UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
FORM 8-K
 
 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 14, 2016 (October 13, 2016)
 
 
AMC Networks Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Delaware
1-35106
 
27-5403694
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
file number)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
11 Penn Plaza,
New York, NY
 
 
 
10001
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
 
 
(Zip Code)
(212) 324-8500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
 
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:
r
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
r
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
r
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
r
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 





Item 5.02.      Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment
of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Employment Agreement with Edward A. Carroll, Chief Operating Officer
On October 13, 2016, AMC Networks Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) with Edward A. Carroll, which provides for Mr. Carroll’s employment as the Chief Operating Officer of the Company through December 31, 2021 (the “Scheduled Expiration Date”).
The Employment Agreement provides for a minimum annual base salary, effective as of March 1, 2016, of $1,600,000 and, effective as of September 1, 2016, of $1,700,000, subject to annual review and potential increase in the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Committee”). Mr. Carroll is also eligible to participate in the Company’s discretionary annual bonus program with an annual target bonus opportunity equal to not less than 175% of his annual base salary. The decision of whether to pay a bonus, and the amount of that bonus, if any, is made by the Committee in its discretion. Mr. Carroll is also eligible to participate in the equity and other long-term incentive programs that are made available to similarly situated executives at the Company. For 2016, pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Carroll received an additional grant of long-term equity awards with an aggregate target value of $150,000. Beginning in calendar year 2017, it is expected that Mr. Carroll will receive annually one or more long-term cash and/or equity awards with an aggregate target value of at least $3,400,000, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Any such awards would be subject to actual grant to Mr. Carroll by the Committee, would be pursuant to the applicable plan document and would be subject to terms and conditions established by the Committee in its discretion. In connection with entering into the Employment Agreement, Mr. Carroll received a one-time award of restricted stock units with a target value of $12,500,000 (the “Special Equity Award”), which vests, subject to continued employment and achievement of the applicable performance criteria, on December 31, 2021. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Special Equity Award will vest (i) on a change in control (as defined in the award agreement) of the Company or (ii) subject to achievement of the applicable performance criteria and Mr. Carroll’s execution of a separation agreement (as described below), on Mr. Carroll’s termination of employment without Cause or for Good Reason (as those terms are defined in the Employment Agreement) or due to Mr. Carroll’s death or disability. Mr. Carroll remains eligible for the Company’s standard benefit programs subject to meeting the relevant eligibility requirements, payment of required premiums and the terms of the plans. The Committee will review Mr. Carroll’s compensation package annually and may, in its sole discretion, increase Mr. Carroll’s compensation as a result of such review.
If, prior to the Scheduled Expiration Date, Mr. Carroll’s employment with the Company is terminated (i) by the Company (other than for Cause) or (ii) by Mr. Carroll for Good Reason (other than if Cause then exists) then, subject to Mr. Carroll’s execution of a separation agreement (including, without limitation, non-compete (limited to one year), non-disparagement, non-solicitation, confidentiality, and further cooperation obligations and restrictions on Mr. Carroll as well as a general release by Mr. Carroll of the Company and its affiliates) the Company will provide Mr. Carroll with the following benefits and rights:
a)
a severance payment in an amount determined at the discretion of the Committee, but in no event less than two times the sum of Mr. Carroll’s annual base salary and annual target bonus as in effect at the time of termination of employment;
b)
a prorated bonus for the year in which the termination occurred, payable at the same time as such bonuses are paid to similarly situated employees and based on his then current annual target bonus as well as the Company and his business unit performance as determined by the Committee in its discretion, but without adjustment for his individual performance, plus any unpaid annual bonus for the year prior to the year in which the termination occurred;
c)
each of Mr. Carroll’s outstanding long-term cash incentive awards and performance-based restricted stock units (“PRSUs”) shall immediately vest in full and be payable at the same time as such awards are paid to active employees of the Company and the payment amount of such awards shall be to the same extent that other similarly situated active employees receive payment as determined by the Committee (subject to the satisfaction of any applicable performance criteria);
d)
each of Mr. Carroll’s outstanding restricted stock or restricted stock unit awards granted under plans of the Company (other than the Special Equity Award) will continue to vest in accordance

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with their original vesting schedule and payments or deliveries will be made to him on the original vesting date; and
e)
each of Mr. Carroll’s stock outstanding stock options and stock appreciation awards under plans of the Company, if any, will continue to vest in accordance with their original vesting schedule and he will have the right to exercise each of such options and awards for the remainder of the term of such option or award.
If, on or prior to the Scheduled Expiration Date, Mr. Carroll ceases to be an employee of the Company as a result of his death or physical or mental disability, and at the time Cause does not exist then, subject to Mr. Carroll’s execution of a separation agreement (other than in the case of death), the Company will provide Mr. Carroll (or his estate or beneficiary) with the benefits and rights set forth in clauses (b), (d) and (e) above and each of his outstanding long-term cash incentive awards and PRSU awards, as the case may be, granted under plans of the Company will immediately vest in full, whether or not subject to performance criteria, and will be payable on the 90 th day after termination of his employment, provided that, if any such award is subject to any performance criteria, (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 Committee (subject to satisfaction of the applicable performance criteria).
If, after the Scheduled Expiration Date, Mr. Carroll’s employment with the Company is terminated (i) by the Company, (ii) by Mr. Carroll for Good Reason, (iii) by Mr. Carroll without Good Reason (with at least six months’ advance written notice of such termination) or (iv) as a result of Mr. Carroll’s death or disability, and at the time of any such termination Cause does not exist, then, subject to Mr. Carroll’s execution of a separation agreement (other than in the case of death), the Company will provide Mr. Carroll (or his estate or beneficiary) with the benefits and rights set forth in clauses (b) through (e) above.
Notwithstanding any provision contained in the Agreement to the contrary, any more favorable provisions of Mr. Carroll’s cash incentive, PRSU, restricted stock, restricted stock unit, stock option or stock appreciation right award agreements will apply to the treatment of such awards in the event of a “going private transaction” (as defined in the award agreements), a “change of control” (as defined in the award agreements) or Mr. Carroll’s death.
The employment agreement also contains certain covenants by Mr. Carroll including a noncompetition agreement that restricts Mr. Carroll’s ability to engage in competitive activities until the first anniversary of the termination of his employment with the Company.
If any payment due under the Employment Agreement would result in the imposition of an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, the Company will instead pay Mr. Carroll either (a) the amount of that payment or (b) the maximum amount that could be paid to Mr. Carroll without the imposition of the excise tax, depending on whichever amount results in Mr. Carroll receiving the greater amount of after-tax proceeds.
The above description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Employment Agreement and the Restricted Stock Units Agreement for the Special Equity Award, which are attached as Exhibit 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.

