Document:

exv10w1

EXHIBIT 10.1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into as of August 4, 2010 (the “Effective
Date”), by and between Travelzoo Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) with principal
corporate offices at 590 Madison Avenue, 37th Floor, New York, NY 10022, and Shirley Tafoya, whose
address is currently XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (“Employee”). The Company and Employee are at
certain times each referred to herein as a “Party”, and collectively referred to herein as “the
Parties.”

     WHEREAS, the Company and Employee are Parties to an Employment Agreement dated May 8, 2001,
and subsequent addenda, and the Parties desire to supersede those prior agreements with this
Agreement;

     WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain Employee as President, North America, and Employee
desires to perform such service for the Company, on the terms and conditions as set forth herein;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
it is mutually agreed by the Parties as follows:

     1. Duties and Scope of Employment.

          (a) Position. Employee shall be employed as President, North America.

          (b) Duties. During the term of Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee
shall devote her full time, skill and attention to her duties and responsibilities as the
President, North America, which Employee shall perform faithfully, diligently and competently,
and Employee shall use her best efforts to further the business of the Company. During the term
of the Agreement, Employee agrees not to actively engage in any other employment, occupation or
consulting activity for any direct or indirect remuneration without the prior approval of the
Company, except that this provision shall not be interpreted to prohibit Employee from
involvement in any charitable or community activity/organization that she is currently involved
in, or may become involved in, and that does not materially interfere with her ability to perform
her duties under this Agreement. Employee shall be permitted, to the extent such activities do
not materially and adversely affect the ability of Employee to fully perform her duties and
responsibilities hereunder, to (i) manage Employee’s personal, financial and legal affairs, (ii)
serve on civic or charitable boards or committees, and (iii) with the consent of the Company
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), serve as a member of the board of directors
or as an advisor of any noncompeting business.

2. Term of Employment. Subject to the provisions of this Section 2, Employee and the
Company retain the right to terminate this Agreement at any time, for any reason or no reason,
and with or without Cause (as hereinafter defined), and with or without notice. Nothing in this
Agreement shall be deemed to alter the at-will nature of Employee’s employment with the Company,
and the at-will nature of Executive’s employment shall not otherwise be modified except in a
writing signed by both Employee and the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the provisions of Section 5, 6 and 11 of the Agreement shall survive, and continue in
full force and effect, after any termination or expiration of this Agreement, irrespective of the
reason for the termination or any claim that the termination was wrongful or illegal.

          (a) Termination by Company without Cause. If Employee is terminated by the Company
without Cause, Employee shall receive her Base Salary for a period of twelve (12) months
(“Severance Pay”) subject to 2(e) as a condition precedent to payment of any Severance Pay.

          (b) Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, if Employee is terminated for “Cause” as defined herein or dies at any time, Employee
will receive only payment of her Base Salary and benefits through the date of termination or
death. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean that the Employee has (i) continually
failed to perform her duties under this Agreement for a period of thirty (30) days after written
notice from the Company setting forth with particularity such failure, (ii) committed an act of
fraud upon the Company or breached her duty of loyalty to the Company, (iii) committed a felony
or a crime of dishonesty, fraud or moral turpitude under the laws of the United States or any
state thereof; (iv) misappropriated any funds, property or rights of the Company; (v) violated
the Company’s policies regarding workplace conduct, discrimination, sexual harassment, etc.; (vi)
willfully failed or refused, following receipt of an

 

 

explicit directive from the Company, to
comply with the material terms of this Agreement; or (vii) failed or refused to cooperate with
the Company, or at the Company’s request any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory agency
or entity, in providing information with respect to any act or omission in performing her duties
as an employee of the Company, if such request is made connection with any criminal or civil
actions, administrative or regulatory proceedings or investigations against or relating to the
Company by any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory agency or entity.

          (c) Termination of Employee following a “Change of Control”. If a Change of
Control, as hereinafter defined, occurs, and Employee is not offered a position of comparable pay
and responsibilities within thirty (30) days of the Change of Control in the same geographic area
in which she worked immediately prior to a Change of Control, and Employee resigns within sixty
(60) days after the Change in Control, Employee shall receive her Base Salary for a period of
twelve (12) months (“Severance Pay”), benefits, and pro rata performance bonus pursuant to
paragraph 3(b) earned through the date of termination, subject to paragraph 2(e). For purposes
of this Agreement, “Change of Control” means (i) a merger, consolidation, reorganization or other
transaction in which the Company does not survive and in which securities possessing more than
50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting securities are
transferred or issued to a person or persons different from the persons holding those securities
immediately prior to such transaction, or (ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Company’s assets.

          (d) Employee Resignation. Employee understands that if she resigns during the Term
of this Agreement, she shall only receive the Base Salary and benefits earned as of the date of
termination.

          (e) Severance Pay Conditions. Employee shall be required to sign, deliver and not
revoke a General Release substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A as a condition
precedent to payment of any Severance Pay pursuant to any provision of paragraph 2 of this
Agreement. Any Severance Pay shall be paid periodically in accordance with normal Company
payroll practices and subject to the usual and applicable required withholdings and payroll
taxes.

3. Compensation and Fringe Benefits.

          (a) Base Salary. Effective July 1, 2010, Employee will receive a salary at the
annualized rate of $530,000 (Five Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollar) (the “Salary”) annualized,
which shall be paid periodically in accordance with normal Company payroll practices and subject
to the usual and applicable required withholdings. Employee understands and agrees that neither
her job performance nor promotions, commendations, bonuses or the like from the Company give rise
to or in any way serve as the basis for modification, amendment, or extension, by implication or
otherwise, of this Agreement.

          (b) Performance Bonus. Employee will be eligible to participate in a quarterly
Performance Bonus plan (“Performance Bonus”), under which Employee may receive, in addition to
her Salary, a bonus in an amount between zero and $90,000 per calendar quarter. Employee must be
employed by the Company through the last day of the quarter in order to receive any Performance
Bonus attributable to such quarter with the following exceptions: the bonus for such quarter
shall be prorated only if the last calendar quarter is less than a full quarter because
Employee’s employment is terminated without Cause under Section 2(a) or terminated following
a“Change of Control” under Section 2(c).

