EXHIBIT 10.53
INFOGRAMES, INC.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
As of April 23, 2002
Mr. Xxxxx Xxxxx
00 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Dear Xxxxx:
You and Infogrames, Inc. ("Employer"), hereby agree as follows:
1. Employment - Effective as of the date on which Employer confirms to
you in writing that it has consummated the acquisition of all of the stock of
Shiny Entertainment, Inc. pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement dated April
23, 2002, among you, Employer and the other parties named therein (the "Closing
Date"), Employer employs you to render your exclusive services as President of
Shiny Entertainment, and you agree to perform such services for and at the
direction of Employer on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. During
the Term, as hereinafter defined, you shall report functionally to the Senior
Executive Vice President of Employer, currently Xxxxx Xxxxx, and operationally
to the Senior Vice President, Development, of Employer, currently Xxxx Xxxxxxx,
or to such other individual as either aforementioned executive shall designate,
so long as such other individual(s) shall hold a position of equal or superior
status to yours. Your duties will include: managing the Shiny Entertainment
development studio (the "Studio"); overseeing the development of product
produced by the Studio; from time to time, as requested by Employer, rendering
your technical and production expertise to other studios within the Infogrames
family of labels; and performing such other services as are reasonably requested
from time to time by Employer. You shall perform the duties assigned to you
hereunder in an efficient and competent manner and devote your full time, skill
and best efforts to the business and affairs of Employer and its affiliated
companies and subsidiaries.
2. Term - The term of this agreement (the "Term") shall commence on the
Closing Date and continue for a period (the "Initial Period") ending on the date
that is the later of: (i) three years from the Closing Date; (ii) six months
from the initial commercial release date of the video game based on the motion
picture project currently entitled The Matrix Revolutions (the "Matrix III
Game"); and (iii) the earlier of (x) the date on which Employer's publishing
division makes an official corporate decision to permanently abandon development
("Abandonment") of the Matrix III Game, and (y) the date on which Employer's
license to develop and exploit the Matrix III Game is terminated. After the
Initial Period, your employment shall continue on an xxxxxx basis unless and
until either party terminates it on one month's prior written notice.
3. Compensation -
(a) For all your services, Employer shall pay to you a base
salary of $200,000 per annum, payable in equal installments on Employer's
regular paydays during the Term. You will be eligible for annual review of your
base salary on the same basis as other similarly-situated executives of
Employer.
(b) (i) (A) In addition, with respect to the video game (the
"Matrix II Game") based on the motion picture project currently entitled The
Matrix Reloaded, Employer will pay to you a bonus of $500,000 within five
business days following the release to manufacture of the Matrix II Game on the
last of the four of the PS2, Xbox, GameCube and PC SKUs, excluding any such SKU
that Employer has determined not to release (the "Release").
(B) In addition, with respect to the Matrix II Game,
Employer shall establish a bonus pool (the "Matrix II Bonus Pool") for
then-current employees of the Studio (including yourself) and/or other employees
of Employer, into which it will deposit $1,000,000 if the Release occurs on or
prior to April 23, 2003 (or, but only if the theatrical release of the The
Matrix Reloaded is after May 26, 2003, the Release occurs not later than five
weeks prior to such post-May 26, 2003 theatrical release). Within 10 business
days after the Release, you will provide Employer with a written allocation (the
"Allocation") of the applicable Matrix II Bonus Pool, and Employer will make
direct payments to the individuals named in such allocation of the designated
amounts together with the next regular payroll (subject to any appropriate
deductions for taxes and other usual charges).
(C) Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing,
you hereby understand and agree that if, prior to the Release, either you
terminate your employment with Employer, or you are terminated by Employer
pursuant to either paragraph 12(a)(ii) or (iii), Employer will have no
obligation to pay to you the bonus described in subparagraph 3(b)(i)(A) above or
to establish the Matrix II Bonus Pool and/or to make any payments therefrom
under this paragraph 3(b)(i); except that if (1) the Term has ended as a result
of your death and prior thereto you left written instructions with Employer
designating the Allocation of the Matrix II Bonus Pool, and (2) the Release
nonetheless occurs as provided in subparagraph 3(b)(i)(B) above following your
death, Employer will make direct payments to the individuals named in the
Allocation (excluding yourself) of the designated amounts as provided above.
