other entity, but the Plan shall be continued after such sale, merger or consolidation only if and to the extent that the transferee, purchaser or successor entity agrees to continue the Plan. In the event that the Plan is not continued by the transferee, purchaser or successor entity, then the Plan shall terminate subject to the provisions of Section 10.2.

 

10.9

Unclaimed Benefit. Each Participant shall keep the Administrator informed of his or her current address and the current address of his or her beneficiary. The Administrator shall not be obligated to search for the whereabouts of any person. If the location of a Participant is not made known to the Administrator within three years after the date on which payment of the Administrator’s Deferred Compensation Account may first be made, payment may be made as though the Participant had died at the end of the three-year period. If, within one additional year after such three-year period has elapsed, or, within three years after the actual death of a Participant, the Administrator is unable to locate any beneficiary of the Participant, then the Administrator shall have no further obligation to pay any benefit hereunder to such Participant or beneficiary and such benefit shall be irrevocably forfeited.

 

10.10

Limitations on Liability. Notwithstanding any of the preceding provisions of the Plan, neither the Company and Participating Affiliates, nor any individual acting as employee or agent of the Company or Participating Affiliates shall be liable to any Participant, former Participant, beneficiary, or any other person for any claim, loss, liability, or expense incurred in connection with the Plan.

 

10.11

Withholding Taxes. An Employer shall have the right to deduct from each payment to be made under the Plan any required withholding taxes.

 

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10.12

Top-Hat Plan. It is the intention of the Company that, to the extent the Plan is determined to be an employee pension benefit plan subject to ERISA, it shall be considered and interpreted in all respects as an unfunded “top-hat” plan maintained primarily to provide deferred compensation benefits for “a select group of management or highly compensated employees” within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), 401(a)(1) and 4021(b)(6) of ERISA.

 

10.13

Electronic Election. Any reference herein to an election, designation or other action by a Participant in writing shall be deemed to include an electronic election, designation or act made on the Internet to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. has caused this amendment and restatement of the Plan to be executed in its name, by its duly authorized officer, on this 18th day of November, 2021.

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.
By:   /s/ Victoria M. Mink
  Name: Victoria M. Mink
  Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

11


APPENDIX A

PARTICIPATING AFFILIATES

As of November 16, 2021

MSG Sports, LLC

New York Knicks, LLC

New York Rangers, LLC

Exhibit 10.2

LOGO

November 16, 2021

Ms. Victoria M. Mink

Madison Square Garden Sports Corp.

Two Pennsylvania Plaza

New York, NY 10121

Dear Victoria:

This letter agreement (the “Agreement”), effective on January 1, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), will confirm the terms of your employment with Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (the “Company”) following the Effective Date.

1. Your title will be Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and you will report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. You agree to devote all of your business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company and to perform your duties in a diligent, competent, professional and skillful manner and in accordance with applicable law. You shall not undertake any outside business commitments without the Company’s consent.

2. Your annual base salary will be not less than $900,000 annually, paid bi-weekly, subject to annual review and potential increase by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Compensation Committee”) in its discretion. The Compensation Committee will review your compensation package on an annual basis to ensure that you are paid consistently with other similarly situated executives as well as external peers.

3. You will also participate in our discretionary annual bonus program with an annual target bonus opportunity equal to not less than 100% of your annual base salary. Bonus payments depend on a number of factors including Company, unit and individual performance. However, the decision of whether or not to pay a bonus, and the amount of that bonus, if any, is made by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion. Annual bonuses are typically paid early in the subsequent fiscal year. Except as otherwise provided herein, in order to receive a bonus, you must be employed by the Company at the time bonuses are being paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if your employment with the Company ends on the Scheduled Expiration Date (as defined below), you shall be paid your bonus for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, if any, even if such payment is not made to you prior to the Scheduled Expiration Date, which bonus shall be subject to Company and your business unit performance for that fiscal year as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, but without adjustment for your individual performance.

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

TWO PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10121-0091

TEL 212-465-6000


Ms. Victoria M. Mink

Page 2

 

4. You will also, subject to your continued employment by the Company and actual grant by the Compensation Committee, participate in such equity and other long-term incentive programs that are made available in the future to similarly situated executives at the Company. It is expected that such awards will consist of annual grants of cash and/or equity awards with an annual target value of not less than $1,200,000, all as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion. With respect to the Company’s current fiscal year (ending June 30, 2022), you will be recommended to the Compensation Committee for a “mid-year” grant of awards to reflect this increase in your target value (which such grant will be pro rated to reflect the portion of the fiscal year from and after the Effective Date). All awards described in this Paragraph, in addition to being subject to actual grant by the Compensation Committee, would be pursuant to the applicable plan document and would be subject to any terms and conditions established by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion that would be detailed in separate agreements you would receive after any award is actually made; provided, however, that such terms and conditions shall be consistent with those in awards granted to similarly situated executives. Long-term incentive awards are currently expected to be subject to three-year vesting.

