0001193125-21-211995.txt : 20210709 0001193125-21-211995.hdr.sgml : 20210709 20210709171828 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-21-211995 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-8 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 FILED AS OF DATE: 20210709 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20210709 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20210709 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001795250 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-AMUSEMENT & RECREATION SERVICES [7900] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0630 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-8 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-257817 FILM NUMBER: 211083574 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: TWO PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10121 BUSINESS PHONE: (212) 465-6000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: TWO PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10121 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: MSG ENTERTAINMENT SPINCO, INC. DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20191126 S-8 1 d136010ds8.htm S-8 S-8

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 9, 2021

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

Registration Statement

Under

The Securities Act of 1933

 

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ENTERTAINMENT CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   84-3755666

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

Two Pennsylvania Plaza

New York, New York 10121

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. 2020 Employee Stock Plan

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. 2020 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors

MSG Networks Inc. 2010 Employee Stock Plan, as amended

(Full title of each plan)

Scott S. Packman

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Two Pennsylvania Plaza

New York, New York 10121

(Name and address of agent for service)

(212) 465-6000

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

With a copy to:

Robert W. Downes, Esq.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

125 Broad Street

New York, New York 10004

(212) 558-4000

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act:  ☒

 

 

Calculation of Registration Fee

 

 

Title of Securities

to be Registered

 

Amount

to be
Registered(1)

  Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share
 

Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price

 

Amount of

Registration Fee

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. 2020 Employee Stock Plan

               

In respect of assumed stock options:
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  630,239   $109.77(2)   $69,181,335.03(2)   $7,547.68

In respect of assumed restricted stock units:
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  408,475   $84.17(3)   $34,379,298.38(3)   $3,750.78

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. 2020 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors

               

In respect of assumed restricted stock units:
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  78,474   $84.17(3)   $6,604,764.21(3)   $720.58

MSG Networks Inc. 2010 Employee Stock Plan, as amended

               

In respect of available share reserve:
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  336,254   $84.17(3)   $28,300,817.91(3)   $3,087.62

Total

  1,453,442       $138,466,215.53   $15,106.66

 

 

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of Class A Common Stock which become issuable under the Plans pursuant to this Registration Statement by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction which results in an increase in the number of the Registrant’s outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.

(2)

Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based on the volume weighted average exercise price of the options being assumed.

(3)

Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based on the average of the high and low sales prices of Registrant’s Class A Common Stock, as reported by NYSE on July 2, 2021.

 

 

 


EXPLANATORY NOTE

Effective July 9, 2021, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (the “Registrant”) completed the previously announced merger transaction contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 25, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Registrant, Broadway Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of the Registrant (“Merger Sub”) and MSG Networks Inc., a Delaware corporation (“MSG Networks”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into MSG Networks, with MSG Networks being the surviving corporation as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant (the “Merger”).

Upon the completion of the Merger, each outstanding and unexercised stock option to purchase MSG Networks’ Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“MSGN Class A Common Stock”, and such option a “MSGN stock option”), whether vested or unvested, that was outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”) was assumed by the Registrant and converted into a stock option to purchase the Registrant’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“MSGE Class A Common Stock”, and such option a “MSGE stock option”), to purchase (i) such number of shares of MSGE Class A Common Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole share) equal to the product obtained by multiplying (A) the total number of shares of MSGN Class A Common Stock subject to such MSGN stock option immediately prior to the Effective Time by (B) the exchange ratio of 0.172, (ii) at a per-share exercise price (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the exercise price per share of MSGN Class A Common Stock at which such MSGN stock option was exercisable immediately prior to the Effective Time by (B) the exchange ratio of 0.172; provided that for each such MSGN stock option subject to performance vesting conditions that was outstanding on the date of the Merger Agreement and that remained outstanding at the Effective Time, (x) the number of shares of MSGN Class A Common Stock used in clause (i)(A) of this sentence was equal to the number of shares of MSGN Class A Common Stock that would be subject to such MSGN stock option assuming the performance conditions applicable thereto were achieved at 100% of target and (y) each such MSGN stock option converted to an MSGE stock option with time-based vesting conditions for the remainder of the applicable performance period.

Additionally, upon the completion of the Merger, each restricted stock unit award corresponding to shares of MSGN Class A Common Stock, which award is subject to restrictions on vesting or settlement based on performance and/or continuing service (a “MSGN RSU”), whether vested or unvested, that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was assumed by the Registrant and converted into a restricted stock unit award corresponding to shares of MSGE Class A Common Stock, which award is subject to restrictions on vesting or settlement based on performance and/or continuing service (a “MSGE RSU”). The number of MSGE RSUs received in exchange for each MSGN RSU was determined by multiplying (i) the total number of shares of MSGN Class A Common Stock subject to such MSGN RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time by (ii) 0.172; provided that for each MSGN RSU subject to performance vesting conditions that was outstanding on the date of the Merger Agreement and that remained outstanding at the Effective Time, (x) the number of shares of MSGN Class A Common Stock used in clause (i) of this sentence was equal to the number of shares of MSGN Class A Common Stock that would be subject to such MSGN RSU award assuming the performance conditions applicable thereto were achieved at 100% of target and (y) each such MSGN RSU converted to an MSGE RSU with time-based vesting conditions for the remainder of the applicable performance period.