(C) You may not make any commitments on behalf of
Employer with respect to bonuses, royalties or other financial remuneration to
any employee inconsistent with the above terms.
(ii) With respect to fiscal year 2004 and each year of the Term
thereafter, you will be included in Employer's Annual Incentive Plan and be
eligible for certain bonus payments thereunder, the timing and amounts of which
will be determined in the sole discretion of Employer in accordance with the
Plan, on the same basis as other similarly-situated executives of Employer.
(iii) It is expressly understood and agreed that except as set
forth in this paragraph 3(b), Employer shall have no obligation to make any
payments to you in the form of royalties or bonuses.
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(c) Employer will reimburse you in accordance with its policies for
reasonable and appropriate entertainment and traveling or other expenses
incurred by you during your employment by Employer upon presentation of expense
statements or vouchers, and other supporting information and documentation, as
Employer may from time to time require. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, your travel and entertainment reimbursement for business purposes
shall be in accordance with Employer's normal policies applicable to Employer's
similarly situated executives.
(d) Employer may make appropriate deductions from its payments
hereunder of all applicable taxes and other usual charges (including Social
Security) for which you are responsible in respect of employment-related salary
or benefits.
4. Options - On the Closing Date, Employer will grant to you, pursuant
and subject to the terms and conditions of Employer's 2000 Stock Incentive Plan
(as may be modified from time to time during the Term, the "Plan"), options to
purchase 30,000 shares of common stock of Employer at fair market value as of
the Closing Date.
5. Benefits - During the Term, and subject to the terms and provisions
of such plans, you shall be entitled to participate in present or future
employee benefit plans on the same basis as other similarly situated executives
of Employer, including life insurance and health insurance, subject to
Employer's right to modify or terminate such plans or benefits at any time. You
shall be entitled to 20 business days of annual vacation, which will accrue in
accordance with Employer's policies applicable to Employer's similarly situated
executives.
6. Key Man Insurance - Employer has the right to take out and maintain
during the Term a "Key Man" insurance policy on you, under which Employer will
pay all costs and receive all benefits. You agree to cooperate and take all
reasonably requested actions in order to assist Employer in obtaining such an
insurance policy, including any physical examination required.
7. Name, Likeness and Biographical Information - During the Term
Employer may reasonably utilize your name, likeness and biographical information
(collectively, "Your Information") in furtherance of its business, and in press
releases, corporate communications and good will advertising. Employer will
endeavor to consult with you prior to such use and shall use reasonable efforts
to accommodate your comments; it being understood that inadvertent or immaterial
failure to so consult with you shall not be deemed to constitute a breach of
this paragraph and/or the agreement, and that prior consultation with you will
not be required for Employer to use Your Information in connection with any
documents or filings required as a matter of law. After the Term, Employer may
reasonably utilize Your Information, but solely as a matter of historical
reference.
8. Place of Employment - Subject to the terms of Section 12(d) below,
your services shall be rendered primarily at Shiny Entertainment's office in
Orange County, California. Employer may, however, from time to time require you
to travel to and render services elsewhere, as Employer may reasonably require.
9. Other Business Activity and Conflicts of Interest - During the Term,
you shall abide by Employer's policies with respect to business conduct and
conflicts of interest (including those with respect to serving as a board member
or trustee for another entity). Without limiting
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the generality of the foregoing, you shall not, without Employer's prior written
consent, engage or become interested, directly or indirectly, as owner,
employer, partner, consultant, through stock ownership (except ownership of less
than one percent of the number of shares outstanding of any securities which are
listed for trading on any securities exchange), investment of capital, lending
of money or property, rendering of services, or otherwise, either alone or in
association with others, in the operation of any type of business or enterprise
in any way competitive with any business now or hereafter conducted by Employer.
