EXHIBIT 10.15
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as of April
30, 2001, by and between Racing Champions Ertl, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and Xxxx Xxxxxx (the "Employee"). Racing Champions Ertl, Inc.
is a wholly owned subsidiary of Racing Champions Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Parent Company").
RECITAL
The Company desires to employ the Employee and the Employee is
willing to make his/her services available to the Company on the terms and
conditions set forth below. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in
Section 10 below.
AGREEMENTS
In consideration of the promises and the mutual agreements which
follow, the parties agree as follows:
1. Employment. The Company hereby employs the Employee and
the Employee hereby accepts employment with the Company on the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
2. Term. This Agreement is effective as of the date
referred to above. The Agreement is not intended to create a promise or contract
of employment for a specific term. Employee's employment shall be at will, and
it expressly understood that either the Company or Employee may terminate the
employment relationship at any time for any reason. It is also expressly
understood that during the course of Employee's employment, the job title,
duties, responsibilities and all other terms and conditions of his/her
employment may be modified at any time for any reason and that such modification
shall not alter his/her obligations under this Agreement.
3. Duties. The Employee shall serve as the Senior Vice
President of Finance of the Company and will, under the direction of the Parent
Company's Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chief Operating Officer ("Top
Management"), faithfully and to the best of his/her ability, perform the duties
of such position. The Employee shall also perform such additional duties and
responsibilities which may from time to time be reasonably assigned or delegated
by Top Management. The Employee agrees to devote his/her entire business time,
effort, skill and attention to the proper discharge of such duties while
employed by the Company.
4. Compensation. The Employee shall receive a base salary
of $120,000 per year, payable in regular and equal monthly installments (the
"Base Salary"). The
Employee's Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by Top Management of the
Company to determine appropriate increases, if any, in such Base Salary.
5. Fringe Benefits.
(a) Vacation. The Employee shall be entitled to
three weeks of paid vacation annually, increasing to four weeks after six years
of employment by the Company, under the terms of the Company's stated vacation
policy. The Employee and the Company shall mutually determine the time and
intervals of such vacation.
(b) Medical, Health, Dental, Disability and Life
Coverage. The Employee shall be eligible to participate in any medical, health,
dental, disability and life insurance policy in effect for management of the
Company on a basis consistent with his/her position and level of compensation
and contribution within the Company as determined solely by Top Management, as
long as such coverages can be obtained by the Company at a cost that is
consistent with rest of the management group.
(c) Incentive Bonus and Stock Ownership Plans. The
Employee shall be entitled to participate in any incentive bonus or other
incentive compensation plan developed generally for the management of the
Company on a basis consistent with his/her position and level of compensation
and contribution within the Company, as determined solely by Top Management. The
Employee shall also be entitled to participate in any incentive stock option
plan or other stock ownership plan developed generally for the management of the
Company on a basis consistent with his/her position and level of compensation
and contribution within the Company, as determined solely by Top Management.
(d) Automobile. The Company agrees to reimburse the
Employee up to $500 per month (effective June 1, 2001), as such amount may be
increased from time to time consistent with the Company's reimbursement policy
for management of the Company to cover Employee's expenses in connection with
his/her leasing or owning an automobile. Additionally, the Company will pay for
the gas used for business purposes. All maintenance and insurance expense for
the automobile is the responsibility of the Employee.
(e) Reimbursement for Reasonable Business Expenses.
The Company shall pay or reimburse the Employee for reasonable expenses incurred
by him/her in connection with the performance of his/her duties pursuant to this
Agreement including, but not limited to, travel expenses, expenses in connection
with seminars, professional conventions or similar professional functions and
other reasonable business expenses.
(f) Key Man Insurance. The parties agree that the
Company has the option to purchase one or more key man life insurance policies
upon the life of the Employee. The Company shall own and shall have the absolute
right to name the beneficiary or beneficiaries of said policy. The Employee
agrees to cooperate fully with the Company in securing said policy, including,
but not limited to, submitting himself to any physical examination which may be
required at such reasonable times and places as Company shall specify.