Item 9.01.      Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)    Exhibits.
10.1    Employment Agreement, dated October 13, 2016, between AMC Networks Inc. and
Edward A. Carroll.

10.2    Restricted Stock Units Agreement dated October 13, 2016, between AMC Networks, Inc.
and Edward A. Carroll.

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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.

 
 
 
 
 
AMC Networks Inc.
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dated:
October 14, 2016
 
By:
 
/s/ Anne G. Kelly
 
 
 
 
Name:
Anne G. Kelly
 
 
 
 
Title:
Senior Vice President and Secretary


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Exhibit 10.1

October 13, 2016
Mr. Edward A. Carroll
AMC Networks Inc.
11 Penn Plaza
New York, New York 10001

Re:
Employment Agreement
Dear Ed:
1. This letter (the “ Agreement ”) will confirm the terms of your continued employment by AMC Networks Inc. (the “ Company ”) as an at will employee with the title of Chief Operating Officer. This Agreement will supersede and replace the letter agreement between you and the Company, dated April 19, 2013, and any and all other discussions, understandings or arrangements regarding the subject matter herein. This Agreement will be effective upon execution by the Company and you (the “ Effective Date ”).
2. The term of this Agreement (the “ Term ”) shall commence as of the date it is executed by both you and the Company and, except as provided in Section 29, shall automatically expire on December 31, 2021 (the “ Expiration Date ”).
3. You agree to devote substantially all of your business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company and to perform your duties in a diligent, competent and skillful manner and in accordance with applicable law.
4. Effective March 1, 2016, your annual base salary will be not less than $1,600,000. Effective September 1, 2016, your annual base salary will be not less than $1,700,000, 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 continue to review your compensation package on an annual basis. In addition, you will continue to remain eligible to participate in our discretionary annual bonus program. Beginning with the 2016 performance year and through the balance of the Term, you will be eligible to participate in our discretionary annual bonus program with an annual target bonus opportunity equal to not less than one hundred and seventy-five percent (175%) of your annual base salary. Bonus payments are based on actual salary dollars paid during the year and 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, will be made by the Compensation Committee in its discretion. 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 Expiration Date, you shall be paid your bonus for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, if and when such bonuses are generally paid to similarly situated employees (even if such payment is not made






to you prior to the Expiration Date), which bonus shall be subject to Company and your business unit performance for that fiscal year as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion, but without adjustment for your individual performance. Your annual base salary and annual bonus target (as each may be increased from time to time in the Compensation Committee’s discretion) will not be reduced during the term of this Agreement.
5. You will also continue, subject to your continued employment by the Company and actual grant by the Compensation Committee in its discretion, to participate in such long-term equity and other incentive programs as are made available in the future to similarly situated executives at the Company. For 2016: i) you have been awarded grants of equity with an aggregate target value of not less than $3,250,000; and ii) you are expected to be recommended to the Compensation Committee for an additional grant of cash and/or equity awards, to be awarded in or about October 2016, with an aggregate target value of not less than $150,000. Beginning in the 2017 fiscal year and through the balance of the Term, it is expected that such awards will consist of annual grants of cash and/or equity awards with an aggregate annual target value of not less than $3,400,000, as determined by the Compensation Committee. Any such awards would be subject to actual grant to you by the Compensation Committee in its discretion pursuant to the applicable plan documents and would be subject to terms and conditions established by the Compensation Committee in its 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 the terms and conditions of the grant agreements received by similarly situated executives (subject to any more favorable terms set forth in this Agreement); provided, further, that for the purposes of this provision, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer shall not be deemed a “similarly situated executive.”
6. In addition to your eligibility for the above grant of equity and other incentive awards in 2016, on or as soon as reasonably practicable following the date hereof, the Company will grant you a one-time special award of restricted stock units with a target value of $12,500,000 (the “ Special Equity Award ”). The Special Equity Award will cliff vest on December 31, 2021, subject to achievement of the performance metrics set forth in the applicable award agreement (the “ Performance Criteria ”) and your continued employment with the Company; provided that (A) your Special Equity Award will vest on a Change of Control of the Company (as defined in the award agreement for your Special Equity Award); and (B) subject to your execution and the effectiveness of the Severance Agreement (as defined below), the time-vesting restrictions applicable to your Special Equity Award will lapse on a termination of your employment with the Company (1) by the Company, (2) by you for “ Good Reason, ” or (3) due to your death or your physical or mental disability (at which time of such termination under clauses (1), (2) or (3) Cause ” does not exist) and the Special Equity Award will be paid or delivered to you (a) if, prior to the termination date, the Compensation Committee determined that the Performance Criteria were achieved, then within a reasonable period of time following your termination, or (b) if the performance period applicable to the Performance Criteria ends after the termination date, then within a reasonable period of time following the end of such performance period, subject to the Compensation Committee’s determination that the Performance Criteria were achieved. Your Special Equity Award will be subject to the other terms and conditions set forth in the applicable award agreement.

