EXHIBIT 10.65
FORM EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
----
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into this 25th day
----
of January, 1999 between Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., a Delaware corporation
-------
(the "Company") and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx ("Employee").
----------------
In consideration of the mutual promises of this Agreement, the Company and
Employee agree as follows:
1. Effective Date. This Agreement shall be effective as of the date
--------------
hereof.
2. Employment.
----------
(a) Term. The Company hereby employs Employee, and Employee
----
accepts such employment and agrees to perform services for the Company and/or
its subsidiaries, for an initial period of two (2) years from and after the
Effective Date of this Agreement (the "Initial Term") and, unless either party
gives written notice to the other party at least ninety (90) days before the end
of the Initial Term or of any Renewal Term, for successive one-year periods (the
"Renewal Terms"), unless terminated at an earlier date in accordance with
Section 5 of this Agreement (the Initial Term and the Renewal Terms together
referred to as the "Term of Employment").
(b) Service with Company. During the Term of Employment,
--------------------
Employee agrees to perform reasonable employment duties as the Board of
Directors of the Company and/or its subsidiaries shall assign to him from time
to time. Employee also agrees to serve, for any period for which he is elected
as an officer of the Company and/or its subsidiaries; provided, however, that
Employee shall not be entitled to any additional compensation for serving as an
officer of the Company and/or its subsidiaries. From and after the Effective
Date, Employee shall continue to be an executive officer of the Company with the
title of Vice President of Development.
-----------------------------
(c) Performance of Duties. Employee agrees to serve the
---------------------
Company and/or its subsidiaries faithfully and to the best of his ability and to
devote substantially all of his time, attention and efforts to the business and
affairs of the Company and/or its subsidiaries during the Term of Employment.
(d) Compensation. During the Term of Employment, the Company
------------
and/or its subsidiaries shall pay to Employee as compensation for services to be
rendered hereunder an aggregate base salary of $135,000 per year, payable in
equal monthly, or more frequent payments, subject to increases, if any, as may
be determined by the
1
Company's Board of Directors. Employee shall also be eligible to participate in
any stock option plans of the Company and/or its subsidiaries. In addition to
the base salary, any bonuses, and participation in stock option plans, Employee
shall be eligible to participate in an employee benefit plans or programs of the
Company and/or its subsidiaries as are or may be made generally available to
employees of the Company or of its subsidiaries. The Company and/or its
subsidiaries will pay or reimburse Employee for all reasonable and necessary
out-of-pocket expense incurred by him in the performance of his duties under
this Agreement, subject to the presentment of appropriate vouchers in accordance
with the Company's and/or its subsidiaries policies for expense verification.
3. Confidentiality and Non-competition.
-----------------------------------
(a) Ownership. Employee agrees that all inventions,
---------
copyrightable material, business and/or technical information, marketing plans,
customer lists and trade secrets which arise out of the performance of this
Agreement are the property of the Company and/or its subsidiaries.
(b) Non-competition. Employee agrees to the following
---------------
covenant not to compete beginning on the effective date of this Agreement and
continuing until one year after termination of his employment relationship with
the Company:
Employee agrees not to compete, directly or
indirectly (including as an officer, director,
partner, employee, consultant, independent
contractor, or more than 5% equity holder of any
entity) with the Company or any of its
subsidiaries in any way concerning the ownership,
development or management of any gaming operation
or facility within a 75-mile radius of any gaming
operation or facility with respect to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries owns, renders
or proposes to render consulting or management
services.
(c) Confidentiality. Except as is consistent with
---------------
Employee's duties and responsibilities within the scope of his employment with
the Company and/or the subsidiaries, Employee agrees to keep confidential
indefinitely, and not to use or disclose to any unauthorized person, information
which is not generally known and which is proprietary to the Company or any
subsidiary, including all information that the Company or any subsidiary
treats as confidential, ("Confidential Information"). Upon termination of
Employee's employment, Employee will promptly turn over to the Company all
software, records, manuals, books, forms, documents, notes, letters, memoranda,
reports, data, tables, compositions, articles, devices, apparatus, marketing
plans, customer lists
2
and other items that disclose, describe or embody Confidential Information
including all copies of the confidential Information in his possession,
regardless of who prepared them.
4. Remedies. Employee understands that if he fails to fulfill his
--------
obligations under this Agreement, the damages to the Company and/or its
subsidiaries would be very difficult to determine. Therefore, in addition to any
other rights or remedies available to the Company at law, in equity, or by
statute, Employee hereby consents to the specific enforcement of this Agreement
by the Company through an injunction or restraining order issued by the
appropriate court.
5. Termination or Change of Control.
-----------
(a) Grounds for Termination. The Term of Employment set
forth in Section 2(a) shall terminate prior to its expiration in the event that
at any time during such term:
(i) The Board of Directors of the Company delivers
notice of termination for "cause" to Employee.
For purposes of this section, "cause" shall mean
any dishonesty, disloyalty, material breach of
corporate policies, gross misconduct on the part
of Employee in the performance of Employee's
duties hereunder or a violation of the non-
competition or confidentiality provision of this
agreement. If Employee is terminated for cause,
there shall be no severance paid to Employee.