Further, if you terminate your employment with Employer or are terminated by
Employer pursuant to either paragraph 12(a)(ii) or (iii), you agree to abide by
the terms of this paragraph 9 through the end of the Initial Period.
10. Confidential Information -
(a) (i) You and Employer acknowledge and agree that you are a
unique employee who is, and has been since its inception, central to Shiny
Entertainment and its business. You further acknowledge that you have learned
and/or may hereafter learn the Confidential Information of Employer, as defined
in paragraph 10(a)(ii) below, in a relationship of trust and confidence. As used
in this paragraph 10, "Employer" shall be deemed to include Employer and its
parent, affiliates and subsidiaries, specifically including Shiny Entertainment.
You agree that, during your employment hereunder and at all times thereafter,
all Confidential Information is and shall remain the property of or otherwise
protectable by Employer. You further agree not to disclose any Confidential
Information, or any portion thereof, to any person or entity, and not to use,
license, sell, convey or otherwise exploit any Confidential Information, or any
portion thereof, during the Term hereof and at all times thereafter for any
purpose other than solely for the benefit of Employer.
(ii) As used herein, "Confidential Information" shall
include, without limitation, all trade secrets and other information (whether or
not reduced to writing and whether or not conceived, originated, discovered or
developed in whole or in part by you) which is not generally known in Employer's
industry and relates to the business, employees, products or work of Employer or
customers or potential customers of Employer.
(b) Due to your uniqueness as an employee and your current and
future intimate knowledge of the Confidential Information of Employer (and in
particular, of Shiny Entertainment), you agree that during the Term you will not
develop, create or work on (or consult or work for any entity that develops,
creates or exploits) entertainment interactive software and/or video games.
Further, if you terminate your employment with Employer (other than a
termination for Employee Cause, as defined below) or are terminated by Employer
pursuant to either paragraph 12(a)(ii) or (iii), you agree to abide by the terms
of this paragraph 10(b) through the end of the Initial Period.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, you hereby agree that,
during the Term and for a period of one year thereafter, you will not recruit,
solicit, cause or encourage -- or cause, assist or encourage any other person or
entity to recruit, solicit, or encourage -- any employees of Employer to leave
the employ of Employer; and you will not employ -- or cause, assist or encourage
any other person or entity to employ -- any such person. Further, if you
terminate your employment with Employer (other than a termination for Employee
Cause) or are terminated by Employer pursuant to either paragraph 12(a)(ii) or
(iii), you agree to abide by the terms of this paragraph 10(c) through the end
of the Initial Period.
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(d) The covenants in this paragraph 10 will be construed to be
divided into separate and distinct covenants with respect to each matter or type
of conduct described therein. Each of such divided covenants will be separate
and distinct from all such other covenants with respect to the same or any
aspect of Employer's business.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
agreement, if at any time a court of competent jurisdiction holds that any
portion of any covenant contained in this paragraph 10 is unenforceable by
reason of its duration or applicable geographical area or in any other respect,
such covenant will be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of
time, maximum geographical are, or maximum extent in all other respects, as the
case may be, as to which it may be enforceable all as determined by such court
in such action.
11. Rights to Results of Services - In addition to your services,
Employer shall own, and you hereby sell, grant, assign, transfer and set over to
Employer, all rights of every kind in and to all results and proceeds of your
services hereunder, including, without limitation, all documents prepared or
compiled by you. All documents prepared by or made available to you during the
Term shall be delivered to Employer upon termination of this agreement or at
Employer's request at any other time. You hereby acknowledge and agree that all
original works of authorship which are produced, developed or authored by you
(whether alone or jointly with others), or otherwise resulting from your work
within the scope of your employment with the Employer and which are protectable
by copyright are "works made for hire," as that term is defined in the United
States Copyright Act. If any of your works of authorship are deemed not to be
"works made for hire," or if you are deemed to retain any rights in such works
of authorship, you hereby irrevocably assign, without any further consideration
and regardless of any use by the Employer of any such work of authorship, all of
your rights, title and interest, if any, in such works of authorship to the
Employer. In order to enforce this provision, you agree to sign and deliver to
the Employer upon request all documents as the Employer may determine are
appropriate to protect the interests of the Employer and vest ownership in the
Employer of such works of authorship.