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7. You will also continue to be offered our standard benefits program at the levels that are made available to similarly situated executives at the Company. Participation in our benefits program is subject to meeting the relevant eligibility requirements, payment of the required premiums, and the terms of the plans themselves. You will be entitled to four (4) weeks’ vacation per year, to be accrued and used in accordance with Company policy.
8. Effective immediately, you and the Company agree to be bound by the additional covenants and provisions applicable to each that are set forth in the Annex attached hereto, which Annex shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement.
9. If your employment with the Company is terminated on or prior to the Expiration Date (1) by the Company or (2) by you for “ Good Reason, ” and at the time of such termination under clauses (1) or (2) “ Cause ” does not exist, then, subject to your execution and the effectiveness of a severance agreement satisfactory to the Company, which severance agreement (the “ Severance Agreement ”) shall include, without limitation, a full and complete general release in favor of the Company and its affiliates, and their respective directors and officers, as well as your agreement to non-competition (limited to one year), non-solicitation, non-disparagement, confidentiality and further cooperation obligations and restrictions substantially in the form set forth in the Annex attached hereto, the Company will provide you with the following:
A.
Severance in an amount to be determined by the Compensation Committee (the “ Severance Amount ”), but in no event less than two (2) times the sum of: i) your annual base salary; and ii) your target annual bonus; each as in effect at the time your employment terminates. Sixty percent (60%) of the Severance Amount (the “ First Payment ”) 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; provided that the maximum portion of the First Payment that is exempt from Section 409A (as defined below) will be payable to you on or before the seventy-fifth (75) day following the date your employment so terminates;
B.
A prorated bonus based on the amount of your base salary actually earned by you during the fiscal year through the Termination Date, provided , that such bonus, if any, will be payable to you if and when such bonuses are generally paid to similarly situated employees and will be based on your then current annual target bonus as well as Company and your business unit performance as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion, but without adjustment for your individual performance;
C.
If, as of the Termination Date, annual bonuses had not yet generally been paid to similarly situated employees with respect to the prior fiscal year, a bonus based on the amount of your base salary actually paid to you during such prior fiscal year, provided , that such bonus, if any, will be payable to you if and when such bonuses are generally paid to similarly situated employees and will be based on your annual target bonus that was in effect with respect to such prior fiscal year as well as Company and your

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business unit performance as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion, but without adjustment for your individual performance;
D.
Each of your outstanding long-term cash incentive and performance-based restricted stock unit (“ PRSU ”) awards, as the case may be, 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 employees 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);
E.
Each of your outstanding restricted stock or restricted stock unit awards granted to you under the plans of the Company (other than the Special Equity Award) shall continue to vest in accordance with their original vesting schedule irrespective of the termination of the term hereof and payments or deliveries with respect to your restricted stock and restricted stock units shall be made on the original vesting date(s) (or, in the case of restricted stock units, on the original distribution date(s)); provided , however , that at the time of your termination from employment, the Company shall withhold and settle a portion of each of your outstanding restricted stock or restricted stock unit awards in an amount sufficient to fund the minimum amount of any statutory tax withholding requirements (including, federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding required due to such awards being “vested” for tax purposes) resulting from the recognition of income in respect of each such outstanding restricted stock or restricted stock unit award, and make a payroll tax contribution in such amount on your behalf; and
F.
Each of your outstanding stock options and stock appreciation awards under the plans of the Company, if any, shall continue to vest in accordance with their original vesting schedule irrespective of the termination of the term hereof 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.
G.
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, to the extent that (i) any awards granted prior to the date hereof that are payable under Sections 9(D) and 9(E) above constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) and any regulations and guidelines promulgated thereunder (collectively, “ Section 409A ”); and (ii) accelerated payout pursuant to the terms of this Agreement of such awards is not permitted by Section 409A, then such awards shall be payable to you at such time as is provided under the terms of such awards or otherwise in compliance with Section 409A.
10. If you die after a termination of your employment that is subject to Section 9 above, your estate or beneficiaries will be provided any remaining benefits and rights under the above Sections 9(A) through (F).

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11. If you cease to be an employee of the Company on or prior to the Expiration Date as a result of your death or your physical or mental disability, 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 Severance Agreement, you or your estate or beneficiary shall be provided with the benefits and rights set forth in Sections 9(B), 9(C), 9(E) and 9(F) above, and each of your outstanding long-term cash incentive and PRSU awards, as the case may be, 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).
12. If, after the Expiration Date, your employment with the Company is terminated (i) by the Company, (ii) by you for Good Reason, or (iii) by you without Good Reason but only if you had provided the Company with at least six months advance written notice of your intent to so terminate your employment under this provision, and such written notice specifies an effective date of termination no sooner than the first day after the Expiration Date, or (iv) as a result of your death or disability, and at the time of any such termination described above, Cause does not exist, then, subject (except in the case of your 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, as the case may be, will be provided with the benefits and rights set forth in Sections 9(B) through 9(F) above.
13. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event of a “Going Private Transaction” or a “Change of Control”, as such terms are defined in your respective long-term cash incentive, PRSU, restricted stock, restricted stock unit, stock option or stock appreciation right award agreements (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the award agreement with respect to your Special Equity Award), or in the event of your death, you will be entitled to receive the more favorable vesting and payment provisions (if any) provided in such award agreements; provided , however , that to the extent any previously granted award agreement provides for “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A, then payment will not be made prior to the earliest date permitted under Section 409A.
14. This Agreement does not constitute a guarantee of employment or benefits for any definite period. Your employment may be terminated by you or the Company at any time, with or without notice, liability (subject to the terms of this Agreement) or cause. With the exception of the provisions that, by their term, survive your death, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon your death.