In connection with the Merger, the Registrant assumed the share reserve under the MSG Networks Inc. 2010 Employee Stock Plan, as amended (the “Assumed Plan”). This Registration Statement is being filed by the Registrant in connection with the registration of MSGE Class A Common Stock issuable to eligible employees of the Registrant or its subsidiaries pursuant to awards that in the future may be granted under the Assumed Plan.


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

All information required by Part I to be contained in the prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

ITEM 3.

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

The following documents filed by the Registrant are incorporated herein by reference:

(a) The Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10-12B (File No. 001-39245) filed on April 1, 2020, as amended, including the description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained therein, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description;

(b) The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on August 31, 2020 (the “2020 Form 10-K”), and portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for its 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the Commission on October 27, 2020, that were specifically incorporated into the 2020 Form 10-K;

(c) The Registrant’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2020, filed with the Commission on November 16, 2020, for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2020, filed with the Commission on February 12, 2021, and for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2021, filed with the Commission on May 7, 2021; and

(d) The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on August 7, 2020, September  11, 2020, November  24, 2020, December  10, 2020, December  17, 2020, March  26, 2021, April  28, 2021, July  2, 2021 and July 9, 2021.

All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Securities Exchange Act”), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

 

ITEM 4.

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5.

INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 6.

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation may indemnify any current or former director, officer or employee or other individual against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with civil, criminal, administrative or investigative actions or proceedings, other than a derivative action by or in the right of the corporation, if the director, officer, employee or other individual acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative actions, except that indemnification only extends to expenses incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such actions, and the statute requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable to the corporation. The statute provides that it is not exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation’s by-laws, disinterested director vote, stockholder vote, agreement or otherwise.


The Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same may be amended and supplemented, or by any successor thereto, the Registrant will indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have power to indemnify under said section from and against any and all of the expenses, liabilities or other matters referred to in or covered by said section. Such right to indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. The right to indemnification provided under the certificate of incorporation is not exclusive of any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. The amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that no amendment, modification or repeal of the indemnification provision shall adversely affect any right or protection of a person that exists at the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.

The Registrant is party to indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. The indemnification agreements provide that the Registrant will, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, and subject to the terms and conditions of each indemnification agreement, indemnify each director and executive officer against certain types of liabilities and pay or reimburse certain expenses if the director or executive officer is involved in any manner (including as a party or witness) in certain types of proceedings by reason of the fact of such person’s service as a director, officer, partner, trustee, fiduciary, manager or employee of the Registrant or of any other corporation, limited liability company, public limited company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, fund or other enterprise (a) that is affiliated with the Registrant or (b) at the written request of the Board of Directors of the Registrant, a committee thereof, the Executive Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant.

A Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (formerly The Madison Square Garden Company, “MSGS”), provides for indemnification by the Registrant of MSGS and its directors, officers and employees and by MSGS of the Registrant and its directors, officers and employees for some liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act. The amount of these indemnity obligations is unlimited.

 

ITEM 7.

EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 8.

EXHIBITS.

 

Exhibit

Number

   Exhibit
4.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (formerly MSG Entertainment Spinco, Inc.) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 23, 2020)
4.2    Amended By-Laws of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (formerly MSG Entertainment Spinco, Inc.) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 23, 2020)
4.3    Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. 2020 Employee Stock Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on August 31, 2020)
4.4    Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. 2020 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on August 31, 2020)
4.5    MSG Networks Inc. 2010 Employee Stock Plan, as amended


5.1    Opinion of Scott S. Packman
23.1    Consent of KPMG LLP
23.2    Consent of Scott S. Packman (contained in the Opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1)
24.1    Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page)

 

ITEM 9.

UNDERTAKINGS

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of the Plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing this Registration Statement and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in New York, New York, on this 9th day of July, 2021.

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ENTERTAINMENT CORP.
By:   /s/ Mark H. FitzPatrick
Name:   Mark H. FitzPatrick
Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated. Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes Andrew Lustgarten, Scott S. Packman and Mark H. FitzPatrick to file one or more amendments, including Post-Effective Amendments, to this Registration Statement, which Amendments may make such changes as any of them deems appropriate, and each person whose signature appears below, individually and in each capacity stated below, hereby appoints Andrew Lustgarten, Scott S. Packman and Mark H. FitzPatrick as Attorney-in-Fact to execute his or her name and on his or her behalf to file any such Amendments to this Registration Statement.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ James L. Dolan

James L. Dolan

  

Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer) and Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Mark H. FitzPatrick

Mark H. FitzPatrick

  

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Joseph F. Yospe

Joseph F. Yospe

  

Senior Vice President, Controller and Principal Accounting Officer

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Martin Bandier

Martin Bandier

  

Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Matthew C. Blank

Matthew C. Blank

  

Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Charles F. Dolan

Charles F. Dolan

  

Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Charles P. Dolan

Charles P. Dolan

  

Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Kristin A. Dolan

Kristin A. Dolan

  

Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Marianne Dolan Weber

Marianne Dolan Weber

  

Director

  July 9, 2021


/s/ Paul J. Dolan

Paul J. Dolan

  

Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Quentin F. Dolan

Quentin F. Dolan

  

Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Ryan T. Dolan

Ryan T. Dolan

  

Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Thomas C. Dolan

Thomas C. Dolan

  

Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Joseph J. Lhota

Joseph J. Lhota

  

Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Frederic V. Salerno

Frederic V. Salerno

  

Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Brian G. Sweeney

Brian G. Sweeney

  

Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ John L. Sykes

John L. Sykes

  

Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Vincent Tese

Vincent Tese

  

Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Isiah L. Thomas

Isiah L. Thomas

  

Director

  July 9, 2021

/s/ Joel M. Litvin

Joel M. Litvin

  

Director

  July 9, 2021
EX-4.5 2 d136010dex45.htm EX-4.5 EX-4.5

Exhibit 4.5

MSG Networks Inc. 2010 Employee Stock Plan

(As Amended Through December 15, 2016)

1. Purpose. The purpose of MSG Networks Inc. 2010 Employee Stock Plan, as amended, is to compensate employees of the Company and its Affiliates who are and have been largely responsible for the management and growth of the business of the Company and its Affiliates and to advance the interest of the Company by encouraging and enabling the acquisition of a personal proprietary interest in the Company by employees upon whose judgment and keen interest the Company and its Affiliates are largely dependent for the successful conduct of their operations. It is anticipated that such compensation and the acquisition of such proprietary interest in the Company will stimulate the efforts of such employees on behalf of the Company and its Affiliates, and strengthen their desire to remain with the Company and its Affiliates. It is also expected that such compensation and the opportunity to acquire such a proprietary interest will enable the Company and its Affiliates to attract and retain desirable personnel. The Plan was originally approved by the Company’s stockholders on November 30, 2011, and an amended and restated version of the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders on December 11, 2015. A further amended and restated version of the Plan was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on October 7, 2016, subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders on December 15, 2016.

2. Definitions. When used in this Plan, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) “Affiliate” shall mean (i) any Entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company or any other Affiliate and (ii) any Entity in which the Company owns at least five percent of the outstanding equity interest of such Entity.

(b) “Award” shall mean an Option, Right, Restricted Share or Restricted Stock Unit or other equity based award which is granted or made under the Plan.

(c) “Award Agreement” shall mean an agreement which may be entered into by a Participant under the Plan and the Company, setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to Awards granted to such Participant.

(d) “Board of Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted at any time.

(e) “Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, as described in Section 3.

(f) “Company” shall mean MSG Networks Inc. (formerly known as The Madison Square Garden Company), a Delaware corporation.

(g) “Consent” shall mean (i) any listing, registration or qualification requirement in respect of an Award or Share with respect to any securities exchange or under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation, (ii) any and all written agreements and representations by the Participant with respect to the disposition of Shares, or with respect to any other matter, which the Committee may deem necessary or desirable to comply with the terms of any such listing, registration or qualification requirement or to obtain an exemption therefrom, (iii) any and all other consents, clearances and approvals in respect of an action under the Plan by any governmental or other regulatory body or any stock exchange or self-regulatory agency, (iv) any and all consents by the Participant to (A) the Company’s supplying to any third party recordkeeper of the Plan such personal information as the Committee deems advisable to administer the Plan and (B) the Company’s imposing sales and transfer procedures and restrictions on Shares delivered under the Plan and (v) any and all other consents or authorizations required to comply with, or required to be obtained under law.

 

1


(h) “Entity” shall mean any business, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity.

(i) “Fair Market Value” on a specified date shall mean the closing price for a Share on the stock exchange, if any, on which such Shares are primarily traded, but if no Shares were traded on such date, the average of the bid and asked closing prices at which one Share is traded on the over-the-counter market, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange on which the Shares may be traded, or, if none of the above is applicable, the value of a Share as established by the Committee for such date using any reasonable method of valuation.

(j) “GAAP” shall mean accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

(k) “Internal Revenue Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(l) “Options” shall mean the stock options granted pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

(m) “Participant” shall mean any employee or former employee of the Company or any Affiliate who holds an outstanding Award granted under the Plan.

(n) “Performance Criteria” shall mean a goal or goals established by the Committee and measured over a period or periods selected by the Committee, such goal(s) to constitute a requirement that must be met in connection with the vesting, exercise and/or payment of an Award under the Plan as specified by the Committee. To the extent that an Award of Restricted Shares or Restricted Stock Units or another stock based award (other than Options and Rights) is intended to satisfy the requirements for deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, the payment of the Award will be conditioned on the satisfaction of one or more of the performance criteria listed below over a period or periods selected by the Compensation Committee. The performance criteria may be determined by reference to the performance of the Company, an Affiliate or a business unit, product, team, network or service thereof or any combination of the foregoing. Such criteria may also be measured on a per customer, subscriber, sponsor, viewer (or available viewer), basic or diluted share basis or any combination of the foregoing and may reflect absolute performance, incremental performance or comparative performance to other companies (or their products or services) determined on a gross, net, GAAP or non-GAAP basis, with respect to one or more of the following: (i) net or operating income or other measures of profit; (ii) measures of revenue; (iii) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA); (iv) cash flow, free cash flow, adjusted operating cash flow and similar measures; (v) return on equity, investment, assets or capital; (vi) gross or operating margins or savings; (vii) performance relative to budget, forecast or market expectations; (viii) market share or penetration, subscriber or customer acquisition or retention, ratings, viewership; (ix) operating metrics relating to sales, subscriptions, sponsorships or customer service or satisfaction; (x) capital spending management, network upgrades, facility maintenance, construction or renovation or product or service deployments; (xi) achievement of strategic business objectives such as acquisitions, dispositions or investments; (xii) a specified increase in the fair market value of the Shares; (xiii) a specified increase in the private market value of the Company; (xiv) the Share price; (xv) earnings per share; and/or (xvi) total shareholder return.