     The following schedule applies for calculating a bonus.

	 	 	 	 	 
	Criteria	 	Amount	 
	North America revenue target for the quarter met AND there are no
more than two Significant Customers AND no Significant Customer
accounts for 17% or more of North America consolidated revenue
quarter
	 	$	30,000	 
	North America operating income target for the quarter met
	 	$	30,000	 
	North America subscriber target for the quarter met
	 	$	30,000	 
	Total max. Performance Bonus
	 	$	90,000	 

“Significant Customer” means, for any quarter, a customer that, together with its affiliates,
accounts for 10% (rounded to the nearest 1%) or more of the Company’s worldwide consolidated
revenue for the quarter.

 

 

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer will determine if the criteria are met.

The Company shall notify Employee of any changes to the Performance Bonus in writing.

Any bonus payments, if applicable, shall be made no more than 60 days of the end of the calendar
quarter, and will be subject to the usual and applicable withholding and payroll taxes.

          (c) Discretionary Bonus. In addition to the Salary and any Performance Bonus
payable, Employee shall be eligible to be considered for a discretionary CEO bonus (the
“Discretionary Bonus”) in an amount between zero and $30,000 per calendar quarter to be
determined by the Chief Executive Officer in his sole and absolute discretion. In exercising
such discretion, the Chief Executive Officer will take into consideration the Employee’s
individual performance. If either the first or the last calendar quarter of the term is less
than a full quarter, the bonus for such quarter shall be prorated.

          Any bonus payments, if applicable, shall be made no more than 60 days of the end of the
calendar quarter, and will be subject to the usual and applicable withholding and payroll taxes.

          (d) Vacation and Holiday Pay. Employee shall receive five (5) weeks of paid
vacation per year, which accrues over the course of the year. In addition, the Company provides
eight (8) paid holidays each year, along with two (2) “floating holidays” which can be used by
Employee at any time.

          (e) Other Benefits. Employee will be entitled to participate in or receive such
benefits under the Company’s employee benefit plans and policies and such other benefits which
may be made available as in effect from time to time and as are provided to similarly situated
employees of the Company, subject in each case to the generally applicable terms and conditions
of the plans and policies in question.

4. Expenses. The Company will pay or reimburse Employee for reasonable travel,
entertainment or other expenses incurred by Employee in the furtherance of or in connection with
the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder in accordance with the Company’s established
policies.

5. Certain Covenants.

(a) Intellectual Property Rights.

     (i) Employee agrees that the Company will be the sole owner of any and all of Employee’s
“Discoveries” and “Work Product,” hereinafter defined, made during the term of her employment
with the Company, whether pursuant to this Agreement or other duties performed on behalf of
the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, “Discoveries” means all inventions, discoveries,
improvements, and copyrightable works (including, without limitation, any information relating
to the Company’s software products, source code, know-how, processes, designs, algorithms,
computer programs and routines, formulae, techniques, developments or experimental work,
work-in-progress, or business trade secrets) made or conceived or reduced to practice by
Employee during the term of her employment by the Company, whether or not potentially
patentable or copyrightable in the United States or elsewhere. For purposes of this
Agreement, “Work Product” means any and all work product relating to Discoveries.

     (ii) Employee shall promptly disclose to the Company all Discoveries and Work Product.
All such disclosures must include complete and accurate copies of all source code, object code
or machine-readable copies, documentation, work notes, flow-charts, diagrams, test data,
reports, samples, and other tangible evidence or results (collectively, “Tangible
Embodiments”) of such Discoveries or Work Product. All Tangible Embodiments of any
Discoveries or Work Project will be deemed to have been assigned to the Company as a result of
the act of expressing any Discovery or Work Product therein.

     (iii) Employee hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company all of her interest in
any country in any and all Discoveries and Work Product, whether such interest arises under
patent law, copyright law, trade-secret law, semiconductor chip protection law, or otherwise.
Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, Employee hereby authorizes the
Company to make any desired changes to any part of any Discovery or Work Product, to combine
it with other materials in any manner desired, and to withhold Employee’s identity in
connection with any distribution or use thereof alone or in combination with other materials.
This assignment and assignment obligation applies to all Discoveries and Work Product arising
during Employee’s employment with the Company (or its predecessors), whether pursuant to this
Agreement or otherwise. Employee’s agreement to assign to the Company any of her rights as
set forth in this Section 5(a)(iii) applies to

 

 

all inventions other than an invention (a) in which no equipment, supplies, facility or
trade secret information of the Company was used (b) was developed entirely upon Employee’s
own time (c) does not relate to Company business or to the Company’s actual or anticipated
research or development and (d) does not result from any work performed by Employee for the
Company.

     (iv) At the request of the Company, Employee shall promptly and without additional
compensation execute any and all patent applications, copyright registration applications,
waivers of moral rights, assignments, or other instruments that the Company deems necessary or
appropriate to apply for or obtain Letters Patent of the United States or any foreign country,
copyright registrations or otherwise to protect the Company’s interest in such Discovery and
Work Product, the expenses for which will be borne by the Company. Employee hereby
irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as
her agents and attorneys-in-fact to, if the Company is unable for any reason to secure
Employee’s signature to any lawful and necessary document required or appropriate to apply for
or execute any patent application, copyright registration application, waiver of moral rights,
or other similar document with respect to any Discovery and Work Product (including, without
limitation, renewals, extensions, continuations, divisions, or continuations in part), (i) act
for and in her behalf, (ii) execute and file any such document, and (iii) do all other
lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution of the same legal force and effect as if
executed by her; this designation and appointment constitutes an irrevocable power of attorney
coupled with an interest.

     (v) To the extent that any Discovery or Work Product constitutes copyrightable or similar
subject matter that is eligible to be treated as a “work made for hire” or as having similar
status in the United States or elsewhere, it will be so deemed. This provision does not alter
or limit Employee’s other obligations to assign intellectual property rights under this
Agreement.