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15. If and to the extent that any payment or benefit hereunder, or any plan, award or arrangement of the Company or its affiliates, is determined by the Company to constitute “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 and (b) if you are a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A and 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 in a lump sum or provided to you as soon as practicable after the expiration of such six month period. Each payment or benefit hereunder shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A to the extent Section 409A applies to such payments or benefits.
16. 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.
17. The Company may withhold from any payment due to you hereunder any taxes that are 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 (as reasonably determined by the Company). In the event that any such payment or benefits payable to you hereunder would be reduced because of the imposition of such excise tax, 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.
18. The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with Section 409A and applicable guidance issued thereunder or comply with an exemption from the application of Section 409A and, accordingly, all provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A. Neither party shall take any action to accelerate or delay the payment of any monies and/or provision of any benefits that are subject to Section 409A in any matter that would not be in compliance with Section 409A.
19. The Company hereby agrees that it shall indemnify and hold you harmless to the fullest extent provided in Article VIII of the Company’s By-Laws and on terms no less

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favorable as those applicable to other similarly situated executives of the Company. To the extent that the Company maintains officers’ and directors’ liability insurance, you will be covered under such policy subject to the exclusions and limitations set forth therein. The provisions of this Paragraph shall survive the expiration or termination of your employment and/or this Agreement, as well as your execution of the Severance Agreement as provided for herein.
20. This Agreement is personal to you and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by you otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. 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.
21. To the extent permitted by law, you hereby waive any and all rights to a jury trial with respect to any claim arising out of or in any way connected with or related to this Agreement, your employment by the Company or the termination of your employment with the Company.
22. 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.
23. 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 located in the State of New York solely in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement, and you hereby waive, and agree not to assert, as a defense that you are not subject thereto or that the venue thereof may not be appropriate.
24. You hereby agree that mailing of notice, 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 if delivered to you at your address set forth above or to such other address as you may later designate in writing for the receipt of such notices.
25. 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.
26. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement is held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid, void or unenforceable, such provision shall be deemed modified, amended and narrowed to the extent necessary to render the same legal, valid and enforceable, and the other remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected but shall remain in full force and effect.

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27. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement, including in the Annex attached hereto, shall have the meanings set forth below:
A. “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, in each case, any crime involving moral turpitude or any felony.
B. “Good Reason” means that (1) without your consent, (A) your base salary or annual bonus target (as each may be increased from time to time in the Compensation Committee’s discretion) is reduced, (B) your title is diminished, (C) you report directly to someone other than the Executive Chairman or the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, (D) your responsibilities as in effect immediately after the date hereof are thereafter materially diminished, (E) the Company requires that your principal office be located more than fifty (50) miles from 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 letter and definition, that you do not consent to such action, (3) the Company has not corrected such action within 30 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.
28. It is the parties’ intention that this Agreement not be construed more strictly with regard to you or the Company. 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 and agreements.
29. Sections 12 through, and including, this Section 29, the Annex attached hereto, and any amounts earned but not yet paid to you pursuant to the terms of this Agreement as of the Expiration Date shall survive the expiration of this Agreement and remain binding on you and the Company in accordance with their terms.


[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

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AMC NETWORKS INC.
By: /s/ Joshua W. Sapan
Name: Joshua W. Sapan    
Title:     President and CEO

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:

/s/ Edward A. Carroll
Edward A. Carroll
Date: October 13, 2016

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ANNEX

This Annex constitutes part of the Agreement, dated October 13, 2016, by and between Edward A. Carroll (“ You ”) and AMC Networks Inc. (the “ Company ”). Terms defined in the Agreement shall have the same meanings in this Annex.

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

1.    Confidentiality
(a)     Agreement. You agree to keep the existence and terms of this Agreement confidential (unless it is made public by the Company) provided that (1) you are authorized to make any disclosure required of you by any federal, state or local laws or judicial proceedings, after providing the Company with prior written notice and an opportunity to respond to such disclosure (unless such notice is prohibited by law), (2) you are authorized to disclose this Agreement and its terms to your legal, financial and tax advisors or to members of your immediate family so long as such advisors and family members agree to maintain the confidentiality of the Agreement, (3) you and your representatives and agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of this Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to you relating to such tax treatment or structure, and (4) you may disclose this Agreement in connection with any action by you to enforce this Agreement.
(b)     Confidential and Proprietary Information. You agree to retain in strict confidence and not use for any purpose whatsoever or divulge, disseminate, copy, disclose to any third party, or otherwise use any Confidential Information, other than for legitimate business purposes of the Company and its affiliates. As used herein, “ Confidential Information ” means any non-public information of a confidential, proprietary, commercially sensitive or personal nature of, or regarding, the Company or any of its affiliates or any 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) subscriber, customer, guest, fan vendor or shareholder lists or data; (iv) technical or strategic information regarding the Covered Parties’ cable, data, telephone, programming, advertising, sports, entertainment, film production, theatrical, motion picture exhibition or other businesses, (v) advertising, business, programming, sales or marketing tactics and strategies; (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, players, coaches, agents, talent, consultants, advisors or representatives, including their compensation or other human resources policies and procedures and (xi) 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.
(c)     Exception for Disclosure Pursuant to Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations set forth in subsection (b) above, other than with respect to subscriber or customer information, shall not apply to Confidential Information that is:
1)     already in the public domain;
2)
disclosed to you by a third party with the right to disclose it in good faith; or
3)
specifically exempted in writing by the applicable Covered Party from the applicability of this Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Agreement, you are authorized to make any disclosure required of you by any federal, state or local laws or judicial, arbitral or governmental agency proceedings, after providing (to the extent not prohibited by law) 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 your knowledge of Confidential Information, your employment by or affiliation with certain businesses would be detrimental to the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries. You agree that, without the prior written consent of the Company, you will not represent, become employed by, consult to, advise in any manner or have any material interest, directly or indirectly, in any Competitive Entity (as defined below). A “ Competitive Entity ” shall mean (1) any person, entity or business that (i) competes with any of the Company’s or any of its affiliate’s programming, advertising, entertainment, theatrical, film production, motion picture exhibition or other existing businesses, nationally or regionally; or (ii) directly competes with any other business of the Company or one of its subsidiaries that produced greater than 10% of the Company’s revenues in the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the determination is made, or (2) any trade or professional association representing any of the businesses covered by this paragraph, other than the National Cable Television Association and any state cable television association. Ownership of not more than 1% of the outstanding stock of any publicly traded company shall not, by itself, be a violation of this paragraph. This agreement not to compete will expire on the first anniversary of the date on which your employment with the Company has terminated if such termination occurs prior to the Expiration Date .
  