(o) “Plan” shall mean this MSG Networks Inc. 2010 Employee Stock Plan, as amended from time to time.

(p) “Restricted Period” shall mean the period of time during which Restrictions shall apply to a Restricted Share, as determined by the Committee pursuant to Section 9 hereof.

(q) “Restricted Shares” shall mean the Shares awarded pursuant to Section 9 hereof that are subject to restrictions upon their sale, assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposal or encumbrance as determined by the Committee.

 

2


(r) “Restricted Stock Units” shall mean awards made pursuant to Section 10 hereof, each such unit representing an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver a Share (or cash or other property equal in value to the Share).

(s) “Restrictions” shall mean the restrictions upon sale, assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposal or encumbrance on a Restricted Share as determined by the Committee in respect of an Award of a Restricted Share pursuant to Section 9 hereof.

(t) “Rights” shall mean stock appreciation rights granted pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan.

(u) “Share” shall mean a share of MSG Networks Inc. Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share.

(v) “Subsidiary” shall mean any “subsidiary corporation,” as defined in Section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code.

3. Administration. (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall consist of at least two members of the Board of Directors who shall be appointed by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the members of the Committee shall be “non-employee directors”, as defined in Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), and “outside directors” as defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code; provided, however, that the failure of the Committee to be so comprised shall not cause any Award to be invalid. The Committee may delegate any of its powers under the Plan to a subcommittee of the Committee (which hereinafter shall also be referred to as the Committee). The Committee may also delegate to any person who is not a member of the Committee or to any administrative group within the Company, any of its powers, responsibilities or duties. In delegating its authority, the Committee shall consider the extent to which any delegation may cause Awards to fail to be deductible under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code or to fail to meet the requirements of Rule 16(b)-3(d)(1) or Rule 16(b)-3(e) under the Exchange Act.

(b) The Committee shall have full authority, subject to the terms of the Plan (including Section 19), to (a) exercise all of the powers granted to it under the Plan, (b) construe, interpret and implement the Plan and all Awards and Award Agreements, (c) prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules governing its own operations, (d) make all determinations necessary or advisable in administering the Plan, (e) correct any defect, supply any omission and reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, (f) amend the Plan, (g) grant Awards and determine who shall receive Awards and the terms and conditions of such Awards, including, but not limited to, conditioning the exercise, vesting, payout or other term or condition of an Award on the achievement of Performance Criteria, (h) amend any outstanding Award in any respect, including, without limitation, to (1) accelerate the time or times at which the Award becomes vested or unrestricted or may be exercised or at which Shares are delivered under the Award (and, without limitation on the Committee’s rights, in connection with such acceleration, the Committee may provide that any Shares delivered pursuant to such Award shall be Restricted Shares, which are subject to vesting, transfer, forfeiture or repayment provisions similar to those in the Participant’s underlying Award) or (2) waive or amend any goals, restrictions, conditions or Performance Criteria (subject to the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, if applicable to the Award) applicable to such Award, or impose new goals or restrictions and (i) determine at any time whether, to what extent and under what circumstances and method or methods (1) Awards may be (A) settled in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, (B) exercised or (C) canceled, forfeited or suspended or (2) Shares, other securities, cash, other Awards or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award may be deferred either automatically or at the election of the participant or of the Committee. The enumeration of the foregoing powers is not intended and should not be construed to limit in any way the authority of the Committee under the Plan which is intended, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to be plenary. The Plan, and all such rules, regulations, determinations and interpretations, shall be binding and conclusive upon the Company, its stockholders and all Participants, and upon their respective legal representatives, heirs, beneficiaries, successors and assigns and upon all other persons claiming under or through any of them.

 

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(c) No member of the Board of Directors or the Committee or any employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates (each such person a “Covered Person”) shall have any liability to any person (including, without limitation, any Participant) for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award. Each Covered Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Covered Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Covered Person may be a party or in which such Covered Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by such Covered Person, with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Covered Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Covered Person; provided that, the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding and, once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choice. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to a Covered Person to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment or other final adjudication, in either case, not subject to further appeal, determines that the acts or omissions of such Covered Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Covered Person’s bad faith, fraud or willful criminal act or omission. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which Covered Persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws, as a matter of law, by agreement or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such persons or hold them harmless.

4. Participants. Except as hereinafter provided, all employees of the Company and its Affiliates shall be eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, except that Options that are intended to qualify as incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code shall be granted only to employees of the Company or a Subsidiary. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the making of one or more Awards at the same or different times to the same employee.