5. You will also be eligible to participate in our standard benefits program, subject to meeting the relevant eligibility requirements, payment of the required premiums, and the terms of the plans themselves. We currently offer medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; short- and long- term disability insurance; a savings and retirement program; and ten paid holidays. You will also to be eligible for paid time off to be accrued and used in accordance with Company policy.

6. If your employment with the Company is terminated on or prior to December 31, 2024 (the “Scheduled Expiration Date”) (i) by the Company (other than for “Cause”); or (ii) by you for “Good Reason” (other than if “Cause” then exists); then, subject to your execution and delivery, within 60 days after the date of termination of your employment, and non-revocation (within any applicable revocation period) of the Separation Agreement (as defined below), the Company will provide you with the following:

 

  (a)

Severance in an amount to be determined by the Company (the “Severance Amount”), but in no event less than two (2) times the sum of your annual base salary and your annual target bonus as in effect at the time your employment terminates. Sixty percent (60%) of the Severance Amount will be payable to you on the six-month anniversary of the date your employment so terminates (the “Termination Date”) and the remaining forty percent (40%) of the Severance Amount will be payable to you on the twelve-month anniversary of the Termination Date;

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

TWO PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10121-0091

TEL 212-465-6000


Ms. Victoria M. Mink

Page 3

 

  (b)

Any unpaid annual bonus for the Company’s fiscal year prior to the fiscal year which includes your Termination Date, and a pro rated bonus based on the amount of your base salary actually earned by you during the Company’s fiscal year through the Termination Date, each of which will be paid to you when such bonuses are generally paid to similarly situated active executives and will be based on your then current annual target bonus as well as Company and your business unit performance for the applicable fiscal year as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, but without adjustment for your individual performance;

 

  (c)

Each of your outstanding long-term cash awards, if any, granted under the plans of the Company shall immediately vest in full and shall be payable to you at the same time as such awards are paid to active executives of the Company and the payment amount of such award shall be to the same extent that other similarly situated active executives receive payment as determined by the Compensation Committee (subject to satisfaction of any applicable performance criteria but without adjustment for your individual performance);

 

  (d)

(i) All of the time-based restrictions on each of your outstanding restricted stock or restricted stock unit awards granted to you under the plans of the Company shall immediately be eliminated, (ii) deliveries with respect to your restricted stock that are not subject to performance criteria or are subject to performance criteria that have previously been satisfied (as certified by the Compensation Committee) shall be made immediately after the effective date of the Separation Agreement, (iii) payment and deliveries with respect to your restricted stock units that are not subject to performance criteria or are subject to performance criteria that have previously been satisfied (as certified by the Compensation Committee) shall be made on the 90th day after the termination of your employment and (iv) payments or deliveries with respect to your restricted stock and restricted stock units that are subject to performance criteria that have not yet been satisfied shall be made on the 90th day after the applicable performance criteria is certified by the Compensation Committee as having been satisfied; and

 

  (e)

Each of your outstanding stock options and stock appreciation awards, if any, under the plans of the Company shall immediately vest and become exercisable, and you shall have the right to exercise each of those options and stock appreciation awards for the remainder of the term of such option or award.

If you die after a termination of your employment that is subject to this Paragraph 6, your estate or beneficiaries will be provided with any remaining benefits and rights under this Paragraph 6.

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

TWO PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10121-0091

TEL 212-465-6000


Ms. Victoria M. Mink

Page 4

 

7. If you cease to be an employee of the Company prior to the Scheduled Expiration Date as a result of your death or your Disability (as defined in the Company’s Long Term Disability Plan), and at such time Cause does not exist then, subject (other than in the case of death) to your execution and delivery, within 60 days after the date of termination of your employment, and non-revocation (within any applicable revocation period) of the Separation Agreement, you or your estate or beneficiary shall be provided with the benefits and rights set forth in Paragraphs 6(b), (d) and (e) above, and each of your outstanding long-term cash awards, if any, granted under the plans of the Company shall immediately vest in full, whether or not subject to performance criteria and shall be payable on the 90th day after the termination of your employment; provided, that if any such award is subject to any performance criteria, then (i) if the measurement period for such performance criteria has not yet been fully completed, then the payment amount shall be at the target amount for such award and (ii) if the measurement period for such performance criteria has already been fully completed, then the payment of such award shall be at the same time and to the extent that other similarly situated executives receive payment as determined by the Compensation Committee (subject to satisfaction of the applicable performance criteria).