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 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, any of its affiliates or any of their respective incumbent or former officers, directors, agents, consultants, employees, successors and assigns.

This agreement in no way restricts or prevents you from providing truthful testimony concerning the Company or its affiliates as required by court order or other legal process; provided that you afford the Company written notice and an opportunity to respond prior to such disclosure.

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, programming ideas and other technical, business, financial, advertising, sales, marketing, customer, programming or product development plans, forecasts, strategies, information and materials (in any medium whatsoever) developed or prepared by you or with your cooperation during the course of 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.

4.    Further Cooperation
Following the date of termination of your employment with the Company, 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 such employment termination, or in any litigation or administrative proceedings or appeals (including any preparation therefore) where the Company believes that your personal knowledge, attendance or participation could be beneficial to the Company or its affiliates. This cooperation includes, without limitation, participation on behalf of the Company and/or its affiliates in any litigation, administrative or similar proceeding, including providing truthful testimony. The Company will pay you for your services rendered under this provision at a rate of $6,800.00 per day for each day or part thereof, within 30 days of the approval of the invoice thereof.
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 any such expense before it is incurred.

5.     No Hire or Solicit
For the term of the Agreement and until one year after the termination of your employment, 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 employee of the Company or any of its affiliates. This restriction does not apply to any employee who was discharged by the Company or any of its affiliates. In addition, this restriction will not prevent you from providing references.

6.    Acknowledgments

You acknowledge that the restrictions contained in this Annex , 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 any of the provisions of this Annex , and therefore agree that the Company shall be entitle injunctive relief to prevent any breach or threatened breach of any of the 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 , raise the defense that the Company has an adequate remedy at law. Nothing in this Annex 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, or any part thereof, is unenforceable because of the duration or scope (geographic or otherwise) of such provision, 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event you violate the covenants and agreements set forth in this Annex , then, in addition to all other rights and remedies available to the Company, the Company shall have no further obligation to pay you any severance benefits or to provide you with any other rights or benefits to which you would have been entitled pursuant to this Agreement had you not breached the covenants and agreements set forth in this Annex .

7.    Survival
The covenants and agreement set forth in this Annex shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement and any termination of your employment with the Company, in accordance with their respective terms.



Exhibit 10.2


RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS AGREEMENT



Edward Carroll

October 13, 2016


Dear Ed:
Pursuant to the AMC Networks Inc. 2016 Employee Stock Plan (the “ Plan ”), you have been selected by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (as more fully described in Section 11, the “ Committee ”) of AMC Networks Inc. (the “ Company ”), effective as of October 13, 2016 (the “ Grant Date ”), to receive 242,813 restricted stock units (“ Units ”). The Units are granted subject to the terms and conditions set forth below and in the Plan.
Capitalized terms used but not defined in this agreement (this “ Agreement ”) have the meanings given to them in the Plan. The Units are subject to the terms and conditions set forth below:
1. Awards. Each Unit shall represent an unfunded, unsecured promise by the Company to deliver to you one share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (“ Share ”), on the Delivery Date. In accordance with Section 10(b) of the Plan, in the discretion of the Committee, in lieu of all or any portion of the Shares otherwise deliverable in respect of your Units, the Company may deliver a cash amount equal to the number of such Shares multiplied by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date when Shares would otherwise have been issued, as determined by the Committee.
2.      Vesting. Subject to Sections 3 and 4, none of your Units will vest and you will forfeit all of them if you do not remain continuously employed with the Company or one of the AMC Subsidiaries from the Grant Date through December 31, 2021 (the “ Vesting Date ”), provided the performance criteria set forth in Annex 2 attached hereto (the “ Performance Criteria ”) have been satisfied as of the Vesting Date, as determined by the Committee.
3.      Vesting in the Event of Death. If your employment is terminated as a result of your death, all of the Units will vest as of the termination date without regard to satisfaction of the Performance Criteria.
4.      Change of Control/Going Private Transaction. As set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto, your entitlement to the Units may be affected in the event of a Change of Control of the Company or a going-private transaction (each as defined in Annex 1 attached hereto).
5.      Transfer Restrictions. You may not transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber the Units, other than to the extent provided in the Plan.

1






6.      Right to Vote and Receive Dividends. You shall not be deemed to be the holder of Shares, and shall not have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any Units, unless and until the Company shall have issued and delivered Shares to you and your name shall have been entered as a stockholder of record on the books of the Company. Pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Plan, all ordinary (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) cash dividends that would have been paid upon any Shares underlying your Units had such Shares been issued will be retained by the Company for your account until your Units vest and such dividends will be paid to you (without interest) on the Delivery Date to the extent that your Units vest.
7.      Tax Representations and Tax Withholding . You hereby acknowledge that you have reviewed with your own tax advisors the federal, state and local tax consequences of receiving the Units. You hereby represent to the Company that you are relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company, its Affiliates or any of their respective agents. If, in connection with the Units, the Company is required to withhold any amounts by reason of any federal, state or local tax, such withholding shall be effected in accordance with Section 16 of the Plan.
8.      Section 409A. It is the Company’s intent that payments under this Agreement shall comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (“ Section 409A ”) to the extent applicable, and that the Agreement be administered accordingly. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any employment agreement you have entered into with the Company, to the extent that any payment or benefit under this Agreement, or any other plan or arrangement of the Company or its affiliates, is determined by the Company to constitute “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 and (b) if you are a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A and 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). Each payment under this Agreement will be treated as a separate payment under Section 409A of the IRC.
9.      Delivery. Subject to Sections 8, 10 and 13 and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Shares will be delivered in respect of vested Units (if any) on the first to occur of the following events (i) to you on or promptly after the Vesting Date (but in no case more than 15 days after such date), (ii) in the event of your death to your estate after your death and during the calendar year in which your death occurs (or such later date as may be permitted under Section 409A) and (iii) in the event of any other termination of your employment (including pursuant to the provisions of Annex 1 ), to you on the ninetieth (90 th ) day following your termination of employment (the “ Delivery Date ”). Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, delivery of the Shares at the Delivery Date will be by book-entry credit to an account in your name that the Company has established at a custody agent (the “ custodian ”). The Company’s transfer agent, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., shall act as the custodian of the Shares; however , the Company may in its sole discretion appoint another custodian to replace Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. On the Delivery Date, if you have complied with your obligations under this Agreement and provided that your tax obligations with respect to the vested Units are appropriately satisfied, we will instruct the custodian to electronically