5. Share Limitations. (a) The Committee may make Awards under this Plan for up to an aggregate number of 12,500,000 Shares (inclusive of Awards granted under the Plan prior to the Effective Date), which may be either treasury Shares or authorized but unissued Shares. To the extent that (i) an Award shall be paid, settled or exchanged or shall expire, lapse, terminate or be cancelled for any reason, in whole or in part, without the issuance of Shares, (ii) any Shares under an Award are not issued because of payment or withholding obligations or (iii) Restricted Shares shall revert back to the Company prior to the lapse of the Restrictions or be applied by the Company for purposes of tax withholding obligations, then the Committee may also grant Awards with respect to such Shares or Restricted Shares. Awards payable only in cash or property other than Shares shall not reduce the aggregate remaining number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be made under the Plan and Shares relating to any other Awards that are settled in cash or property other than Shares, when settled, shall be added back to the aggregate remaining number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be made under the Plan. The maximum number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan shall be adjusted by the Committee as appropriate to account for the events provided for in Section 12 hereof. Any Shares with respect to which the Company becomes obligated to make Awards through the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an acquired entity, shall not count against the Shares available to be delivered pursuant to Awards under this Plan.

(b) In no event shall any Participant be granted Awards during any one (1) calendar year for, or that relate to, an aggregate number of Shares exceeding 2,000,000. The maximum number of Shares underlying Awards that may be granted to an individual in any one (1) calendar year under the Plan shall be adjusted by the Committee as appropriate to account for the events provided for in Section 12 hereof.

6. Options. Options granted under the Plan shall be either incentive stock options, within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, or non-qualified options, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

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(a) Terms and Conditions. The form, terms and conditions of each Option shall be determined by the Committee and shall be set forth in an Award Agreement. Such terms and conditions may include, without limitation, provisions relating to the vesting and exercisability of such Options as well as the conditions or circumstances upon which such Options may be accelerated, extended, forfeited or otherwise modified. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, establish one or more conditions to the vesting or exercise of an Option including, without limitation, conditions the satisfaction of which are measured by Performance Criteria; provided that, if such Option is designated as an incentive stock option, then such condition or conditions shall not be inconsistent with Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. Unless the Award Agreement specifies that the Option is an incentive stock option, it shall be a non-qualified stock option. All or any part of any Options granted to any Participant may be made exercisable upon the occurrence of such special circumstances or events as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

(b) Exercise Price for Options. The exercise price per Share of the Shares to be purchased pursuant to any Option shall be fixed by the Committee at the time an Option is granted, but in no event shall it be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the day on which the Option is granted. Such exercise price shall thereafter be subject to adjustment as required by the Award Agreement relating to each Option or Section 12 hereof.

(c) Duration of Options. The duration of any Option granted under this Plan shall be for a period fixed by the Committee but shall, except as described in the next sentence, in no event be more than ten (10) years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Award Agreement may provide that, in the event the Participant dies while the Option is outstanding, the Option will remain outstanding until the first anniversary of the Participant’s date of death, and whether or not such first anniversary occurs prior to or following the expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Option was granted.

(d) Incentive Stock Options Granted to Ten Percent Stockholders. To the extent required by Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, no Option which is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option shall be granted under this Plan to any employee who, at the time the Option is granted, owns, or is considered owning, within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, shares possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, unless the exercise price under such Option is at least one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date such Option is granted and the duration of such option is no more than five (5) years.

(e) Initial Exercisability Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time that an Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to incentive stock options granted in any calendar year under all stock option plans of the Company or any corporation which (at the time of the granting of such incentive stock option) was a parent or Subsidiary of the Company, or of any predecessor corporation of any such corporation, which are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000, or, if different, the maximum allowed under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(f) Settlement of an Option. When an Option is exercised pursuant to Section 8 hereof, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may elect, in lieu of issuing Shares pursuant to the terms of the Option, to settle the Option by paying the Participant an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date the Option is exercised over the exercise price of the Option (the “Option Spread”) by (ii) the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised. The amount payable to the Participant in these circumstances shall be paid by the Company either in cash or in Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the Option Spread, or a combination thereof, as the Committee shall determine at the time the Option is exercised or at the time the Option is granted.

7. Rights. The Committee may grant to employees the right to receive such number of Rights, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

(a) Terms and Conditions. The form, terms and conditions of each Right shall be determined by the Committee and shall be set forth in an Award Agreement. Such terms and conditions may include, without

 

5


limitation, provisions relating to the vesting and exercisability of such Rights as well as the conditions or circumstances upon which such Rights may be accelerated, extended, forfeited or otherwise modified. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, establish one or more conditions to the vesting or exercise of a Right including, without limitation, conditions the satisfaction of which are measured by Performance Criteria. All or any part of any outstanding Rights granted to any Participant may be made exercisable upon the occurrence of such special circumstances or events as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

(b) Exercise Price for Rights. The exercise price of each Right shall be fixed by the Committee at the time a Right is granted, but in no event shall it be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the day on which the Right is granted. Such exercise price shall thereafter be subject to adjustment as required by the Award Agreement relating to each Right or Section 12 hereof.

(c) Duration of Rights. The duration of any Right granted under this Plan shall be for a period fixed by the Committee but shall, except as described in the next sentence, in no event be more than ten (10) years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Award Agreement may provide that, in the event the Participant dies while the Right is outstanding, the Right will remain outstanding until the first anniversary of the Participant’s date of death, and whether or not such first anniversary occurs prior to or following the expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Right was granted.