8. For purposes hereof, “Separation Agreement” shall mean the Company’s standard severance agreement (modified to reflect the terms of this Agreement) which will include, without limitation, the provisions set forth in Paragraphs 6, 7 and 9 hereof and Annex A hereto regarding non-compete (limited to one year), non-disparagement, non-hire/non-solicitation, confidentiality (including, without limitation, the last paragraph of Section 3 of Annex A), and further cooperation obligations and restrictions on you (with Company reimbursement of your associated expenses and payment for your services as described in Annex A in connection with any required post-employment cooperation) as well as a general release by you of the Company and its affiliates (and their respective directors and officers), but shall otherwise contain no post-employment covenants unless agreed to by you. The Company shall provide you with the form of Separation Agreement within seven days of your termination of employment. For avoidance of doubt, your rights of indemnification under the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, under your indemnification agreement with the Company and under any insurance policy, or under any other resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company shall not be released, diminished or affected by any Separation Agreement or release or any termination of your employment.

9. Except as otherwise set forth in Paragraphs 6 and 7 hereof, in connection with any termination of your employment, your then outstanding equity and cash incentive awards shall be treated in accordance with their terms and, other than as provided in this Agreement, you shall not be eligible for severance benefits under any other plan, program or policy of the Company. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to limit any more favorable rights that you may be entitled to under your equity and/or cash incentive award agreements, including, without limitation, your rights in the event of a termination of your employment, a “Going Private Transaction” or a “Change of Control” (as those terms are defined in the applicable award agreement).

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

TWO PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10121-0091

TEL 212-465-6000


Ms. Victoria M. Mink

Page 5

 

10. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” means your (i) commission of an act of fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, willful misconduct, gross negligence or breach of fiduciary duty against the Company or an affiliate thereof, or (ii) commission of any act or omission that results in a conviction, plea of no contest, plea of nolo contendere, or imposition of unadjudicated probation for any crime involving moral turpitude or any felony.

For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means that (1) without your written consent, (A) your annual base salary or annual target bonus (as each may be increased from time to time in the Compensation Committee’s sole discretion) is reduced, (B) your title (as in effect from time to time) is diminished, (C) you report to someone other than to the Chief Executive Officer or the Executive Chairman of the Board of the Company, (D) you are no longer the Company’s most senior financial officer, (E) the Company requires that your principal office be located outside of the Borough of Manhattan, or (F) the Company materially breaches its obligations to you under this Agreement, (2) you have given the Company written notice, referring specifically to this Agreement and definition, that you do not consent to such action, (3) the Company has not corrected such action within 15 days of receiving such notice, and (4) you voluntarily terminate your employment with the Company within 90 days following the happening of the action described in subsection (1) above.

11. This Agreement does not constitute a guarantee of employment for any definite period. Your employment is at will and may be terminated by you or the Company at any time, with or without notice or reason.

12. The Company may withhold from any payment due to you any taxes required to be withheld under any law, rule or regulation. If any payment otherwise due to you hereunder would result in the imposition of the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, the Company will instead pay you either (i) such amount or (ii) the maximum amount that could be paid to you without the imposition of the excise tax, depending on whichever amount results in your receiving the greater amount of after-tax proceeds. In the event that the payments and benefits payable to you would be reduced as provided in the previous sentence, then such reduction will be determined in a manner which has the least economic cost to you and, to the extent the economic cost is equivalent, such payments or benefits will be reduced in the inverse order of when the payments or benefits would have been made to you (i.e. later payments will be reduced first) until the reduction specified is achieved. If the Company elects to retain any accounting or similar firm to provide assistance in calculating any such amounts, the Company shall be responsible for the costs of any such firm.