     (vi) The obligations of Employee set forth in this Section 5 (including, without
limitation, the assignment obligations) will continue beyond the termination of Employee’s
employment with respect to Discoveries and Work Product conceived or made by Employee alone or
in concert with others during Employee’s employment with the Company, whether pursuant to this
Agreement or otherwise. Those obligations will be binding upon Employee, her assignees
permitted under this Agreement, executors, administrators, and other representatives.

(b) Exposure to Proprietary Information.

     (i) As used in this Agreement, “Proprietary Information” means all information of a
business or technical nature that relates to the Company including, without limitation, all
information about software products whether currently released or in development, all
inventions, discoveries, improvements, copyrightable work, source code, know-how, processes,
designs, algorithms, computer programs and routines, formulae and techniques, and any
information regarding the business of any customer or supplier of the Company or any other
information that the Company is required to keep confidential. Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, the term “Proprietary Information” does not include information that is or becomes
publicly available through no fault of Employee, or information that Employee learned prior to
the Effective Date.

     (ii) In recognition of the special nature of her employment under this Agreement,
including her special access to the Proprietary Information, and in consideration of her
employment pursuant to this Agreement, Employee agrees to the covenants and restrictions set
forth in Section 5 of this Agreement.

(c) Use of Proprietary Information; Restrictive Covenants.

     (i) Employee acknowledges that the Proprietary Information constitutes a protectable
business interest of the Company, and covenants and agrees that during the term of her
employment, whether under this Agreement or otherwise, and after the termination of such
employment, she will not, directly or indirectly, disclose, furnish, make available or utilize
any of the Proprietary Information, other than in the proper performance of her duties for the
Company.

     (ii) Employee will not, during the term of this Agreement, anywhere within the United
States (the “Restricted Territory”), directly or indirectly (whether as an owner, partner,
shareholder, agent, officer, director, employee, independent contractor, consultant, or
otherwise):

 

 

     1. perform services for, or engage in, any business or segment of a business which
generates its revenues primarily from the development, publishing, or sale of online
advertisements for travel companies (the “Products”);

     2. perform services for, or engage in, any business or segment of a business that
operates a travel search engine (the “Products”)”;

     (iii) Employee will not, during the term of this Agreement or, for a period of one year
thereafter (the “Restricted Period”), anywhere within the Restricted Territory, directly or
indirectly (whether as an owner, partner, shareholder, agent, officer, director, employee,
independent contractor, consultant, or otherwise):

     1. except on behalf of the Company, solicit any person or entity who is, or was at
any time during the twelve-month period immediately prior to the termination of
Employee’s employment with the Company, a customer of the Company for the sale of the
Products or any product or service of a type then sold by the Company for which
Employee provided any assistance in planning, development, marketing, training,
support, or maintenance; or

     2. solicit for employment any person who is, or was at any time during the
twelve-month period immediately prior to the termination of Employee’s employment with
the Company, an employee of the Company.

(d) Scope/Severability. The Parties acknowledge that the business of the Company is
and will be national and international in scope and thus the covenants in this Section 5 would
be particularly ineffective if the covenants were to be limited to a particular geographic
area of the United States. If any court of competent jurisdiction at any time deems the
Restricted Period unreasonably lengthy, or the Restricted Territory unreasonably extensive, or
any of the covenants set forth in this Section 5 not fully enforceable, the other provisions
of this Section 5, and this Agreement in general, will nevertheless stand and to the full
extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect, and it is the intention and
desire of the parties that the court treat any provisions of this Agreement which are not
fully enforceable as having been modified to the extent deemed necessary by the court to
render them reasonable and enforceable and that the court enforce them to such extent (for
example, that the Restricted Period be deemed to be the longest period permissible by law, but
not in excess of the length provided for in Section 5(c), and the Restricted Territory be
deemed to comprise the largest territory permissible by law under the circumstances).

(e) Return of Company Materials upon Termination. Employee acknowledges that all
records, documents, and Tangible Embodiments containing or of Proprietary Information prepared
by Employee or coming into her possession by virtue of her employment by the Company are and
will remain the property of the Company. Upon termination of her employment with the Company,
Employee shall immediately return to the Company all such items in her possession and all
copies of such items.

6. Equitable Remedies.

(a) Employee acknowledges and agrees that the agreements and covenants set forth in
Sections 5(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) are reasonable and necessary for the protection of
the Company’s business interests, that irreparable injury will result to the Company if
Employee breaches any of the terms of said covenants, and that in the event of Employee’s
actual or threatened breach of any such covenants, the Company will have no adequate
remedy at law. Employee accordingly agrees that, in the event of any actual or
threatened breach by her of any of said covenants, the Company will be entitled to
immediate injunctive and other equitable relief, without bond and without the necessity
of showing actual monetary damages. Nothing in this Section 6 will be construed as
prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies available to it for such breach
or threatened breach, including the recovery of any damages that it is able to prove.
Employee agrees that notwithstanding the arbitration provision in Section 11, the Company
may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction, in accordance with Section 11(c) of this
Agreement, to obtain the provisional equitable relief referenced in this Section 6.

(b) Each of the covenants in Sections 5(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) will be construed as
independent of any other covenants or other provisions of this Agreement.

(c) In the event of any judicial determination that any of the covenants in Sections
5(a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) are not fully enforceable, it is the intention and desire of
the parties that the court treat said covenants as having been modified to the

 

 

extent deemed necessary by the court to render them reasonable and enforceable, and that the
court enforce them to such extent.

7. Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (a) the
heirs, executors and legal representatives of Employee upon Employee’s death and (b) any successor
of the Company. Any such successor of the Company shall be deemed substituted for the Company
under the terms of this Agreement for all purposes. As used herein, “successor” shall include any
person, firm, corporation or other business entity which at any time, whether by purchase, merger
or otherwise, directly or indirectly, acquires all or substantially all of the assets or business
of the Company. None of the rights of Employee to receive any form of compensation payable
pursuant to this Agreement shall be assignable or transferable except through a testamentary
disposition or by the laws of descent. Any attempted assignment, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition (other than as aforesaid) of any interest in the rights of Employee to receive any form
of compensation hereunder shall be null and void.

8. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications called for hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, one (1) day after mailing
via Federal Express overnight or a similar overnight delivery service, or three (3) days after
being mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, prepaid and addressed to
the parties or their successors in interest at the addresses listed above, or at such other
addresses as the parties may designate by written notice in the manner aforesaid.

9. Severability.In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is declared by a court
of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in
full force and effect without said provision.

10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding
between the Company and Employee concerning Employee’s employment relationship with the Company,
and supersede in their entirety any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning
Employee’s employment relationship with the Company.

11. Resolution of Disputes Regarding Employment.

(a) The Parties agree to submit any dispute or controversy arising out of, relating to,
or in connection with this Agreement, or the interpretation, validity, construction,
performance, breach, or termination thereof, or to any aspect of the employer/employee
relationship or the termination of that relationship, to mediation. The Parties shall
mutually select the mediator and shall equally pay for the costs of the mediator.

(b) If and only if a mediation is unsuccessful, and the dispute or controversy is not
resolved within 30 days after a mediation, either party may submit the matter to binding
arbitration, to the extent permitted by law, to be held in or near San Jose, California
in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes then in
effect of the American Arbitration Association (the “Rules”). The Company agrees to pay
all costs of the arbitrator and the arbitration. The arbitrator may grant injunctions or
other relief in such dispute or controversy. The decision of the arbitrator shall be
final, conclusive and binding on the parties to the arbitration. Judgment may be entered
on the arbitrator’s decision in any court having jurisdiction. The arbitrator may award
the prevailing party in any such arbitration attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in
connection therewith, except for those the Company shall bear, as set forth above.

(c) The arbitrator shall apply California law to the merits of any dispute or claim,
without reference to rules of conflict of law. The Parties hereby expressly consent to
the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Santa Clara County,
California for any action or proceeding arising from or relating to this Agreement and/or
relating to any arbitration in which the Parties are participants.

(d) The Parties have read and understand Section 11, which discusses arbitration. The
Parties understand that by signing this agreement, the Parties agree to submit any future
claims arising out of, relating to, or in connection with this Agreement, or the
interpretation, validity, construction, performance, breach, or termination thereof to
binding arbitration to the extent permitted by law, and that this arbitration clause
constitutes a waiver of the Parties’ right to a jury trial and relates to the resolution
of all disputes relating to all aspects of the employer/employee relationship, including
but not limited to, the following claims:

(i) Any and all claims for wrongful discharge of
employment; breach of contract, both express and implied; breach of the
covenant of good faith and fair dealing, both express and implied;
negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress; negligent or
intentional misrepresentation; negligent or

 

 

intentional interference with contract or prospective economic advantage;
misappropriation of Proprietary Information or other breaches covenants set
forth in Section 5, and defamation;

(ii) Any and all claims for violation of any federal, state
or municipal statute, including, but not limited to the New York Human
Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and
the Fair Labor Standards Act;

(iii) Any and all claims arising out of any other laws and
regulations relating to employment or employment discrimination.

(e) The Parties may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for a temporary
restraining order, preliminary injunction, or other interim or conservatory relief, as
necessary, without breach of this arbitration agreement and without abridgment of the
powers of the arbitrator.

12. No Oral Modification, Cancellation or Discharge. This Agreement may only be
amended, canceled or discharged in writing signed by Employee and the Company.

13. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
California.

14. Acknowledgment. Employee acknowledges that she has had the opportunity to discuss
this matter with and obtain advice from her private attorney, has had sufficient time to, and
has carefully read and fully understands all the provisions of this Agreement, and is
knowingly and voluntarily entering into this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement on the respective dates set forth
below.

THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS A BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION WHICH MAY BE ENFORCED BY BOTH PARTIES.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	COMPANY:

TRAVELZOO INC.

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	
Title:
 	 
	 	 	Date: 
	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	EMPLOYEE:

 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	Shirley Tafoya
 	 
	 	Date:Exhibit 10.1

Exhibit 10.1

WAIVER AGREEMENT

WAIVER AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of April 21, 2010, is made by and among MORGANS
HOTEL GROUP CO., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and YUCAIPA AMERICAN ALLIANCE FUND II,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“YAAF II”), and YUCAIPA AMERICAN ALLIANCE (PARALLEL) FUND II,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“YAAF II-P” and together with YAAF II, the “Investors”).

WHEREAS, the Company and each of the Investors have entered into that certain Securities
Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2009, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as
of December 11, 2009 (as amended, the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) that, among other things,
prohibits the Investors from acquiring beneficial ownership of securities of the Company and its
subsidiaries under certain circumstances;

WHEREAS, on April 21, 2010, in connection with the proposed acquisition by the Investors of
the Company’s 2.375% Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes due 2014 (the “Convertible Notes”), the
Company entered into Amendment No. 2 to its Amended and Restated Stockholder Protection Rights
Agreement (as amended, the “Rights Agreement”), dated as of October 1, 2009, between the Company
and Mellon Investors Services LLC, as Rights Agent, to exempt under certain circumstances the
ownership of the Convertible Notes by any person from the determination of the beneficial ownership
of common stock of the Company (the “Common Stock”) by such person under the Rights Agreement; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the proposed acquisition of Convertible Notes by the Investors,
the Company has agreed to waive certain provisions of the Securities Purchase Agreement and any
other provisions of agreements and Company policies to which either of the Investors may be subject
that would prohibit the Investors from acquiring Convertible Notes (together, the “Company
Restrictions”), as set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the agreements contained herein, and for
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1. Waiver of Standstill Provisions. Subject to compliance by each Investor with the
provisions of this Agreement, the Company hereby waives the applicable provisions of Section 5.13
of the Securities Purchase Agreement and all other Company Restrictions that, in each case, would
prohibit the Investors from acquiring Convertible Notes, but only with respect to the acquisition
by the Investors of up to $88,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes within six
months of the date hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, no waiver of the applicable provisions of
Section 5.13 of the Securities Purchase Agreement or any other Company Restrictions is given for
the conversion by the Investors of Convertible Notes into Common Stock. Should the Investors
determine to purchase or enter into an agreement to purchase Convertible Notes (a) prior to the end
of the 2nd Nasdaq Global Market trading day after issuance by the Company of its first quarter 2010
earnings report, prior thereto, the Investors shall obtain from the seller a nondisclosure and
lock-up agreement in the form attached