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6. Termination.
(a) Termination of the Employment Period. The
employment period (the "Employment Period") shall continue until the earliest of
(i) the Employee's death or Disability, (ii) the Employee resigns or (iii) the
Top Management determines that termination of Employee's employment is in the
best interests of the Company (the date of the earliest of these events shall be
referred to herein as the "Termination Date").
(b) Definitions.
(i) For purposes of this Agreement,
"Disability" shall mean a physical or mental sickness or any injury which
renders the Employee incapable of performing the services required of him/her as
an employee of the Company and which does or may be expected to continue for
more than six (6) months during any 12-month period. In the event Employee shall
be able to perform his/her usual and customary duties on behalf of the Company
following a period of disability, and does so perform such duties, or such other
duties as are prescribed by the Board of Directors or the President of the
Company, for a period of three continuous months, any subsequent period of
disability shall be regarded as a new period of disability for purposes of this
Agreement. The Company and the Employee shall determine the existence of a
Disability and the date upon which it occurred. In the event of a dispute
regarding whether or when a Disability occurred, the matter shall be referred to
a medical doctor selected by the Company and the Employee. In the event of their
failure to agree upon such a medical doctor, the Company and the Employee shall
each select a medical doctor who together shall select a third medical doctor
who shall make the determination. Such determination shall be conclusive and
binding upon the parties hereto.
(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause"
shall be deemed to exist if the Employee shall have (1) violated the terms of
sections 7 or 8 of this Agreement; (2) failed to substantially perform his/her
duties to the reasonable satisfaction of Top Management; (3) committed a felony
or a crime involving moral turpitude; (4) engaged in serious misconduct which is
demonstrably injurious to the Company, or the Parent Company or any of its
Subsidiaries; (5) engaged in fraud or dishonesty with respect to the Company, or
the Parent Company or any of its Subsidiaries or made a material
misrepresentation to the stockholders or directors of the Company or the Parent
Company; or (6) committed acts of negligence in the performance of his/her
duties which are substantially injurious to the Company, or the Parent Company
or any of its subsidiaries.
(c) Termination for Disability or Death. In the
event of termination for Disability or death, payments of the Employee's Base
Salary shall be made to the Employee, for a period of three (3) months after the
Termination Date in accordance with the normal payroll practices of the Company.
During this period, the Company shall also reimburse the Employee or Employee's
estate for amounts paid, if any, to continue medical, dental and health coverage
pursuant to the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
and will pay to the Employee or Employee's estate the fringe benefits pursuant
to section 5 which have accrued prior to the Termination Date. Incentive bonus,
if
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any, for the year of termination will be prorated based on the Termination Date
and paid in accordance with the annual bonus payment schedule.
(d) Termination by the Company without Cause. If (i)
the Employee is terminated by the Company for any reason other than for Cause,
Disability or death, (ii) if the Employee is terminated by the Company for what
the Company believes is Cause or Disability, and it is ultimately determined
that the Employee was terminated without Cause or Disability, the Employee shall
be entitled to receive, as severance, his/her Base Salary for a period of three
months (3) months following the Termination Date; provided, however, that if
such termination occurs at any time within one year after the occurrence of, or
in contemplation of, a Change of Control then Employee shall be entitled to
receive his/her Base Salary for a period of one year following the Termination
Date. Such payment of Base Salary shall be made in accordance with the normal
payroll practices of the Company, net of applicable taxes, tax withholdings and
employee portions of medical and dental insurance premiums, if any. During this
period, the Company shall also continue to pay the Company portion of premiums,
if any, to continue medical and dental coverage pursuant to the provisions of
the existing plan or of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.
