Exhibit 10.23
FORM FOR EXISTING EMPLOYEES
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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into this 1st
day of January, 2002 between Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company") and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx ("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
and replaces the employment agreement currently in place between the "Company"
and the "Employee".
2. Employment.
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(a) Term. The Company hereby employs Employee, and Employee accepts
such employment and agrees to perform services for the Company and/or its
subsidiaries, (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Company") for an
initial period of one (1) year from and after the Effective Date of this
Agreement (the "Initial Term") and for successive one-year periods (the "Renewal
Terms"), unless terminated at an earlier date in accordance with Section 3 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 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; provided,
however, that Employee shall not be entitled to any additional compensation for
serving as an officer of the Company. From and after the Effective Date,
Employee shall continue to be an executive officer of the Company with the title
of Executive Vice President and Legal Counsel.
(c) Performance of Duties. Employee agrees to serve the Company
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 during
the Term of Employment.
(d) Compensation. During the Term of Employment, the Company shall pay
to Employee as compensation for services to be rendered hereunder an aggregate
base salary of $355,000 per year, payable in equal monthly, or more frequent
payments, subject to increases, if any, as may be determined by the Company.
Employee shall also be eligible to participate in any stock option plans of the
Company. In addition to the base salary, any bonuses, and participation in stock
option plans, Employee shall be eligible to participate in any employee benefit
plans or programs of the Company as are or may be made generally available to
employees of the Company and those made available to officers of the Company.
The
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Company 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 policies for expense verification.
3. Termination.
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(a) The Term of Employment shall terminate prior to its expiration in
the event that at any time during such term:
(i) The Company delivers a 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 Section 5 of this agreement.
If Employee is terminated for cause, there shall be no
severance paid to Employee and his benefits shall
terminate, except as may be provided by law.
(ii) The Company for any other reason terminates the Term of
Employment. If Employee signs a General Release in a form
acceptable to the Company that releases the Company from
any and all claims that Employee may have and
affirmatively agrees not to violate any of the provisions
of Section 5 hereof, Employee shall be entitled to
continue to receive his salary and, to the extent legally
permissible continue to participate in the employee
benefit programs for a period of 12 months from and after
such termination or until new employment begins, which
ever occurs first. If Employee fails to sign the form,
Employee shall not be entitled to any continuing payments
or benefits. In lieu of monthly payments, a lump sum
award may be authorized by the Board of Directors.
Employee shall be provided out-placement service with an
out-placement firm or service selected by the Company and
at the reasonable expense of the Company.
(iii) Employee for any reason voluntarily terminates the Term
of Employment. In said event, Employee shall not be
entitled to any compensation and his benefits shall
terminate, except as may be provided by law, from and
after termination.
(iv) However, if Employee voluntarily terminates the Term of
Employment due to Retirement all stock options shall
become fully vested and exercisable and the Employee's
deferred bonus payments shall be fully vested and paid.
The term "Retirement" shall mean the termination by
Employee of his employment by
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reason of reaching the age of 65 or such later date
approved by the Board of Directors.
(v) Employee dies or becomes disabled as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors. Employee, or his
estate, shall continue to receive his salary and, to the
extent legally permissible continue to participate in
the employee benefit programs for a period of 18 months
from and after such termination or until new employment
begins, which ever occurs first. In lieu of monthly
payments, a lump sum award may be authorized by the
Board of Directors. 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.
(b) Except as provided above, the vesting of stock options and
deferred bonus payments shall be governed by the provisions of the Company's
Stock Option Plans and Deferred Bonus Plan.
4. Change In Control of the Company. 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) 18 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
beings 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) All stock options shall become fully vested and
exercisable and Employee's deferred bonus payments shall
be fully vested and paid.
(iv) Employee shall be provided out-placement services with a
mutually agreed upon out-placement firm or service
selected by the Company and at the reasonable expense of
the Company.
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5. Confidentiality, Non-competition and Non-Solicitation.
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(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.
(b) Confidentiality. Except as is consistent with Employee's
duties and responsibilities within the scope of his employment with the Company,
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, including all information that the Company 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 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.
(c) 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 equity) with the
Company 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 owns,
renders or proposes to render consulting or
management services.
(d) Non-solicitation. Employee agrees not to solicit or
recruit, directly or indirectly, any management employee (director level and
above) of the Company for employment during the one (1) year period after
termination of his employment relationship with the Company.
6. Miscellaneous.
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(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
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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, Arbitration. The laws of Delaware will govern the
validity, construction, and performance of this Agreement. Any controversy or
claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall
be settled by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration
Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, and judgment on the award
rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
thereof. Both the Company and Employee hereby consent to this binding
arbitration provision.
(d) Remedies. Employee understands that if he fails to fulfill his
obligations under this Agreement, the damages to the Company 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.
(e) Captions. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and
do not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
(f) 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.
(g) 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.
(h) 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:
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If to the Company, to:
Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx XX 00000
If to the Employee, to:
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xx.
Xxxx Xxxxx 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: /s/
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"EMPLOYEE"
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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