Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
See item 5.02 below for a description of the employment arrangement the
registrant has entered into with Jay Larkin.
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(c) On September 21, 2007, Jay Larkin became the President and Chief Operating
Officer of International Fight League, Inc. (the "Company"). Gareb Shamus,
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, will retain
these titles, but will no longer serve as President of the Company. Mr. Larkin
will report directly to Mr. Shamus and will oversee all the day-to-day
operational details of the Company.
Larkin spent over 20 years at media giant Showtime, rising to become one of the
most powerful deal makers in sports and entertainment during his storied career.
He began at Showtime in 1984, and helped create countless entertainment specials
involving stars ranging from Dave Chappelle, Britney Spears, The Spice Girls and
Jay-Z to legends like Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones among
others for the network and pay per view. During that time, Mr. Larkin also
oversaw the channel's entrance into boxing, beginning in 1986 with Marvelous
Marvin Hagler's middleweight title defense against John Mugabi, thus creating
the powerhouse Showtime Championship Boxing. He negotiated the deals and was the
executive producer of some of boxing's most legendary matchups of the last
quarter century, including numerous Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Julio
Cesar Chavez fights. Mr. Larkin also was one of the key negotiators for what was
the biggest money fight in history, the 2002 heavyweight championship bout
between Lennox Lewis and Tyson that happened because of a landmark deal between
Showtime (Tyson's network) and rival HBO (Lewis' network).
Just before leaving Showtime, Mr. Larkin put together Ricky Hatton vs. Kostya
Tszyu and Joe Calzaghe vs. Jeff Lacy, two career-changing events for both Hatton
and Calzaghe. Just prior to joining the IFL, he completed negotiations for the
upcoming blockbuster match of Calzaghe and Mikkel Kessler for HBO and Sports
Network. Mr. Larkin's career also includes an extensive background in live
theater. Mr. Larkin attended the Boston Conservatory of Music; the UCLA School
of Theater, Film and Television, and received a degree in theater and directing
from C.W. Post College of Long Island University. He has been nominated for a
primetime Emmy Award, a Tony Award and is a recipient of the prestigious boxing
industry Taub Award for excellence in broadcasting journalism from the Boxing
Writers Association of America.
Pursuant to the terms of his employment with the Company, Mr. Larkin will paid
an annual base salary of $275,000 during his first six months of employment,
then his annual salary will increase to $325,000. Mr. Larkin will be eligible to
receive an annual bonus award based upon, and subject to, the achievement of
target annual performance objectives established by the Company's Board of
Directors or its Compensation Committee after consultation with him. As part of
his employment agreement, Mr. Larkin will be awarded options to purchase 500,000
shares of our common stock under the Company's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the
"Plan"). The options will vest as to 1/12 of the options every three months,
beginning December 21, 2007, and will expire on September 21, 2017. In addition,
Mr. Larkin is entitled to an additional award of 250,000 stock options in
January 2008. These options will have an exercise price equal to the market
value of our common stock on the date of grant, will vest as to 1/12 upon award,
1/12 on March 21, 2008 and 1/12 every three months thereafter, and will have an
expiration date of September 21, 2017. If the exercise price of the stock option
grant for the January 2008 options are greater than the exercise price of the
initial option grant Mr. Larkin will receive, then Mr. Larkin shall be entitled
to an award of restricted stock for a number of shares (not to exceed 250,000
shares) equal to (i) the product of (x) the amount the exercise price of the
January 2008 option grant exceeds the exercise price of his original option
grant, multiplied by (y) 250,000, divided by (ii) the exercise price of the
January 2008 options. This award of restricted stock
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will vest as to 1/12 upon award, 1/12 on March 21, 2008 and 1/12 every three
months thereafter. The foregoing equity awards will fully vest upon a "Change of
Control Event" (as defined in the Plan).
Mr. Larkin is an employee-at-will, and either Mr. Larkin or the Company can
terminate his employment at any time, with or without "Cause" or "Good Reason"
and with or without notice. If Mr. Larkin's employment is terminated for
"Cause" or Mr. Larkin resigns without "Good Reason," Mr. Larkin will not receive
the post-termination payments described below. "Cause" means (a) gross
negligence, or willful or wanton breach, by Mr. Larkin of any of his material
duties to the Company, (b) gross malfeasance by Mr. Larkin in the performance of
his material duties to IFL, (c) material violation by Mr. Larkin of a material
Company policy, (d) conduct by Mr. Larkin constituting fraud or dishonesty, or
(e) Mr. Larkin is convicted of a felony. "Good Reason" shall mean a material
breach of this agreement by the Company, including the failure to award to Mr.
Larkin the stock options and restricted stock in January 2008 as set forth
above.
If Mr. Larkin is terminated without Cause, or Mr. Larkin terminates his
employment for Good Reason, the Company will continue to pay Mr. Larkin his then
rate of base salary for a period of three (3) months, his stock options,
restricted stock and any other equity awards he may have received will
immediately vest, and he will have one year to exercise any unexercised stock
options, and he will be entitled to up to six months of paid health insurance
coverage.
Item 9.01 - Financial Statements and Exhibits
See the Exhibit Index hereto, which is incorporated by reference herein.