(d) Settlement of Rights. Upon the exercise of any Rights, the Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date the Rights are exercised over the exercise price of the related Right by (ii) the number of Shares to which such Rights are related. Such amount shall be paid in cash, in Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to such amount, or a combination of cash and Shares, as the Committee shall determine at the time the Right is exercised or at the time the Right is granted.

8. Exercise of Options and Rights. (a) An Option or Right shall be exercised by the delivery to any person who has been designated by the Company for the purpose of receiving the same, of a written notice duly signed by the Participant (or the representative of the estate or the heirs of a deceased Participant) to such effect (or electronic notice in a manner, if any, previously approved by the Company). Unless the Company chooses to settle an Option in cash, Shares or a combination thereof pursuant to Section 6(f) hereof, the Participant shall be required to deliver to the Company, within five (5) days of the delivery of the notice described above, either cash, a check payable to the order of the Company, Shares duly endorsed over to the Company (which Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the date preceding the day of such exercise) or any combination of such methods of payment, which together amount to the full exercise price of the Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Company may establish an electronic exercise program with a broker and the Company and the Participant may agree upon any other reasonable manner of providing for payment of the exercise price of the Option.

(b) Except to the extent the Committee chooses to settle any Option or Right in cash pursuant to Section 6(f) or 7(d) hereof, within a reasonable time after exercise of an Option or Right the Company shall either issue to the Participant a certificate representing the Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option or Right or credit the number of such Shares to a book-entry account. To the extent the Committee chooses to settle any Option or Right in cash pursuant to Section 6(f) or 7(d), within a reasonable time after exercise of an Option or Right the Company shall cause to be delivered to the person entitled thereto a payment for the amount payable pursuant to the exercise of the Option or Right.

9. Restricted Shares. The Committee may grant to employees the right to receive such number of Restricted Shares, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

(a) Issuance; Terms and Conditions. The form, terms and conditions of each Restricted Share shall be determined by the Committee and shall be set forth in an Award Agreement. Such terms and conditions may include, without limitation, the Restrictions upon such Restricted Shares, the dates as of which Restrictions

 

6


upon such Restricted Shares will cease, and the conditions or circumstances upon which such Restricted Shares will be forfeited or otherwise modified. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, establish one or more Restrictions to the vesting of a Restricted Share that relate to the satisfaction of Performance Criteria.

(b) Payment of Par Value. To the extent a Participant is required by law to pay to the Company the par value of a Restricted Share, such Participant shall have forty-five (45) business days from the date of such grant to pay to the Company, in cash or by check, an amount equal to the par value of a Share multiplied by the number of Shares or Restricted Shares which have been granted to the employee by the Committee. In such instances, if the Participant fails to make payment to the Company for such Shares or Restricted Shares within forty-five (45) business days of the grant thereof, the Company shall withhold, or shall cause to be withheld, the amount of such payment from compensation otherwise due the employee from the Company or any Affiliate. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, a Participant’s prior service with the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be deemed sufficient consideration for such Restricted Shares and no payment therefore (including, without limitation, for the par value of the Restricted Shares) shall be due from the Participant. Subject to the provisions of Section 15 hereof, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall either issue to the employee a certificate representing such Restricted Shares or credit the number of such Restricted Shares to a book-entry account upon the payment due, if any, pursuant to this paragraph.

(c) Restriction on Shares. In no event shall a Restricted Share be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of or encumbered until the expiration of the Restricted Period which relates to such Restricted Share. All or any part of any outstanding Restricted Shares granted to any Participant may be vested in full and the Restrictions thereon shall lapse upon the occurrence of such special circumstances or events as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

(d) Forfeiture of Restricted Shares. If Restricted Shares are forfeited pursuant to the terms of the Plan or an Award Agreement, such Restricted Shares shall revert back and belong to the Company. In the event that any Restricted Shares should be forfeited by the Participant, revert back and belong to the Company, any stock certificate or certificates representing such Restricted Shares shall be cancelled and the Restricted Shares shall be returned to the treasury of the Company. Upon the reversion of such Restricted Shares, the Company shall repay to the employee or (in the case of death) to the representative of the employee’s estate, the full cash amount paid, if any, to the Company by the employee for such Restricted Shares pursuant to Section 9(b) hereof.

(e) Right to Vote and Receive Dividends on Restricted Shares. Each Participant shall, during the Restricted Period, be the beneficial and record owner of such Restricted Shares and shall have full voting rights with respect thereto. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, during the Restricted Period, all ordinary cash dividends (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) paid upon any Restricted Share shall be retained by the Company for the account of the relevant Participant. Such dividends shall revert back to the Company if for any reason the Restricted Share upon which such dividends were paid reverts back to the Company. Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period, all such dividends made on such Restricted Share and retained by the Company will be paid to the relevant Participant.

10. Restricted Stock Units. The Committee may grant to employees such number of Restricted Stock Units as it may determine in its sole discretion.