 

1

 

hereto as Exhibit A (a “Nondisclosure and Standstill Agreement”), and only engage in such
purchase or enter into such agreement following disclosure of such information as the Company
agrees is required to be disclosed or (b) after such 2nd Nasdaq Global Market trading day but
within six months of the date hereof at a time at which insiders at the Company are not permitted
to trade in Company securities or otherwise when any officers, directors, members, partners,
managers or employees of the Investors have material non-public information concerning the Company
or its Affiliates, prior thereto, the Investors shall obtain from the seller a nondisclosure and
lock-up agreement substantially similar to Exhibit A, which the Company shall be a party to, and
only engage in such purchase or enter into such agreement following disclosure of such information
as the Company agrees is required to be disclosed. Subject to compliance by each Investor with the
provisions of this Agreement, the Company hereby waives the provisions of any Company Restrictions
applicable to the disclosure by Investor of Evaluation Material (as defined in the Nondisclosure
and Standstill Agreement) to any potential seller of Convertible Notes party to a Nondisclosure and
Standstill Agreement. 

2. Full Force and Effect. Except as expressly set forth herein, the Securities
Purchase Agreement (including the provisions thereof relating to the purchase or other
acquisition of Common Stock, including upon conversion of the Convertible Notes) and other
Company Restrictions shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the provisions
thereof.

3. Company Right of First Refusal and First Offer. From and after the date hereof:

(a) (i) Subject to the further terms and conditions of this Section 3, if an Investor proposes
to sell Convertible Notes in a single transaction or series of related transactions at a time when
the market price of a share of Common Stock exceeds the then effective Conversion Price (as defined
in that certain Indenture, dated as of October 17, 2007 and as amended from time to time, by and
among the Company, as issuer, Morgans Group LLC, as guarantor, and The Bank of New York, as
trustee, relating to the Convertible Notes (the “Indenture”)), such Investor shall give the Company
prior written notice thereof (an “Investor Notice”), including in reasonable detail the price and
aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes to be sold, and the other general terms, if any,
upon which such Investor proposes to sell such Convertible Notes. Each such Investor Notice shall
constitute an irrevocable offer by such Investor to the Company to sell all (but not less than all)
of the Convertible Notes included in such Investor Notice upon the terms and conditions reflected
in such Investor Notice. Notwithstanding the requirement to deliver an Investor Notice, the
Investors shall use their commercially reasonable best efforts to advise the Company two Business
Days prior to delivery of the Investor Notice of the development of any plans or proposals to sell
Convertible Notes.

(ii) If at any time when the market price of a share of Common Stock is equal to or less than
the then effective Conversion Price, if an Investor proposes to sell Convertible Notes in a single
transaction or series of related transactions, such Investor shall give the Company prior written
notice of such intent and set forth the aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes which the
Investor is proposing to sell to the Company (the “Offer Notice”). Within two Business Days after
receipt of the Offer Notice, the Company may either decline in writing to offer to buy any such
Convertible Notes, or may propose in writing a price at which the

 

2

 

Company offers to buy all (but not less than all) such Convertible Notes (the “Company
Offer”). The Investor shall have two Business Days after the receipt of the Company Offer to either
accept in writing the Company Offer (an “Offer Acceptance”) or to decline in writing the Company
Offer. If the Investor declines the Company Offer, the Investor may thereafter, for a period of
thirty days after the date of the Company Offer, sell or enter into an agreement to sell any of the
Convertible Notes covered by the Offer Notice at a price equal to or greater than the price offered
in the Company Offer. If the Company declines to make a Company Offer, the Investor may
thereafter, for a period of thirty days after the Company declines to make a Company Offer (or
thirty two days after the delivery of the Offer Notice if the Company does not respond) sell the
Convertible Notes covered by the Offer Notice at any price. If the Investor does not sell or enter
into an agreement to sell the Convertible Notes within such period, any subsequent sale of such
Convertible Notes shall be subject to the terms of this Section 3.

(b) The Company shall have the right to agree to purchase all (but not less than all) of the
Convertible Notes described in an Investor Notice by delivering written notice (the “Company
Notice”) to such Investor of its election to purchase such Convertible Notes prior to 4:00 p.m.
(New York City time) on the second Business Day following the delivery of the applicable Investor
Notice. The Company shall effect the purchase of all such Convertible Notes pursuant to the Company
Notice or an Offer Acceptance, including payment of the purchase price, not later than 4:00 p.m.
(New York City time) on the third Business Day after delivery of the Company Notice or, in the
event of an Offer Acceptance, on the third Business Day after delivery of the Offer Acceptance. If
an Investor Notice or an Offer Notice, Company Offer or Offer Acceptance is delivered after 4:00
p.m., New York City time, on any Business Day (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), it
shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day.

(c) If and to the extent that the Company fails to exercise its right to purchase all of the
Convertible Notes described in any Investor Notice pursuant to the foregoing clause (a)(i) within
the period required for such election, then the Investor shall have 60 days thereafter to sell such
Convertible Notes on terms no less favorable to the Investor (taken as a whole) than the terms set
forth in the Investor Notice.