12. Termination -
(a) Employer may terminate your services and thereby end the
Term:
(i) If you are incapacitated or prevented from fully
performing hereunder by reason of mental, physical or other disability, and such
disability continues for two consecutive months or for six months in the
aggregate. Employer reserves the right, in good faith, to make the determination
of disability under this Agreement based on information supplied by you and your
medical personnel, as well as information from medical personnel (or others)
selected by the Employer or its insurers.
(ii) For cause, on one day's written notice, setting forth
with specificity the grounds for termination for serious willful misconduct,
criminal activity in connection with your obligations hereunder, conduct
constituting moral turpitude, or conduct reasonably expected to besmirch the
reputation of or denigrate Employer and/or its affiliates. Upon such termination
you shall forfeit your rights thereafter to receive any consideration, including
under paragraphs 3 and 5 herein, except normal compensation previously earned
but remaining unpaid as of the date of such termination.
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(iii) For cause, upon your failure, refusal or neglect to
fully perform your material duties hereunder (other than as provided in
paragraphs 12(a)(i) and (ii) above), provided that Employer has given you
written notice of such failure, refusal or neglect, and (A) you fail within 10
business days after your receipt of such notice to rectify or correct the same;
or (B) if same is not capable of being rectified or corrected within said 10
business day period, you fail to take reasonable steps and to proceed with
reasonable diligence to rectify or correct same, within such 10 business day
period, and/or you fail to rectify or correct same, at the absolute latest,
within 30 days after your receipt of such notice. Upon such termination you
shall forfeit your rights thereafter to receive any consideration, including
under paragraphs 3 and 5 herein, except normal compensation previously earned
but remaining unpaid as of the date of such termination.
(b) It is agreed that the Term shall terminate upon your
death. Your heirs, successors and assigns shall not be entitled to any
consideration under this Agreement, except normal compensation earned but unpaid
as of the date of such termination.
(c) If Employer terminates your employment upon grounds other
than disability, cause or death, any such action shall be considered termination
without cause. If Employer terminates your employment hereunder without cause,
then, during the remainder of the Initial Period, without limiting the
generality of and provided you comply with the terms of paragraphs 9 and 10 as
if the Term had not been terminated (it being expressly understood and agreed
and of the essence of this paragraph that if you do not comply with such
provisions, Employer shall have no further obligation to satisfy the payment
obligations set forth in the remainder of this sentence), Employer shall
continue to pay you (i) the salary that would have been payable to you hereunder
but for such termination, payable in equal installments on Employer's regular
paydays, (ii) any bonus monies that were earned and accrued, but were not paid
to you, prior to the date of termination, which monies shall be paid at such
times as they otherwise would have been payable but for such termination, and
(iii) if such termination without cause occurs prior to the Release, an
aggregate amount of $1,500,000 in equal quarterly installments during the period
commencing with the first calendar quarter immediately following the quarter of
the Release and ending on the date that is four years following the Closing
Date; provided that if the end of the Initial Period occurs before such fourth
anniversary of the Closing Date, Employer will pay any remaining amounts in one
lump sum payment at the beginning of the quarter immediately following the end
of the Initial Period. Employer will make each such quarterly payment no later
than the 10th business day from the beginning of the relevant calendar quarter.
(d) You may terminate your services and thereby end the Term
of this Agreement (such termination by you constituting a termination for
"Employee Cause") only by a writing ("the Employee Termination Notice") sent by
you to Employer within five business days following Employer's failure to cure
one or both of the following defaults under this Agreement within the 30 days
following a notice of default sent by you to Employer with respect to such
default: (i) Employer's failure to timely pay amounts due to you under this
Agreement, or (ii) Employer requiring you, as a condition of your employment, to
permanently relocate your principal place of employment outside of Orange County
or Los Angeles County, California. If you timely send the Employee Termination
Notice, such Notice (and your termination for Employee Cause) shall be effective
two business days following Employer's receipt of same.