(a) Terms and Conditions. The form, terms and conditions of each Restricted Stock Unit shall be determined by the Committee and shall be set forth in an Award Agreement. Such terms and conditions may include, without limitation, the conditions or circumstances upon which such Restricted Stock Unit will be paid, forfeited or otherwise modified, and the date or dates upon which any Shares, cash or other property shall be delivered to the Participant in respect of the Restricted Stock Units. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, establish one or more conditions to the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit including, without limitation, conditions the satisfaction of which are measured by Performance Criteria. All or any part of any outstanding Restricted Stock Unit granted to any Participant may be vested in full or paid upon the occurrence of such special circumstances or events as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

 

7


(b) Settlement of Restricted Stock Units. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may instruct the Company to pay on the date when Shares would otherwise be issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock Unit, in lieu of such Shares, 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. If a Participant is entitled to receive other stock, securities or other property as a result of an adjustment, pursuant to Section 12 hereof, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may instruct the Company to pay, in lieu of such other stock, securities or other property, cash equal to the fair market value thereof as determined in good faith by the Committee. Until the delivery of such Shares, cash, securities or other property, the rights of a Participant with respect to a Restricted Stock Unit shall be only those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

(c) Right to Receive Dividends on Restricted Stock Units. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, during the period prior to payment of the Restricted Stock Unit, all ordinary cash dividends (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) that would have been paid upon any Share underlying a Restricted Stock Unit had such Shares been issued shall be paid only at the time and to the extent such Restricted Stock Unit is vested.

11. Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may grant other types of equity-based or equity-related Awards (including unrestricted Shares) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Such Awards may entail the transfer of actual Shares, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Shares.

12. Certain Adjustments. (a) In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, forward or reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or other similar corporate transaction or event affects Shares such that the failure to make an adjustment to an Award would not fairly protect the rights represented by the Award in accordance with the essential intent and principles thereof (each such event, an “Adjustment Event”), then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may determine to be equitable in its sole discretion, adjust any or all of the terms of an outstanding Award (including, without limitation, the number of Shares covered by such outstanding Award, the type of property to which the Award is subject and the exercise price of such Award). In determining adjustments to be made under this Section 12(a), the Committee may take into account such factors as it determines to be appropriate, including without limitation (i) the provisions of applicable law and (ii) the potential tax or accounting consequences of an adjustment (or not making an adjustment) and, in light of such factors or others, may make adjustments that are not uniform or proportionate among outstanding Awards.

(b) Fractional Shares or Securities. Any fractional shares or securities payable upon the exercise of an Award as a result of an adjustment pursuant to this Section 12 shall, at the election of the Committee, be payable in cash, Shares, or a combination thereof, on such bases as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion.

13. No Rights of a Stockholder. Participant shall not be deemed to be the holder of, or have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to, any Shares subject to Options, Rights or Restricted Stock Units unless and until the Company shall have issued and delivered Shares to the Participant and said Participant’s name shall have been entered as a stockholder of record on the books of the Company. Thereupon, such Participant shall have full voting, dividend and other ownership rights with respect to such Shares. The Company will not be obligated to issue or deliver any Shares unless and until all legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of Shares have been approved by the Company’s counsel and the Company’s counsel determines that all applicable federal, state and other laws and regulations have been complied with and all listing requirements for relevant stock exchanges have been met.

14. No Right to Continued Employment. Nothing in the Plan or in any Award Agreement shall confer upon any Participant the right to continued employment by the Company or any Affiliate or affect any right which the Company or any Affiliate may have to terminate such employment.

 

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15. Issuance of Shares and Consents. If the Committee shall at any time determine that any Consent is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of any Award, the delivery of Shares or the delivery of any cash, securities or other property under the Plan, or the taking of any other action, then such action shall not be taken, in whole or in part, unless and until such Consent shall have been effected or obtained to the full satisfaction of the Committee. Any stock certificate representing Restricted Shares shall contain an appropriate legend referring to the Plan and the Restrictions upon such Restricted Shares. Simultaneously with delivery of any stock certificate for Restricted Shares, the Company may cause a stop transfer order with respect to such certificate to be placed with the transfer agent of the Shares.

16. Withholding. If the Company or an Affiliate shall be required to withhold any amounts by reason of a federal, state or local tax laws, rules or regulations in respect of any Award, the Company or an Affiliate shall be entitled to deduct or withhold such amounts from any payments (including, without limitation Shares which would otherwise be issued to the Participant pursuant to the Award; provided that, to the extent desired for GAAP purposes, such withholding shall not exceed the statutory minimum amount required to be withheld) to be made to the Participant. In any event, the Participant shall make available to the Company or Affiliate, promptly when requested by the Company or such Affiliate, sufficient funds or Shares to meet the requirements of such withholding and the Company or Affiliate shall be entitled to take and authorize such steps as it may deem advisable in order to have such funds made available to the Company or Affiliate out of any funds or property due to the Participant.

17. Right of Offset. The Company shall have the right to offset against its obligation to deliver Shares, cash or other property under any Award that does not constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation” pursuant to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code any outstanding amounts of whatever nature that the Participant then owes to the Company or any of its Affiliates.