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transfer your Shares to a brokerage or other account on your behalf (or make such other arrangements for the delivery of the Shares to you as we reasonably determine).
10.      Right of Offset . You hereby agree that the Company shall have the right to offset against its obligation to deliver shares of Class A Common Stock, cash or other property under this Agreement to the extent that it does not constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation” pursuant to Section 409A, any outstanding amounts of whatever nature that you then owe to the Company or any of the AMC Subsidiaries.
11.      The Committee . For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company or any replacement committee established under, and as more fully defined in, the Plan.
12.      Committee Discretion . The Committee has full discretion with respect to any actions to be taken or determinations to be made in connection with this Agreement, and its determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive.
13.      Amendment. The Committee reserves the right at any time to amend the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, except that the Committee shall not make any amendment or revision in a manner unfavorable to you (other than if immaterial), without your consent. No consent shall be required for amendments made pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan, except that, for purposes of Section 19 of the Plan, Section 4 and Annex 1 of this Agreement are deemed to be “terms of an Award Agreement expressly refer[ring] to an Adjustment Event.” Any amendment of this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by an authorized member of the Committee or a person or persons designated by the Committee.
14.      Units Subject to the Plan. The Units covered by this Agreement are subject to the Plan.
15.      AMC Subsidiaries. For purposes of this Agreement, “AMC Subsidiaries” shall mean the direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company (or, in the case of a going private transaction or Change in Control, the direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Surviving Entity).
16.      Entire Agreement. Except for any employment agreement between you and the Company or any of its Affiliates in effect as of the date of the grant hereof (as such employment agreement may be modified, renewed or replaced), this Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire understanding and agreement of you and the Company with respect to the Units covered hereby and supersede all prior understandings and agreements. Except as provided in Sections 8 and 15, in the event of a conflict among the documents with respect to the terms and conditions of the Units covered hereby, the documents will be accorded the following order of authority: the terms and conditions of the Plan will have highest authority followed by the terms and conditions of your employment agreement, if any, followed by the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
17.      Successors and Assigns. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the Company and its successors and assigns.

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18.      Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be made under, and in all respects be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
19.      Jurisdiction and Venue. You irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and the Federal courts of the United States located in the Southern District and Eastern District of the State of New York in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement, and hereby waive, and agree not to assert, as a defense that you are not subject thereto or that the venue thereof may not be appropriate. You agree that the mailing of process or other papers in connection with any action or proceeding in any manner permitted by law shall be valid and sufficient service.
20.      Waiver . No waiver by the Company at any time of any breach by you of, or compliance with, any term or condition of this Agreement or the Plan to be performed by you shall be deemed a waiver of the same, any similar or any dissimilar term or condition at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.
21.      Severability . The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or condition hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other terms and conditions set forth herein.
22.      Exclusion from Compensation Calculation . By acceptance of this Agreement, you shall be deemed to be in agreement that the Units covered hereby shall be considered special incentive compensation and will be exempt from inclusion as “wages” or “salary” in pension, retirement, life insurance and other employee benefits arrangements of the Company and its Affiliates, except as determined otherwise by the Company. In addition, each of your beneficiaries shall be deemed to be in agreement that all such shares be exempt from inclusion in “wages” or “salary” for purposes of calculating benefits of any life insurance coverage sponsored by the Company or any of its Affiliates.
23.      No Right to Continued Employment . Nothing contained in this Agreement or the Plan shall be construed to confer on you any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate, or derogate from the right of the Company or any Affiliate, as applicable, to retire, request the resignation of, or discharge you, at any time, with or without cause.
24.      Restrictive Covenants . You agreed to be bound by the restrictive covenants set forth in Annex 3 .
25.      Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for purposes of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the construction of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
26.      Effective Date. Upon execution by you, this Agreement shall be effective from and as of the Grant Date.

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27.      Signatures. Execution of this Agreement by the Company and/or you may be in the form of an electronic, manual or similar signature, and such signature shall be treated as an original signature for all purposes.
AMC NETWORKS INC.

By:
/s/ Joshua Sapan
 
Name: Joshua Sapan
Title: President and CEO
    
By your electronic signature, you (i) acknowledge that a complete copy of the Plan and this Agreement have been made available to you and (ii) agree to all of the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement.