During this period, the Company will also continue Employee's life insurance and
disability coverage, to the extent permitted under applicable policies, and will
pay to the Employee the fringe benefits pursuant to section 5 which have accrued
prior to the Termination Date. Incentive bonus, if any, for the year of
termination will be prorated based on the Termination Date and paid in
accordance with the annual bonus payment schedule. Notwithstanding the forgoing,
the Company shall not be obligated to make any of the payments or provide the
other benefits called for by this section 6(d) unless (i) Employee signs a
waiver and release of all claims against the Company, the Parent Company and its
subsidiaries in a form acceptable to the Company, and (ii) Employee is not in
breach of this Agreement, including sections 7 and 8.
(e) Termination by the Company for Cause or by
Resignation by the Employee. If the Employee's employment is terminated by the
Company with Cause or as a result of the Employee's resignation, the Employee
shall not be entitled to receive any future Base Salary, fringe benefits or
incentive bonus payments or any other payments or benefits for periods after the
Termination Date. Bonuses will not be prorated based on the Termination Date;
Bonuses will be paid only if the employee is employed at the time of the annual
bonus payments.
(f) Effect of Termination. The termination of the
Employment Period pursuant to section 6 shall not affect the Employee's
obligations as described in sections 7 and 8.
7. Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation. The Employee
acknowledges and agrees that the contacts and relationships of the Company and
its Subsidiaries with its customers, suppliers, licensors and other business
relations are, and have been, established and maintained at great expense and
provide the Company and its Subsidiaries with a substantial competitive
advantage in conducting their business. The Employee acknowledges
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and agrees that by virtue of the Employee's employment with the Company, the
Employee will have unique and extensive exposure to and personal contact with
the Company's customers and licensors, and that she will be able to establish a
unique relationship with those Persons that will enable him/her, both during and
after employment, to unfairly compete with the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Furthermore, the parties agree that the terms and conditions of the following
restrictive covenants are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the
business, trade secrets and Confidential Information (as defined in section 8
below) of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to prevent great damage or loss
to the Company and its Subsidiaries as a result of action taken by the Employee.
The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the noncompete restrictions and
nondisclosure of Confidential Information restrictions contained in this
Agreement are reasonable and the consideration provided for herein is sufficient
to fully and adequately compensate the Employee for agreeing to such
restrictions. The Employee acknowledges that she could continue to actively
pursue his/her career and earn sufficient compensation in the same or similar
business without breaching any of the restrictions contained in this Agreement.
The Employee acknowledges that one business of the Company and its Subsidiaries
is the design, production (including, without limitation, the obtaining of the
licenses necessary therefor), marketing and sale of collectibles, toys, apparel,
souvenirs and trading cards.
(a) Noncompetition. The Employee hereby covenants
and agrees that during the Employment Period he/she shall not, directly or
indirectly, either individually or as an employee, principal, agent, partner,
shareholder, owner, trustee, beneficiary, co-venturer, distributor, consultant,
representative or in any other capacity, participate in, become associated with,
provide assistance to, engage in or have a financial or other interest in any
business, activity or enterprise which is competitive with the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or any successor or assign of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. The ownership of less than a one percent interest in a corporation
whose shares are traded in a recognized stock exchange or traded in the
over-the-counter market, even though that corporation may be a competitor of the
Company, shall not be deemed financial participation in a competitor. The term
"indirectly" as used in this section and section 8 below is intended to include
any acts authorized or directed by or on behalf of the Employee or any Affiliate
of the Employee.
(b) Nonsolicitation. The Employee hereby covenants
and agrees that during the Employment Period and for a period of 18 months
thereafter (the "Noncompete Period"), he/she shall not, directly or indirectly,
either individually or as an employee, agent, partner, shareholder, owner,
trustee, beneficiary, co-venturer, distributor, consultant or in any other
capacity;
(i) canvass, solicit or accept from any
Person who is a customer or licensor of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (any such Person is hereinafter referred to individually as
a "Customer," and collectively as the "Customers") any business which in
competition with the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or the successors or assigns of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
including, without limitation, the canvassing, soliciting or accepting
of business from any Person which is or was a Customer of the Company
within two
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years preceding the date hereof or with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries during the Noncompete Period;
(ii) advise, request, induce or attempt to
induce any of the Customers, suppliers, or other business contacts of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who currently have or have had
business relationships with the Company within two years preceding the
date hereof or with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries during the
Noncompete Period, to withdraw, curtail or cancel any of its business or
relations with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(iii) induce or attempt to induce any
employee, sales representative, consultant or other agent of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate his/her relationship or breach
any agreement with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or
(iv) hire any person who was an employee,
sales representative, consultant or other agent of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries at any time during the Noncompete Period.