13. It is intended that this Agreement will comply with Section 409A to the extent this Agreement is subject thereto, and that this Agreement shall be interpreted on a basis consistent with such intent. If and to the extent that any payment or benefit under this Agreement, or any plan, award or arrangement of the Company or its affiliates, constitutes “non-qualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A and is payable to you by reason of your termination of employment, then (a) such payment or benefit shall be made or provided to you only upon a “separation from service” as defined for purposes of Section 409A under applicable regulations

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

TWO PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10121-0091

TEL 212-465-6000


Ms. Victoria M. Mink

Page 6

 

and (b) if you are a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A as determined by the Company), such payment or benefit shall not be made or provided before the date that is six months after the date of your separation from service (or your earlier death). Any amount not paid or benefit not provided in respect of the six month period specified in the preceding sentence will be paid to you, together with interest on such delayed amount at a rate equal to the average of the one-year LIBOR fixed rate equivalent for the ten business days prior to the date of your employment termination, in a lump sum or provided to you as soon as practicable after the expiration of such six month period. Each payment or benefit provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A to the extent Section 409A applies to such payment.

14. To the extent you are entitled to any expense reimbursement from the Company that is subject to Section 409A, (i) the amount of any such expenses eligible for reimbursement in one calendar year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year (except under any lifetime limit applicable to expenses for medical care), (ii) in no event shall any such expense be reimbursed after the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which you incurred such expense, and (iii) in no event shall any right to reimbursement be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

15. The Company will not take any action, or omit to take any action, that would expose any payment or benefit to you to the additional tax of Section 409A, unless (i) the Company is obligated to take the action under an agreement, plan or arrangement to which you are a party, (ii) you request the action, (iii) the Company advises you in writing that the action may result in the imposition of the additional tax and (iv) you subsequently request the action in a writing that acknowledges you will be responsible for any effect of the action under Section 409A. The Company will hold you harmless for any action it may take or omission in violation of this Paragraph 15, including any attorney’s fees you may incur in enforcing your rights.

16. It is our intention that the benefits and rights to which you could become entitled in connection with termination of employment be exempt from or comply with Section 409A. If you or the Company believes, at any time, that any of such benefit or right is not exempt or does not comply, it will promptly advise the other and will negotiate reasonably and in good faith to amend the terms of such arrangement such that it complies (with the most limited possible economic effect on you and on the Company).

17. This Agreement is personal to you and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by you. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your legal representatives. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. The rights or obligations of the Company under this Agreement may only be assigned or transferred pursuant to a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the continuing entity, or the sale or liquidation of all or substantially all of the assets of Company; provided, however, that the assignee or transferee is the successor to all or substantially all of the assets of Company and such assignee or transferee assumes the liabilities and duties of Company, as contained in this Agreement, either contractually or as a matter of law.

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

TWO PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10121-0091

TEL 212-465-6000


Ms. Victoria M. Mink

Page 7

 

18. To the extent permitted by law, you and the Company waive any and all rights to a jury trial with respect to any matter relating to this Agreement (including the covenants set forth in Annex A hereof). This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within that State.

19. Both the Company and you hereby irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and the federal courts of the United States of America in each case located in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, solely in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement, and each party hereby waives, and agrees not to assert, as a defense that either party, as appropriate, is not subject thereto or that the venue thereof may not be appropriate. You and the Company each agree that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in any manner as may be permitted by law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.

20. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. It is the parties’ intention that this Agreement not be construed more strictly with regard to you or the Company.

21. This Agreement reflects the entire understanding and agreement of you and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings or agreements relating thereto.

22. This Agreement will automatically terminate, and be of no further force or effect, on the Scheduled Expiration Date; provided, however, that the provisions of Paragraphs 6 through 9, 12 through 22 and Annex A, and any amounts earned but not yet paid to you pursuant to the terms of this Agreement as of the Scheduled Expiration Date shall survive the termination of the Agreement and remain binding on you and the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

TWO PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10121-0091

TEL 212-465-6000


Ms. Victoria M. Mink

Page 8

 

Sincerely,
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.
  /s/ Andrew Lustgarten
By:   Andrew Lustgarten
Title:   Chief Executive Officer & President

 

Accepted and Agreed:
/s/ Victoria M. Mink
Victoria M. Mink
Date: 11/17/2021

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

TWO PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10121-0091

TEL 212-465-6000


Ms. Victoria M. Mink

Page 9

 

ANNEX A

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

(This Annex constitutes part of the Agreement)

You agree to comply with the following covenants in addition to those set forth in the Agreement.