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13. Injunction - You acknowledge that your services are of a special,
unique, unusual, extraordinary and intellectual character, which gives them a
peculiar value, the loss of which cannot be reasonably or adequately compensated
in damages in an action at law. If you breach this agreement or any provision
thereof, in addition to its rights and remedies under general law, Employer
shall be entitled to equitable relief by way of injunction or otherwise.
14. Warranties and Representations - You warrant and represent that:
you are authorized, empowered and able to enter into and fully perform your
obligations hereunder; neither this agreement nor the fulfillment thereof
infringes upon the rights of any person; and you know of no claim or purported
claim which would interfere with Employer's rights or create any liability on
the part of Employer.
15. Applicable Law -
(a) This Agreement was negotiated and entered into within the
State of New York. All matters pertaining to this agreement shall be governed by
the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be wholly
performed therein (without giving effect to any conflict of laws principles
under New York law). The state and federal courts in the county of New York
shall have exclusive jurisdiction with respect to any claim between you and
Employer, and you hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of said courts.
(b) Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to require
the commission of any act contrary to law, and wherever there is any conflict
between any provision of this agreement and any material present or future
statute, law, governmental regulation or ordinance as a result of which the
parties have no legal right to contract or perform, the latter shall prevail,
but in such event the provision(s) of this agreement affected shall be curtailed
and limited only to the extent necessary to bring it or them within the legal
requirements.
16. Assignment - Employer may, at its election, assign this agreement
or any of its rights hereunder to any subsidiary, affiliate or division of
Employer, to any entity that is a member of the same controlled group of
corporations as Employer, or to any entity that merges its assets with those of
Employer or the assets of which are acquired by Employer, or to any entity
acquiring all or a substantial portion of Employer's assets, by merger or
otherwise, provided that after any such assignment Employer will remain
secondarily liable for its obligations hereunder. You acknowledge that your
services are unique and personal. Accordingly, you may not assign your rights or
delegate your duties under this Agreement to any person or entity.
17. Notices - All notices required to be given to Employer hereunder
shall be sent to Employer at its address first mentioned herein and all notices
to you shall be sent to you at your address herein, or such other address as
each party respectively may hereafter designate by notice in writing to the
other. All notices shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered or sent
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. The day of receipt of
any such notice shall be deemed the date of the giving thereof. All notices to
Employer shall be sent to Employer to the attention of Senior Vice President,
Human Resources, with a copy to Senior Vice President and General Counsel of
Infogrames, Inc., 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
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18. Severability - The parties acknowledge that, in their view, the
terms of this agreement are fair and reasonable at the date signed by them.
Accordingly, if any one or more of the provisions contained in this agreement
shall for any reason, whether by application of existing law or law which may
develop after the date of this agreement, be determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be excessively broad as to scope of activity, duration, or
territory, or otherwise unenforceable, the parties hereby jointly request such
court to construe any such provision by limiting or reducing it so as to be
enforceable to the maximum extent in favor of Employer compatible with
then-applicable law. If any one or more of the terms, provisions, covenants or
restrictions of this agreement shall nonetheless be determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, then the remainder
of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this agreement shall
remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or
invalidated.
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19. Entire Agreement - This agreement constitutes the entire agreement,
and supercedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and
warranties, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to your
employment by Employer; provided, however, that your employment shall be
governed by Employer's policies applicable to substantially all of its non-union
employees except if any express provision hereof is inconsistent with any
provision of such policies, this agreement will govern. Without limiting the
foregoing, the parties expressly acknowledge that in entering this agreement,
they have not relied on any representations, written or unwritten, other than
those expressly set forth herein. This agreement cannot be changed or modified
in any manner, except in writing signed by you and the duly authorized agents of
Employer.
Very truly yours,
INFOGRAMES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx
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By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
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ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx
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Xxxxx Xxxxx
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