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Annex 1
to

Restricted Stock Units Agreement
In the event of a “Change of Control” of the Company or a “going private transaction,” as defined below, your entitlement to Units shall be as follows:
1.      If the Company or the Surviving Entity, as defined below, has shares of common stock (or partnership units) traded on a national stock exchange or on the over-the-counter market as reported on NASDAQ or any other stock exchange, the Committee shall, no later than the effective date of the transaction which results in a Change of Control or going private transaction, deem the Performance Criteria to be satisfied and either (A) convert your unvested Units into an amount of cash equal to (i) the number of your unvested Units multiplied by (ii) the “offer price per share,” the “acquisition price per share” or the “merger price per share,” each as defined below, whichever of such amounts is applicable or (B) arrange to have the Surviving Entity grant to you an award of restricted stock units (or partnership units) for shares of the Surviving Entity on the same terms and with a value equivalent to your unvested Units which will, in the good faith determination of the Committee, provide you with an equivalent profit potential.
2.      If the Company or the Surviving Entity does not have shares of common stock (or partnership units) traded on a national stock exchange or on the over-the-counter market as reported on NASDAQ or any other stock exchange, the Committee shall deem the Performance Criteria to be satisfied and convert your unvested Units into an amount of cash equal to the amount calculated as per Paragraph 1(A) above.
3.      Provided that you remain continuously employed with the Company, the Surviving Entity or one of the AMC Subsidiaries, any cash award provided for in Paragraph 1(A) or 2 shall become payable to you (or your estate), and any substitute restricted stock unit award of the Surviving Entity provided in Paragraph 1(B) will vest, at the earlier of (a) the date of a Change of Control, (b) the date on which your Units would otherwise have vested had they continued in effect, (c) the date of your death or (d) the date on which your employment with the Company, the Surviving Entity or one of the AMC Subsidiaries is terminated (i) by the Company, the Surviving Entity or one of the AMC Subsidiaries other than for Cause, (ii) by you for “good reason,” as defined below, or (iii) by you for any reason at least six (6) months, but not more than nine (9) months after the effective date of the going private transaction; provided that clause (iii) herein shall not apply in the event that your rights in the Units are converted into a right to receive an amount of cash in accordance with Paragraph 1(A). The amount payable in cash shall be payable together with interest from the effective date of the Change of Control or going private transaction until the date of payment at (a) the weighted average cost of capital of the Company immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Change of Control or going private transaction, or (b) if the Company (or the Surviving Entity) sets aside the funds in a trust or other funding arrangement, the actual earnings of such trust or other funding arrangement.
4.      As used herein,

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Acquisition price per share ” shall mean the greater of (i) the highest price per share stated on the Schedule 13D or any amendment thereto filed by the holder of twenty percent (20%) or more of the Company’s voting power which gives rise to the Change of Control or going private transaction, and (ii) the highest fair market value per share of common stock during the ninety-day period ending on the date of such Change of Control or going private transaction.
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 any of its Affiliates, 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.
Change of Control ” means the acquisition, in a transaction or a series of related transactions, by any person or group, other than 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 its assets (as constituted immediately prior to such transaction or transactions).
Going private transaction ” means a transaction involving the purchase of Company securities described in Rule 13e-3 to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.
Good reason ” means
a.      without your express written consent any reduction in your base salary or target bonus opportunity, or any material impairment or material adverse change in your working conditions (as the same may from time to time have been improved or, with your written consent, otherwise altered, in each case, after the Grant Date) at any time after or within ninety (90) days prior to the Change of Control including, without limitation, any material reduction of your other compensation, executive perquisites or other employee benefits (measured, where applicable, by level or participation or percentage of award under any plans of the Company), or material impairment or material adverse change of your level of responsibility, authority, autonomy or title, or to your scope of duties;
b.      any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of this Agreement, other than an insubstantial or inadvertent failure remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by you;
c.      the Company’s requiring you to be based at any office or location more than thirty-five (35) miles from your location immediately prior to such event except for travel reasonably required in the performance of your responsibilities; or
d.      any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption and agreement to perform this Agreement by a successor as contemplated by Paragraph 1.

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Merger price per share ” shall mean, in the case of a merger, consolidation, sale, exchange or other disposition of assets that results in a Change of Control or going private transaction (a “ Merger ”), the greater of (i) the fixed or formula price for the acquisition of shares of common stock occurring pursuant to the Merger, and (ii) the highest fair market value per share of common stock during the ninety-day period ending on the date of such Change of Control or going private transaction. Any securities or property which are part or all of the consideration paid for shares of common stock pursuant to the Merger shall be valued in determining the merger price per share at the higher of (A) the valuation placed on such securities or property by the Company, person or other entity which is a party with the Company to the Merger, or (B) the valuation placed on such securities or property by the Committee.
Offer price per share shall mean, in the case of a tender offer or exchange offer which results in a Change of Control or going private transaction (an “ Offer ”), the greater of (i) the highest price per share of common stock paid pursuant to the Offer, or (ii) the highest fair market value per share of common stock during the ninety-day period ending on the date of a Change of Control or going private transaction. Any securities or property which are part or all of the consideration paid for shares of common stock in the Offer shall be valued in determining the Offer Price per Share at the higher of (A) the valuation placed on such securities or property by the Company, person or other entity making such offer or (B) the valuation placed on such securities or property by the Committee .
Surviving Entity means the entity that owns, directly or indirectly, after consummation of any transaction, substantially all the assets of the Company as constituted immediately prior to consummation of such transaction. If any such entity is at least majority-owned, directly or indirectly, by any entity (a “parent entity”) which has shares of common stock (or partnership units) traded on a national stock exchange or the over-the-counter market, as reported on NASDAQ or any other stock exchange, then such parent entity shall be deemed to be the Surviving Entity, provided that if there shall be more than one such parent entity, the parent entity closest to ownership of substantially all the assets of the Company shall be deemed to be the Surviving Entity. If in connection with any transaction, a Change of Control or going private transaction occurs and no entity shall own, after consummation of such transaction, substantially all the assets of the Company as constituted immediately prior to consummation of such transaction, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Paragraph 4 to the contrary, there shall not be deemed to be a Surviving Entity so that the provisions of Paragraph 1(B) shall not be applicable.