4. Conversion Cap. In consideration of the waiver granted hereunder, and without
limitation to the provisions of Section 5.13 of the Securities Purchase Agreement or other Company
Restrictions that restrict the conversion by Investors of Convertible Notes into Common Stock, but
in addition thereto, the Investors hereby agree that:

(a) Subject to Section 4(b) below, an Investor or any Affiliate (as defined in Section 4(c)
below) thereof holding Convertible Notes (a “Holder”) shall not be entitled to convert any
Convertible Notes to the extent, and only to the extent, such conversion would cause such Holder,
together with its Affiliates, to become the beneficial owner of more than 9.9% of the issued and
outstanding shares of the Common Stock, as determined pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Company shall, within one Business Day
of delivery by a Holder of a Conversion Notice (as defined in Section 4(c) below), notify such
Holder in writing of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that would be issuable to such Holder
if such conversion requested in such Conversion Notice were effected in full and (ii) the number of
issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (as determined

 

3

 

pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act) as of the most recent date such information is
available to the Company, whereupon, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein,
such Holder may within one Business Day of its receipt of the notice from the Company required by
this Section revoke such Conversion Notice to the extent that it determines that such exercise
would result in such Holder, together with its Affiliates, owning in excess of 9.9% of the issued
and outstanding shares of Common Stock, as determined pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act.

(b) Section 4(a) shall not limit a Holder from converting all or any portion of the
Convertible Notes if: (i) the Holders and the Licensed Affiliates (as defined in Section 4(c)
below) have obtained all Gaming Approvals necessary to hold, and to exercise or convert (as the
case may be) in full, any and all exercisable or convertible securities of the Company (the
“Company Securities”) held by the Holders and their Affiliates, and a Holder has notified the
Company in writing thereof and has not revoked such notification, or (B) none of the Holders or the
Licensed Affiliates are required under the Gaming Laws (as defined in Section 4(c) below) to obtain
any Gaming Approval (as defined in Section 4(c) below) to hold, or to exercise or convert (as the
case may be) in full, any such Company Securities (e.g., the Company does not own or hold any
assets or rights that subject it to the authority or jurisdiction of a Gaming Authority (as defined
in Section 4(c) below)), and a Holder has notified the Company in writing thereof and has not
revoked such notification. In connection with the foregoing, the Company shall use its reasonable
best efforts to keep the Investors apprised of all material facts pertaining to the business and
affairs of the Company which have, or would reasonably be expected to have, a bearing upon the
determination of whether any such Gaming Approvals are or continue to be required, including,
without limitation, information pertaining to any acquisitions or dispositions of assets by the
Company or any of its Affiliates that are subject to regulation under Gaming Laws, and shall, upon
request from a Holder from time to time, provide any documents and records in its possession or in
the possession of its Affiliates (to the extent available to the Company) that such Holder
reasonably requests in order to determine whether such Gaming Approvals are required;
provided, that, prior to receiving any documents and records, such Holder shall agree to
comply with the Company’s insider trading policies as in effect and shall agree to keep the
information contained therein confidential, including to the extent required so that the Company’s
provision of such documents and records does not cause the Company to breach any confidentiality
agreement to which it is a party.

(c) For purposes of this Section 4, the following capitalized terms shall have the following
meanings ascribed thereto:

(i) “Affiliate” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 12 of the Exchange Act;
provided, that, the existence of a management contract primarily for operational services
provided by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company shall not be deemed to be control by the
Company or such Affiliate, as the case may be.

(ii) “Conversion Notice” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Indenture.

(iii) “Gaming Approval” means any approval or consent required under Gaming Laws to be
obtained from any Gaming Authority, including, without limitation, any

 

4

 

registration, finding of suitability or approval of an acquisition of control.

(iv) “Gaming Authority” means any governmental entity with regulatory control, authority or
jurisdiction over casino, pari-mutuel, lottery or other gaming activities and operations within the
State of Nevada, including, without limitation, the Nevada Gaming Commission, the Nevada State
Gaming Control Board, the Clark County Liquor and Gaming Licensing Board and the City of Las Vegas.

(v) “Gaming Laws” means all laws, regulations, rules, ordinances or other pronouncements
pursuant to which any Gaming Authority possesses regulatory, licensing or permit authority over
casino, pari-mutuel, lottery or other gaming activities in any jurisdiction, including all rules
and regulations established by any Gaming Authority.

(vi) “Licensed Affiliate” means a person who is associated or affiliated with a Holder or any
of their respective Affiliates and is required under Gaming Laws to obtain a Gaming Approval for
any Holder to hold, or to exercise in full, the Company Securities.

5. Agreement Regarding a Refinancing Transaction. In consideration of the waiver
granted hereunder, the Investors hereby agree that, at any time any Investor is a holder of
Convertible Notes, should any member of the Company’s board of directors initially designated or
nominated by an Investor fail to recuse himself or herself with respect to any vote on any
proposal or plan proposed by management of the Company to effect a repayment, extension or other
refinancing of the Convertible Notes, such Investor or Investors will promptly take all action
permissible under applicable law to designate or nominate a replacement for such director as
promptly as possible. It is understood that the Investors, as holders of Convertible Notes,
are not agreeing hereby to elect to participate in any such repayment, extension or other
refinancing transaction.

6. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and
understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes
all prior agreements and understandings relating to such subject matter.

7. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all
of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or
more such counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to the other
parties hereto.

8. Consent to Jurisdiction. All actions and proceedings arising out of or relating
to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any New York state or federal
court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York. The parties hereto hereby (a)
submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in the Borough of
Manhattan of The City of New York for the purpose of any Action arising out of or relating to
this Agreement brought by any party hereto, and (b) irrevocably waive, and agree not to assert
by way of motion, defense, or otherwise, in any such action, any claim that it is not subject
personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune
from attachment or execution, that the action or proceeding is brought
in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the action is improper, or that this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated

 

5

 

by this Agreement may not be enforced in or by any of the
above-named courts.

9. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.

10. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement (or any portion thereof) or
the application of any such provision (or any portion thereof) to any person or circumstance
shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other
provision hereof (or the remaining portion thereof) or the application of such provision to any
other persons or circumstances.

11. Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may not be amended except by an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto. Any failure of any party
to comply with any obligation, agreement or condition herein may be waived by the party entitled
to the benefits thereof only by a written instrument signed by the party granting such waiver,
but such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or
other failure. The failure of any party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights under this
Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

12. Assignment. This Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder shall not
be assignable or transferable by any party without the prior written consent of the other
parties hereto. Any attempted assignment in violation of this Section 12 shall be void.

