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): March 7, 2012

 

 

 

EMMIS COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Indiana		0-23264		35-1542018
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

ONE EMMIS PLAZA, 40 MONUMENT CIRCLE, SUITE 700, INDIANPOLIS, INDIANA 46204

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 317-266-0100

 

NOT APPLICABLE

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

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Item 5.02.

Departure of Directors of Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On March 7, 2012, we entered into a new one-year employment agreement with Richard F. Cummings to serve as President of Emmis Radio Programming, effective March 1, 2012. Under the agreement, Mr. Cummings’ base salary is $464,100 and his annual incentive compensation target is 60% of his base salary. The annual incentive bonus will be paid, if at all, based upon achievement of certain performance goals to be determined by the company. The company retains the right to pay such annual incentive compensation in cash or shares of our Class A common stock. Mr. Cummings will continue to receive an automobile allowance and will continue to be reimbursed for up to $5,000 per year in premiums for life or other insurance and retains the right to participate in all of our employee benefit plans for which he is otherwise eligible. He will also be entitled to severance equal to $470,000 in the event he is not offered substantially similar employment upon the expiration of the term and his employment terminates. If he is entitled to severance, Mr. Cummings will be offered a four year part-time programming role with total payments over the four years of $530,000. The switch from full-time to part-time employment is designed to constitute a ‘separation from service’ within the meaning of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. The same day, we entered into a new Change in Control Severance Agreement with Mr. Cummings that provides that if Mr. Cummings’ employment is terminated by the company within two years after a change in control of the company (or, in certain instances, in anticipation of a change in control), other than for cause, or is terminated by the executive for good reason, Mr. Cummings is entitled to (1) a payment equal to the executive’s base salary through the termination date, plus a pro-rata portion of the executive’s target bonus for the year and accrued vacation pay; (2) a severance payment equal to three times his highest annual base salary and highest annual incentive bonus during the preceding three years; (3) continued accident and life insurance benefits for three years; (4) reimbursement for COBRA premiums for continuation of medical and dental benefits for 18 months and reimbursement for private medical and dental benefits of an equivalent level for 18 months following termination of the COBRA reimbursement; and (5) if the payments exceed certain limits, additional tax “gross up” payments to compensate him for the excise tax imposed by section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code; provided, however that the amount of the “gross up” payment may be reduced by up to 10% if such reduction would prevent payment of the excise tax. Mr. Cummings is obligated not to voluntarily leave employment with Emmis during the pendency of (and prior to the consummation or abandonment of) a change in control other than as a result of disability, retirement or an event that would constitute good reason if the change-of-control had occurred. The description of the employment agreement and change in control severance agreement set forth above are qualified in their entirety by reference to the employment agreement and change in control severance agreement, copies of which are attached as Exhibit 10.1 and 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(c)

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit		Description
10.1		Employment Agreement with Richard F. Cummings effective as of March 1, 2012.
10.2		Change in Control Severance Agreement with Richard F. Cummings effective as of March 1, 2012.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: March 12, 2012