If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that
any term or provision of this section is invalid or unenforceable, the parties
agree that the court making the determination of invalidity or unenforceability
shall have the power to reduce the scope, duration, or area of the term or
provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any invalid or
unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and
enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or
unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so
modified.
8. Confidential Information. The Employee acknowledges and
agrees that the customers, business connections, customer lists, procedures,
operations, techniques, and other aspects of and information about the business
of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the "Confidential Information") are
established at great expense and protected as confidential information and
provide the Company and its Subsidiaries with a substantial competitive
advantage in conducting their business. The Employee further acknowledges and
agrees that by virtue of his/her past employment with the Company, and by virtue
of his/her employment with the Company, she has had access to and will have
access to, and has been entrusted with and will be entrusted with, Confidential
Information, and that the Company would suffer great loss and injury if the
Employee would disclose this information or use in a manner not specifically
authorized by the Company. Therefore, the Employee agrees that during the
Employment Period and for five (5) years thereafter, she will not, directly or
indirectly, either individually or as an employee, agent, partner, shareholder,
owner, trustee, beneficiary, co-venturer, distributor, consultant or in any
other capacity, use or disclose, or cause to be used or disclosed, any
Confidential Information, unless and to the extent that any such information
become generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a
result of the Employee's acts or omissions. The Employee shall deliver to the
Company at the termination of the Employment Period, or at any other time the
Company may request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer
tapes, printouts and software and other documents and
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data (and copies thereof relating to the Confidential Information, Work Product
(as defined below) or the business of the Company or any Subsidiary which she
may then possess or have under his/her control. The Employee acknowledges and
agrees that all inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods,
designs, analyses, drawings, reports and all similar or related information
(whether or not patentable) which relate to the Company's or any of its
Subsidiaries' actual or anticipated business, research and development or
existing or future products or services and which are conceived, developed or
made by the Employee while employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries ("Work
Product") belong to the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.
9. Common Law of Torts and Trade Secrets. The parties agree
that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit or negate the common
law of torts or trade secrets where it provides the Company and its Subsidiaries
with broader protection than that provided herein.
10. Definitions.
"Affiliate" means with respect to any Person, any other Person
controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person and any
partner of a Person which is a partnership.
"Change of Control" means:
(a) The acquisition by any individual, entity or
group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) of 20% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common
stock of Parent Company (the "Outstanding Common Stock") or (ii) the combined
voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of Parent Company
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Outstanding Voting
Securities"); provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not
constitute a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition directly from Parent
Company, (ii) any acquisition by Parent Company, (iii) any acquisition by any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by Parent
Company or any corporation controlled by Parent Company or (iv) any acquisition
by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this definition; or
(b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof,
constitute the Board of Directors of Parent Company (the "Incumbent Board")
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors
of Parent Company; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director
subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by
Parent Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of
the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though
such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this
purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a
result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election
or removal of directors or other actual or
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threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other
than the Board of Directors of Parent Company; or
(c) Approval by the stockholders of Parent Company
of a reorganization, merger or consolidation (a "Business Combination"), in each
case, unless, following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all
of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of
the Outstanding Common Stock and Outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior
to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than
60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation
resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a
corporation which as a result of such transaction owns Parent through one or
more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Common Stock
and Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (excluding
any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of Parent or such corporation
resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or
indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common
stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such
corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the
Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board
of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were
members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial
agreement, or of the action of the Board of Directors of Parent Company,
providing for such Business Combination; or
(d) Approval by the stockholders of Parent Company
of (i) a complete liquidation or dissolution of Parent Company or (ii) the sale
or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Parent
Company, other than to a corporation, with respect to which following such sale
or other disposition, [a] more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding
shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the
then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were
the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Common Stock and
Outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or other
disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately
prior to such sale or other disposition, of the Outstanding Common Stock and
Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case may be, [b] less than 20% of,
respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation
and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such
corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any Person (excluding any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of Parent Company or such corporation),
except to the extent that such Person owned 20% or more of the Outstanding
Common Stock or Outstanding Voting Securities prior to the sale or disposition,
and [c] at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of such
corporation were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of
the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board of Directors of Parent
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Company, providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of Parent
Company or were elected, appointed or nominated by the Board of Directors of
Parent Company.
"Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, association, joint stock company, trust, joint venture,
unincorporated organization and any governmental entity or any department,
agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Subsidiary " means, with respect to any Person, any
corporation, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a
corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled
(without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of
directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries
of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a partnership, association
or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar
ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a
combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to
have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, association or other
business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of
partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or
control any managing director or general partner of such partnership,
association or other business entity.
11. Specific Performance. The Employee acknowledges and
agrees that irreparable injury to the Company may result in the event the
Employee breaches any covenant or agreement contained in sections 7 and 8 and
that the remedy at law for the breach of any such covenant will be inadequate.
Therefore, if the Employee engages in any act in violation of the provisions of
sections 7 and 8, the Employee agrees that the Company shall be entitled, in
addition to such other remedies and damages as may be available to it by law or
under this Agreement, to injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of sections
7 and 8.
12. Waiver. The failure of either party to insist in any one
or more instances, upon performance of the terms or conditions of this Agreement
shall not be construed as a waiver or a relinquishment of any right granted
hereunder or of the future performance of any such term, covenant or condition.
13. Notices. Any notice to be given hereunder shall be
deemed sufficient if addressed in writing, and delivered by registered or
certified mail or delivered personally, in the case of the Company, to its
principal business office, and in the case of the Employee, to his/her address
appearing on the records of the Company, or to such other address as she may
designate in writing to the Company.
14. Severability. In the event that any provision shall be
held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, it is agreed such
invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this
Agreement and the remaining covenants, restrictions and provisions hereof shall
remain in full force and effect and any court of competent jurisdiction may so
modify the objectionable provision as to make it valid, reasonable and
enforceable. Furthermore, the parties specifically acknowledge the above
covenant not to
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compete and covenant not to disclose confidential information are separate and
independent agreements.
15. Complete Agreement. Except as other-wise expressly set
forth herein, this document embodies the complete agreement and understanding
among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations
by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject
matter hereof in any way.
16. Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by an
agreement in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
17. Governing Law; Arbitration. This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws of the State
of Illinois, regardless of choice of law requirements. The parties hereby
consent to the jurisdiction of the state courts located in DuPage County of the
State of Illinois and of any federal court in the venue of the Northern District
of Illinois for the purpose of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or
related to this Agreement, and expressly waive any and all objections they may
have as to venue in any of such courts. Any controversy or claim arising out of
or relating to this Agreement, other than a claim that would entitle the
Employee or the Company to injunctive relief, shall be settled by expedited
arbitration (i.e., 15 day presentation of evidence; 15 day decision by
arbitrator) in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association
in such place as the Company's headquarters are then located.
18. Benefit. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by and against the Company, its
successors and assigns and the Employee, his/her heirs, beneficiaries and legal
representatives. It is agreed that the rights and obligations of the Employee
may not be delegated or assigned.
IN WITNESS HEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Employment Agreement on the day and year first above written.
RACING CHAMPIONS ERTL, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
-------------------------------------
Its: Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx
----------------------------------------
Xxxx Xxxxxx
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