18. Non-Transferability of Awards. Unless the Committee shall permit (on such terms and conditions as it shall establish) an Award to be transferred to a member of the Participant’s immediate family or to a trust or similar vehicle for the benefit of members of the Participant’s immediate family (collectively, the “Permitted Transferees”), no Award shall be assignable or transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and except to the extent required by law, no right or interest of any Participant shall be subject to any lien, obligation or liability of the Participant. All rights with respect to Awards granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by such Participant or, if applicable, the Permitted Transferees.

19. Administration and Amendment of the Plan. The Board of Directors or the Committee may discontinue the Plan at any time and from time to time may amend or revise the terms of the Plan or any Award Agreement, as permitted by applicable law, except that it may not (a) make any amendment or revision in a manner unfavorable to a Participant (other than if immaterial), without the consent of the Participant or (b) make any amendment or revision without the approval of the stockholders of the Company if such approval is required by the rules of an exchange on which Shares are traded. Consent of the Participant shall not be required solely pursuant to the previous sentence in respect of any adjustment made pursuant to Section 12(a) except to the extent the terms of an Award Agreement expressly refer to an Adjustment Event, in which case such terms shall not be amended in a manner unfavorable to a Participant (other than if immaterial) without such Participant’s consent.

20. Clawback. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Plan, any Award which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, or any clawback policy adopted by the Company.

21. No Repricing & Reloads. Unless otherwise approved by the stockholders of the Company, Options and Rights will not be repriced (other than in accordance with the adjustment provisions of Section 12), repurchased for cash on a date when the exercise price of such Option or Right is equal to or exceeds the Fair Market Value a Share or be subject to automatic reload provisions.

 

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22. Effective Date. The Plan, as amended, shall become effective on December 15, 2016.

23. Severability. If any of the provisions of this Plan or any Award Agreement is finally held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable (whether in whole or in part), such provision shall be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability and the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby; provided that, if any of such provisions is finally held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable because it exceeds the maximum scope determined to be acceptable to permit such provision to be enforceable, such provision shall be deemed to be modified to the minimum extent necessary to modify such scope in order to make such provision enforceable hereunder.

24. Plan Headings. The headings in this Plan are for the purpose of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the construction of the provisions hereof.

25. Non-Uniform Treatment. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards (whether or not such persons are similarly situated). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled, among other things, to make non-uniform and selective determinations, amendments and adjustments, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Award Agreements, as to the persons to receive Awards under the Plan, and the terms and provisions of Awards under the Plan.

26. Governing Law. The Plan and any Award Agreements shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws.

27. Successors and Assigns. The terms of this Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns.

28. Duration. This Plan shall remain in effect until December 15, 2026 unless sooner terminated by the Committee or the Board of Directors. Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.

 

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EX-5.1 3 d136010dex51.htm EX-5.1 EX-5.1

[Letterhead of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.]

Exhibit 5.1

July 9, 2021

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE

Washington, DC 20549

RE: MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ENTERTAINMENT CORP.

REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and, in such capacity, have acted as counsel to the Corporation in connection with the Corporation’s filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission covering the registration of the following shares of the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Shares”): 1,038,714 Shares issuable pursuant to stock options and restricted stock units granted under the Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. 2020 Employee Stock Plan (the “2020 Plan”); 78,474 Shares issuable pursuant to restricted stock units granted under the Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. 2020 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the “Director Plan”); and 336,254 Shares issuable pursuant to the MSG Networks Inc. 2010 Employee Stock Plan, as amended (the “Assumed Plan” and together with the 2020 Plan and the Director Plan, the “Plans”), which the Corporation assumed in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 25, 2021, by and among the Corporation, Broadway Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of the Corporation, and MSG Networks Inc., a Delaware corporation.

In that capacity, I have examined such corporate records, certificates and other documents, and such questions of law, as I have considered necessary or appropriate for the purpose of this opinion. Upon the basis of such examination, I advise you that in my opinion, when the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), the terms of the sale of the Shares have been duly established in conformity with the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and the Shares have been duly issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with the Plans and the award agreements governing the stock options and restricted stock units assumed under the 2020 Plan and the Director Plan, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

The foregoing opinion is limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and I express no opinions with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction. The opinion expressed in this opinion letter is as of the date of this opinion letter only and as to laws covered hereby only as they are in effect on that date, and I assume no obligation to update or supplement such opinion to reflect any facts or circumstances that may come to my attention after that date or any changes in law that may occur or become effective after that date.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, I do not thereby admit that I am in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

 

Very truly yours,
By:  

/s/ Scott S. Packman

  Scott S. Packman
  Executive Vice President and General Counsel
EX-23.1 4 d136010dex231.htm EX-23.1 EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.:

We consent to the use of our report dated August 28, 2020, with respect to the consolidated balance sheet of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. as of June 30, 2020 and the combined balance sheet (the entertainment business of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp.) as of June 30, 2019, the related consolidated and combined statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows, and equity and redeemable noncontrolling interests for the year ended June 30, 2020, and the combined statement of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows, and equity and redeemable noncontrolling interests for each of the years in the two-year period ended June 30, 2019, and the related notes and financial statement schedule II, incorporated herein by reference.

Our report refers to a change in the accounting method for leases effective July 1, 2019 due to the adoption of ASC Topic 842, Leases and for revenue effective July 1, 2018 due to the adoption of ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

/s/ KPMG LLP

New York, New York

July 9, 2021