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Annex 2
to

Restricted Stock Units Agreement
The performance objective for this Agreement is the achievement by the Company, in any of fiscal years 2017 or 2018, of Business Unit AOCF equal to at least 90% of Business Unit AOCF for fiscal year 2015.
Definitions . For purposes of this Annex 2:
AOCF ” means adjusted operating cash flow, as adjusted operating cash flow is defined in the earnings release of the Company dated February 25, 2016, but excluding the impact of this Award and all other performance-based long-term incentive awards.
Business Unit AOCF ” means the combined AOCF of the Company’s operating businesses.
Business Unit AOCF will be based on actual financial performance for the periods January 1 through December 31, 2015, 2017 and 2018 (as determined in the manner described above) modified to neutralize the impact of the following items in each year, in each case to the extent not already contemplated by the five-year plan presented to the Company’s Board of Directors on December 9, 2015:

a)
Acquisitions of businesses or planned acquisitions that are not completed (including costs for acquisitions that are not completed);
b)
Dispositions of businesses or discontinued businesses, in each case in a manner that neutralizes the impact of the associated effects on corporate or other expenses that otherwise would have been allocated to such businesses;
c)
Investments in new business ventures or initiatives not budgeted or forecasted (as opposed to over budget or forecast) in order to achieve new revenue opportunities or significantly improve existing revenue opportunities, or the impact of any changed or alternative structure of such investments;
d)
Position eliminations or reductions in force, occurring in any of 2017 or 2018, which accelerate expense and, therefore, benefit future periods;
e)
Disputes under or a termination of any affiliate agreement by distributors in connection with significant litigation (including any litigation costs or settlements);
f)
The impact of any increased or decreased tax rates, imposition of any new tax, fee or surcharge by any government or regulatory entity (other than those that would be billed or passed through to customers);
g)
Currency gains or losses resulting from exchange rates;
h)
The impact of litigation (including legal fees, settlements and judgments), provided that adjustments will be made only to the extent that the amount by which the impact was not contemplated by the five-year plan exceeds $1 million;

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i)
Any change affecting the costs and/or operation of the business resulting from changes to laws, rules or regulations by any government or regulatory entity (including, without limitation, changes in taxes, fees or surcharges), provided that adjustments will be made only for any such individual item to the extent the change results in a positive or negative variance greater than $1 million;
j)
The dissolution, bankruptcy or liquidation of a third-party with whom the Company does business, including in each case, without limitation, the rejection of any agreement in bankruptcy, provided that in each case adjustments will be made only for any such individual third-party if such amount is greater than $1 million;
k)
Changes in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) or in the application of GAAP different from what was assumed in the five-year plan or an acceleration of expense due to a change in useful life that was not budgeted or forecasted, provided that adjustments will be made only to the extent that the net cumulative impact of such changes results in a positive or negative variance of greater than $2 million; and
l)
Acts of God, terrorism or vandalism.

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Annex 3
to
Restricted Stock Units Agreement

RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

You agree to comply with the following covenants.

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 its Affiliates 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) subscriber, customer, fan, vendor or shareholder lists or data; (iv) technical or strategic information regarding the Covered Parties’ cable, data, telephone, programming, advertising, film production, motion picture exhibition, newspaper, multichannel video data and distribution services or other businesses; (v) advertising, business, sales or marketing tactics and strategies; (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, agents, consultants, advisors or representatives, including their compensation or other human resources policies and procedures; and (xi) 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, teams, players, coaches, consultants or agents or any of the Covered Parties.

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;

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

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

Notwithstanding anything elsewhere in this Agreement, you are authorized to make any disclosure required of you by any federal, state and local laws or judicial, arbitral or governmental agency proceedings, after 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-DISPARAGEMENT

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 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.

3. COMPANY PROPERTY

As an employee of the Company, you agree that all original works of authorship that result from your activities within the scope of your employment and which are protectable by copyright are “works made for hire,” as the term is defined in the United States Copyright Act (17 USCA, Section 101). In addition, you agree that the Company is the owner of, and you hereby assign to the Company, without further consideration, all rights, title and interest in and to all programming and programming ideas, trademarks, copyrights, content, trade secrets, domain names, social media accounts and other intellectual property relating thereto, 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 concepts, plans, forecasts, strategies, information and materials (in any medium whatsoever) developed or prepared by you or with your cooperation during the course of your employment by the Company (the “Materials”), excluding only those assets that that Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and the Executive Vice President and General Counsel have agreed to in writing to except. All such “works made for hire” and assigned assets are the sole property of the Company and freely transferable by the Company throughout the world. 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. Notwithstanding the terms set forth in this Section 3, in the event that the terms of your written employment agreement or other written agreement with the Company conflict with the terms set forth in this Section 3, the terms of those agreements will control.

4. FURTHER COOPERATION


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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 therefore) where the Company believes that your personal knowledge, attendance and participation could be beneficial to the Company or its Affiliates. This cooperation includes, without limitation, participation on behalf of the Company or its Affiliates in any litigation or administrative proceeding brought by any former or existing employee, team, player, coach, guest, representative, agent or vendor of the Company or its Affiliates.

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 then current employee of the Company, or any of its Affiliates, until the first anniversary of the date of your termination of employment with the Company. This restriction does not apply to any employee who was discharged by the Company. In addition, this restriction will not prevent you from providing references.

6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

You acknowledge that the restrictions contained in this Annex 3, 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 3, 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 3, raise the defense that the Company has an adequate remedy at law. Nothing in this Annex 3 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 3 or any part thereof, is unenforceable because of the duration or scope (geographic or otherwise) of such provision, it is the intention of the parties that the duration or scope of such provision, as

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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 3 shall survive any termination of your employment by the Company or the expiration of the Agreement.

8. CLAWBACK

If you breach any of the covenants in this Annex 3, then the Company will be entitled to (i) seek injunctive relief in accordance with Section 6 of this Annex 3 or (ii) exercise its right to receive, and you will be obligated to immediately repay to the Company upon demand therefor, the gross (pre-tax) amount of (i) the fair market value of any Shares deliverable in respect of the Units granted under this Agreement (based on the closing price of the Shares on the Delivery Date or the most immediately preceding trading day) and (ii) any cash payable in respect of the Units granted under this Agreement.

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