1. CONFIDENTIALITY

You agree to retain in strict confidence and not divulge, disseminate, copy or disclose to any third party any Confidential Information, other than for legitimate business purposes of the Company and its subsidiaries. As used herein, “Confidential Information” means any non-public information that is material or of a confidential, proprietary, commercially sensitive or personal nature of, or regarding, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any current or former director, officer or member of senior management of any of the foregoing (collectively “Covered Parties”). The term Confidential Information includes information in written, digital, oral or any other format and includes, but is not limited to (i) information designated or treated as confidential; (ii) budgets, plans, forecasts or other financial or accounting data; (iii) customer, guest, fan, vendor, sponsor, marketing affiliate or shareholder lists or data; (iv) technical or strategic information regarding the Covered Parties’ advertising, sports, entertainment, theatrical, or other businesses; (v) advertising, sponsorship, business, sales or marketing tactics, strategies or information; (vi) policies, practices, procedures or techniques; (vii) trade secrets or other intellectual property; (viii) information, theories or strategies relating to litigation, arbitration, mediation, investigations or matters relating to governmental authorities; (ix) terms of agreements with third parties and third party trade secrets; (x) information regarding employees, talent, players, coaches, agents, consultants, advisors or representatives, including their compensation or other human resources policies and procedures; (xi) information or strategies relating to any potential or actual business development transactions and/or any potential or actual business acquisition, divestiture or joint venture, and (xii) any other information the disclosure of which may have an adverse effect on the Covered Parties’ business reputation, operations or competitive position, reputation or standing in the community.

If disclosed, Confidential Information or Other Information could have an adverse effect on the Company’s standing in the community, its business reputation, operations or competitive position or the standing, reputation, operations or competitive position of any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees, coaches, consultants or agents or any of the Covered Parties.

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

TWO PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10121-0091

TEL 212-465-6000


Ms. Victoria M. Mink

Page 10

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of this section, other than with respect to subscriber information, shall not apply to Confidential Information which is:

a) already in the public domain or which enters the public domain other than by your breach of this Paragraph 1;

b) disclosed to you by a third party with the right to disclose it in good faith; or

c) specifically exempted in writing by the Company from the applicability of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding anything elsewhere in this Agreement, including this Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 3 below, you are authorized to make any disclosure required of you by any federal, state and local laws or judicial, arbitral or governmental agency proceedings (including making truthful statements in connection with a judicial or arbitral proceeding to enforce your rights under this Agreement, to the extent reasonably required and made in good faith), after, to the extent legal and practicable, providing the Company with prior written notice and an opportunity to respond prior to such disclosure. In addition, this Agreement in no way restricts or prevents you from providing truthful testimony concerning the Company to judicial, administrative, regulatory or other governmental authorities.

2. NON-COMPETE

You acknowledge that due to your executive position in the Company and the knowledge of the Company’s and its affiliates’ confidential and proprietary information which you will obtain during the term of your employment hereunder, your employment by certain businesses would be irreparably harmful to the Company and/or its affiliates. During your employment with the Company and thereafter through the first anniversary of the date on which your employment with the Company has terminated for any reason, you agree not to (other than with the prior written consent of the Company), become employed by any Competitive Entity (as defined below). A “Competitive Entity” shall mean any NHL or NBA team located in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut. Additionally, the ownership by you of not more than 1% of the outstanding equity of any publicly traded company shall not, by itself, be a violation of this Paragraph.

3. ADDITIONAL UNDERSTANDINGS

You agree, for yourself and others acting on your behalf, that you (and they) have not disparaged and will not disparage, make negative statements about (either “on the record” or “off the record”) or act in any manner which is intended to or does damage to the good will of, or the business or personal reputations of the Company or any of its incumbent or former officers, directors, agents, consultants, employees, successors and assigns or any of the Covered Parties.

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

TWO PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10121-0091

TEL 212-465-6000


Ms. Victoria M. Mink

Page 11

 

The Company agrees that, except as necessary to comply with applicable law or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange on which the Company’s stock may be traded (and any public statements made in good faith by the Company in connection therewith), it and its corporate officers and directors, employees in its public relations department or third party public relations representatives retained by the Company will not disparage you or make negative statements in the press or other media which are damaging to your business or personal reputation. In the event that the Company so disparages you or makes such negative statements, then notwithstanding the “Additional Understandings” provision to the contrary, you may make a proportional response thereto.