[Signatures on next page.]

 

6

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year
first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	MORGANS HOTEL GROUP CO.

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Marc Gordon
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Marc Gordon 	 
	 	 	Title:  	President 	 
	 
	 	YUCAIPA AMERICAN ALLIANCE FUND II, L.P.

 	 
	 	By:  	Yucaipa American Alliance Fund II, LLC
 	 
	 	Its: 	General Partner 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:  	                                            /s/ Robert P. Bermingham
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Robert P. Bermingham 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Vice President 	 
	 
	 	YUCAIPA AMERICAN ALLIANCE (PARALLEL)
 FUND II, L.P.

 	 
	 	By:  	Yucaipa American Alliance Fund II, LLC
 	 
	 	Its: 	General Partner 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:  	                                            /s/  Robert P. Bermingham
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Robert P. Bermingham 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Vice President 	 
	 

 

 

Exhibit A

See Attached

 

 

 

April 21, 2010

Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund I, Ltd.

Harbinger Capital Partners Special Situations Fund, L.P.

Credit Distressed Blue Line Master Fund, Ltd.

c/o 450 Park Avenue, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10022

Attention: Ian W. Estus

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This is with reference to a potential transaction (a “Transaction”) involving the sale
of Morgans Hotel Group Co.’s (the “Company”) 2.375% Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes
due 2014 (the “Convertible Notes”) by Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund I, Ltd.,
Harbinger Capital Partners Special Situations Fund, L.P. and/or Credit Distressed Blue Line Master
Fund, Ltd. (collectively, “you”) to Yucaipa American Alliance Fund II, L.P. and/or Yucaipa
American Alliance (Parallel) Fund II, L.P. (collectively, the “Investors”). While this
letter agreement (this “Agreement”) does not require the Company or the Investors to
furnish any information or you to receive it, this Agreement shall govern the treatment of all
information that may be provided to you by or on behalf of the Company and the Investors. You
agree that such information and any other information the Company, the Investors or their
Representatives (as hereinafter defined) furnish to you or your Representatives, in connection with
your consideration and the negotiation of a Transaction, and whether oral, written or electronic
(the “Confidential Information”), together with those portions of any reports, analyses,
compilations, memoranda, notes and any other written or electronic materials prepared by you or
your Representatives which contain, reflect or are based upon the Confidential Information
(collectively and, together with the Confidential Information, the “Evaluation Material”),
will be kept confidential and used only for the purpose of evaluating a Transaction and will only
be used by you or your Affiliates (as hereinafter defined) in connection with your consideration of
a Transaction and not for any other purpose or in any way detrimental to the Company or its
management or the Investors; provided, however, that (i) any of such information
may be disclosed to you or your Affiliates’ officers, directors, members, partners, managers,
employees, counsel, investment bankers, consultants, agents, and other representatives (such
persons being generally referred to herein as your “Representatives”) who need to know such
information for the purpose of your evaluation, negotiation and consummation of a Transaction (it
being understood that you will cause your Representatives to treat such information in a
confidential manner and in accordance with the terms hereof and that you shall be responsible for
any breach of this Agreement by your Representatives), and (ii) any
disclosure of such information may be made to which the Company consents in writing. The
term “Affiliate” as used in this Agreement shall mean any person that you control, are
controlled by or under common control with.

 

 

 

You agree that neither you, your Affiliates, nor any of your Representatives will without the
prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, (i) disclose to any other person (it
being understood that “person” includes any entity with which you are affiliated, other than the
Affiliates) either the fact that discussions or negotiations are taking place concerning a
Transaction or any of the terms, conditions or other facts with respect to a Transaction, including
the status thereof or (ii) disclose to any other person that you have received or produced any
Evaluation Material.

In the event that you or any of your Representatives or Affiliates are required to disclose
any Evaluation Material in connection with any judicial or administrative proceedings (by oral
questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigation
demand or similar process), you will provide the Company with reasonably prompt and, to the extent
legally permissible, prior notice of such requirement(s). You also agree, to the fullest extent
practicable and legally permissible, to provide the Company, in advance of any such disclosure,
with a list of any Evaluation Material you intend to disclose (and, if applicable, the text of the
disclosure language itself) and to reasonably cooperate with the Company to the extent the Company
may seek to limit such disclosure, including, if requested, taking all reasonable steps to resist
or avoid any such judicial or administrative proceedings referred to above. If and to the extent,
in the absence of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver from the Company after a request in
writing therefor is made by you (such request to be made as soon as practicable to allow the
Company a reasonable amount of time to respond thereto), you, your Affiliates or your
Representatives are legally required to disclose Evaluation Material to any tribunal to avoid
censure or penalty, you will use reasonable efforts to obtain assurances that confidential
treatment will be accorded to any Evaluation Material that you are so required to disclose and
thereafter you may disclose such information without liability hereunder.

In consideration for being furnished with the Evaluation Material, you agree that from the
date of this Agreement and for a period ending two Nasdaq Global Market trading days after
publication by the Company of its first quarter 2010 earnings report (the “Lock-Up
Period”), you and your Affiliates will not, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, transfer, sell,
contract to sell (including any short sale), grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of
any securities (including, without limitation, equity securities, debt securities, debt- or
equity-linked or debt- or equity-related securities) of the Company or its Affiliates
(“Securities”) which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by you or your Affiliates in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission,
(ii) enter into any Hedging Transaction (as hereinafter defined) relating to Securities, (iii) make
any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Securities or any
security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Securities or (iv) publicly announce
any intention to do any of the foregoing (each of the foregoing referred to as a
“Disposition”). The foregoing restriction is expressly intended to preclude you and your
Affiliates from engaging in any Hedging

 

-2-

 

Transaction or other transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in a Disposition
during the Lock-Up Period even if the Securities would be disposed of by someone other than you or
your Affiliates. The term “Hedging Transaction” as used in this Agreement shall mean any
short sale (whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including,
without limitation, any put or call option or credit default swap linked to Securities) with
respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that includes, relates to
or derives any significant part of its value from Securities. For purposes of this paragraph, a
person shall not be deemed to be an “Affiliate” if (1) you and your other Affiliates beneficially
own (as that term is used in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) less
than 35% of the securities of such person entitling the holders thereof to vote in the election of
members of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of such person, (2) you and your
other Affiliates have not appointed and have no power to appoint any members to the board of
directors (or equivalent governing body) of such person, and (3) such person’s primary business is
other than buying and selling securities. The restrictions in this paragraph shall not prohibit
you from consummating the Transaction with the Investors.