(ii) Employee shall die or become disabled as
determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company.
(iii) The Company for any reason terminates the Term
of Employment.
(b) Severance. If Employee dies or becomes disabled, or if
---------
the Company terminates the Term of Employment (by either terminating Employee's
employment or by giving the notice described in Section 2(a) to prevent a
Renewal Term) without "cause" (as defined above), then, providing that Employee
signs a General Release in a form acceptable to the Company that releases the
Company and its affiliated entities from any and all claims that Employee may
have against them, Employee shall be entitled to continue to receive his salary
and, to the extent legally permissible, employee benefits for a period of 12
--
months from and after such termination or until new
3
employment begins, which ever occurs first. In lieu of monthly payments, a lump
sum award may be authorized by the Board of Directors. If Employee dies or
becomes disabled, Employee shall also be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to
the average of the last 3 years bonus payment inclusive of deferred amounts. In
the event of termination of employment without "cause", any payment of an amount
based upon prior bonus payments shall be subject to the discretion of the Board
of Directors. Except as provided above, Employee shall not be entitled to any
compensation beyond the date of the termination of the Term of Employment.
Health and welfare benefits shall continue for Employee (with employee
contribution) ending with the later of salary continuation payments or the end
of the original Term of Employment.
Employee shall be provided out-placement service with a
mutually agreed out-placement firm or service at the reasonable expense of the
Company.
Vesting of stock options and any/all deferred bonuses due shall occur in the
event of death or disability and in the event of other termination such vesting
shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion.
(c) Change In Control. A change in control of the Company
-----------------
defined as its sale, acquisition, merger or buyout to an unaffiliated person
that has significant effect or a reduction in the responsibilities, position or
compensation of Employee or if Employee is required to move the location of his
principal residence a distance of more than 35 miles prior to or during the
initial 12 months of the change of control will entitle Employee to the
following severance:
(i) 12 month's salary paid as salary continuation
--
plus a lump sum payment equal to the average of
the previous 3 years bonus payment inclusive of
deferred amounts. Salary continuation shall
terminate if and when Employee begins new
employment during the period of salary
continuation.
(ii) Health and welfare benefits shall be fully paid
by the Company and run concurrently with salary
continuation.
(iii) Vesting of stock options shall become fully
accelerated and exercisable by the Employee at
the time of change of control. Unexercised
options will be cancelled on the ninety-first
calendar day following the end of salary
continuation.
(iv) All deferred bonuses will be paid upon a change
of control.
4
(v) Employee shall be provided out-placement
services with a mutually agreed upon out-
placement firm or service at the reasonable
expense of the Company.
6. Miscellaneous.
-------------
(a) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is binding on and
----------------------
inures to the benefit of the Company's successors and assigns. The Company may
assign this Agreement in connection with a merger, consolidation, assignment,
sale or other disposition of substantially all of its assets or business. This
Agreement may not be assigned by Employee.
(b) Modification, Waivers. This Agreement may be modified or
---------------------
amended only by a writing signed by the Company, and Employee. The Company's
failure, or delay in exercising any right, or partial exercise of any right,
will not waive any provision of this Agreement or preclude the Company from
otherwise or further exercising any rights or remedies hereunder, or any other
rights or remedies granted by any law or any related document.
(c) Governing Law and Jurisdiction. The laws of Mississippi
------------------------------
will govern the validity, construction, and performance of this Agreement. Any
legal proceeding related to this Agreement will be brought in a Mississippi
court. Both the Company and Employee hereby consent to the exclusive
jurisdiction of that court for this purpose.
(d) Captions. The headings in this Agreement are for
--------
convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
(e) Severability. To the extent any provision of this Agreement
------------
shall be invalid or enforceable with respect to Employee, it shall be considered
deleted here from with respect to Employee and the remainder of such provision
and this Agreement shall be unaffected and shall continue in full force and
effect. In furtherance to and not in limitation of the foregoing, should the
duration or geographical extent of, or business activities covered by, any
provision of this Agreement be in excess of that which is valid and enforceable
under applicable law with respect to Employee, then such provision shall be
construed to cover only that duration, extent or activities which are validly
and enforceably covered with respect to Employee. Employee acknowledges the
uncertainty of the law in this respect and expressly stipulates that this
Agreement be given the construction which renders its provisions valid and
enforceable to the maximum extent (not exceeding its expressed terms) possible
under applicable laws.
5
(f) Entire Agreement. This Agreement supersedes all previous
----------------
and contemporaneous oral negotiations, commitments, writings and understandings
between the parties concerning the matters herein or therein, including without
limitation, any policy of personnel manuals of the Company.
(g) Notices. All notices and other communications required or
-------
permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and sent by registered first-
class mail, postage prepaid, and shall be deemed delivered upon hand delivery or
upon mailing (postage prepaid and by registered or certified mail) to the
following address:
If to the Company, to:
Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx XX 00000
If to the Employee, to:
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx XX 00000
These addresses may be changed at any time by like notice.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party has caused this Agreement to be executed in
a manner appropriate for such party as of the date first above written.
ISLE OF CAPRI CASINOS, INC.
By:_____________________________________
"EMPLOYEE"
______________________________________
6