In addition, you agree that the Company is the owner of all rights, title and interest in and to all documents, tapes, videos, designs, plans, formulas, models, processes, computer programs, inventions (whether patentable or not), schematics, music, lyrics and other technical, business, financial, advertising, sales, marketing, customer or product development plans, forecasts, strategies, information and materials (in any medium whatsoever) developed or prepared by you or with your cooperation in connection with your employment by the Company (the “Materials”). The Company will have the sole and exclusive authority to use the Materials in any manner that it deems appropriate, in perpetuity, without additional payment to you.

If requested by the Company, you agree to deliver to the Company upon the termination of your employment, or at any earlier time the Company may request, all memoranda, notes, plans, files, records, reports, and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof regardless of the form thereof (including electronic copies)) containing, reflecting or derived from Confidential Information or the Materials of the Company or any of its affiliates which you may then possess or have under your control. If so requested, you shall provide to the Company a signed statement confirming that you have fully complied with this Paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you shall be entitled to retain your contacts, calendars and personal diaries and any materials needed for your tax return preparation or related to your compensation.

In addition, you agree for yourself and others acting on your behalf, that you (and they) shall not, at any time, participate in any way in the writing or scripting (including, without limitation, any “as told to” publications) of any book, periodical story, movie, play, or other similar written or theatrical work or video that (i) relates to your services to the Company or any of its affiliates or (ii) otherwise refers to the Company or its respective businesses, activities, directors, officers, employees or representatives (other than identifying your biographical information), without the prior written consent of the Company.

4. FURTHER COOPERATION

Following the date of termination of your employment with the Company (the “Expiration Date”), you will no longer provide any regular services to the Company or represent yourself as a Company agent. If, however, the Company so requests, you agree to cooperate fully with the Company in connection with any matter with which you were involved prior to the Expiration Date, or in any litigation or administrative proceedings or appeals (including any preparation

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

TWO PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10121-0091

TEL 212-465-6000


Ms. Victoria M. Mink

Page 12

 

therefore) where the Company believes that your personal knowledge, attendance and participation could be beneficial to the Company. This cooperation includes, without limitation, participation on behalf of the Company in any litigation or administrative proceeding brought by any former or existing Company employees, representatives, agents or vendors. The Company will pay you for your services rendered under this provision at the rate of $6,150 per day for each day or part thereof, within 30 days of the approval of the invoice therefor.

The Company will provide you with reasonable notice in connection with any cooperation it requires in accordance with this section and will take reasonable steps to schedule your cooperation in any such matters so as not to materially interfere with your other professional and personal commitments. The Company will reimburse you for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses you reasonably incur in connection with the cooperation you provide hereunder as soon as practicable after you present appropriate documentation evidencing such expenses. You agree to provide the Company with an estimate of such expense before you incur the same.

5. NON-HIRE OR SOLICIT

You agree not to hire, seek to hire, or cause any person or entity to hire or seek to hire (without the prior written consent of the Company), directly or indirectly (whether for your own interest or any other person or entity’s interest) any person who is or was in the prior six months an employee of the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, until the first anniversary of the date of your termination of employment with the Company. This restriction does not apply to any former employee who was discharged by the Company or any of its affiliates. In addition, this restriction will not prevent you from providing references. If you remain continuously employed with the Company through the Scheduled Expiration Date, then this agreement not to hire or solicit will expire on the Scheduled Expiration Date.

6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

You acknowledge that the restrictions contained in this Annex A, in light of the nature of the Company’s business and your position and responsibilities, are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the Company. You acknowledge that the Company has no adequate remedy at law and would be irreparably harmed if you breach or threaten to breach the provisions of this Annex A, and therefore agree that the Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief, to prevent any breach or threatened breach of any of those provisions and to specific performance of the terms of each of such provisions in addition to any other legal or equitable remedy it may have. You further agree that you will not, in any equity proceeding relating to the enforcement of the provisions of this Annex A, raise the defense that the Company has an adequate remedy at law. Nothing in this Annex A shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies at law or in equity that it may have or any other rights that it may have under any other agreement. If it is determined that any of the provisions of this Annex A or any part thereof, is unenforceable because of the duration or scope (geographic or

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

TWO PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10121-0091

TEL 212-465-6000


Ms. Victoria M. Mink

Page 13

 

otherwise) of such provision or because of applicable rules of professional responsibility, it is the intention of the parties that the duration or scope of such provision, as the case may be, shall be reduced so that such provision becomes enforceable and, in its reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.

7. SURVIVAL

The provisions of this Annex A shall survive any termination of your employment by the Company or the expiration of the Agreement except as otherwise provided herein.

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SPORTS CORP.

TWO PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10121-0091

TEL 212-465-6000