After the end of the Lock-Up Period, you and your Affiliates will (and you will cause your
Representatives) reasonably promptly, upon the written request of the Company, deliver to the
Company or destroy all copies of all written Evaluation Material, including any notes relating
thereto, including, to the extent practicable, expunging all such Evaluation Material from any
computer, word processor or other device containing such information. If requested in writing by
the Company, an appropriate officer of yours will certify to the Company that all such material has
been so delivered or destroyed. Notwithstanding the delivery (or destruction) of the Evaluation
Material required by this paragraph, any and all duties and obligations existing under this
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Furthermore, you and your Representatives shall
be permitted to retain in their respective compliance departments one copy of the Evaluation
Material in order to comply with (a) any laws or regulations applicable to you and/or your
Representatives, or (b) your and/or your Representatives’ internal record retention policies and
procedures.

The term “Evaluation Material” does not include information that (i) is, was or
becomes available to you and/or your Representatives on a non-confidential basis from a source
other than the Company, the Investors or their Representatives as long as such other source is not
known by you to be bound by a confidentiality obligation to the Company or the Investors, as
applicable, (ii) was, is or becomes generally available to the public (other than as a result of a
breach by you or your Representatives of this Agreement), or (iii) was or is independently
developed by or on behalf of you and/or your Representatives without reference to the Evaluation
Material provided to you pursuant to this Agreement.

You understand and agree that none of the Company, any of the Investors nor any of their
Representatives make herein or otherwise any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to
the accuracy or completeness of the Evaluation Material for your purposes. You agree that none of
the Company, any of the Investors nor any of their Representatives shall have any liability
hereunder or otherwise whatsoever to you or any of your Representatives, including, without
limitation, in contract, tort or under federal or state
securities laws, relating to or resulting from the use of the Evaluation Material or any
errors therein or omissions therefrom.

 

-3-

 

It is agreed that no failure or delay by the Company or the Investors in exercising any right,
power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial
exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right, power
or privilege.

The Company and the Investors, without prejudice to any rights to judicial relief it may
otherwise have, shall be entitled to seek equitable relief, including injunction, in the event of
any breach or threatened breach of the provisions of this Agreement. You agree that you will not
oppose the granting of such relief on the basis that the Company or the Investors have an adequate
remedy at law and that you will pay any actual fees which the Company or the Investors may
reasonably incur in enforcing this Agreement (except to the extent a court of competent
jurisdiction determines that you have not breached this Agreement, in which case the Company and
Investors shall pay for their own fees and expenses incurred in seeking to enforce this Agreement).

You hereby confirm that you and your Affiliates are aware and that your Representatives have
been advised that securities laws in the United States and other jurisdictions prohibit any person
who has material non-public information about a company from purchasing or selling securities of
such company on the basis of such information or from communicating such information to any other
person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person may purchase or
sell such securities. You hereby also confirm that you, your Affiliates and your Representatives
will not use any information about the Company in a way which might violate any antitrust or other
applicable law.

It is understood and agreed that if any provision contained in this Agreement or the
application thereof to you, the Company, the Investors or any other person or circumstance shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law as determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
contained in this Agreement, or the application of such provision to such persons or circumstances
other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force
and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby.

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State
of New York.

 

-4-

 

In case of any dispute related to this Agreement, you agree (i) to submit to personal
jurisdiction in New York, (ii) that exclusive jurisdiction and venue shall lie in the United States
Federal and New York State Courts located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and
(iii) that notice may be served upon you at your address set forth on the first page of this
Agreement.

This Agreement shall benefit and bind successors and assigns of you, of the Company and of the
Investors. Any assignment of this Agreement by you without the prior written consent of the
Company and the Investors shall be null and void.

The obligations set out in this Agreement shall cease upon the expiry of 12 months from the
date of this Agreement.

 

-5-

 

If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please so indicate by signing and returning one
copy of this Agreement to the Company and to each Investor, whereupon this Agreement will
constitute our agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Very truly yours,
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	MORGANS HOTEL GROUP CO.
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	YUCAIPA AMERICAN ALLIANCE FUND II, L.P.	 	 
	 	 	By:	 	Yucaipa American Alliance Fund II, LLC	 	 
	 	 	Its:	 	General Partner	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name:
	 	Robert P. Bermingham	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:
	 	Vice President	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	YUCAIPA AMERICAN ALLIANCE (PARALLEL) FUND II, L.P.	 	 
	 	 	By:	 	Yucaipa American Alliance Fund II, LLC	 	 
	 	 	Its:	 	General Partner	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name:
	 	Robert P. Bermingham	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:
	 	Vice President	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	CONFIRMED AND AGREED TO:
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	HARBINGER CAPITAL PARTNERS MASTER FUND I, LTD.	 	 
	By:	 	Harbinger Capital Partners LLC	 	 
	Its:	 	Investment Manager	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name:
	 	Ian W. Estus	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:
	 	Vice President	 	 

 

-6-

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	HARBINGER CAPITAL PARTNERS SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND, L.P.	 	 
	By:	 	Harbinger Capital Partners Special Situations GP, LLC	 	 
	Its:	 	General Partner	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name:
	 	Ian W. Estus	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:
	 	Vice President	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	CREDIT DISTRESSED BLUE LINE MASTER FUND, LTD.
	By:	 	Harbinger Capital Partners II LP	 	 
	Its:	 	Investment Manager	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name:
	 	Ian W. Estus	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:
	 	Vice President	 	 

 

-7-

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