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Exhibit 10.179
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of December 1, 1998,
between Capital Gaming International, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the
"Company"), and William S. Papazian, an individual residing at 4901 East Calle
del Medio, Phoenix, Arizona 85018 (the "Employee").
WHEREAS, the Employee is presently employed by the Company pursuant to that
certain Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated May 17, 1996, as amended
by Amendment No. 1 thereto dated May 28, 1997, and any subsequent amendments
thereto, between the Company and the Employee (the "Prior Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee desire to terminate the Prior
Agreement and substitute this Agreement in its place; and
WHEREAS, as consideration, in part, for the Company entering into this
Agreement, the Employee has agreed to release and cause the release of the
Company and its affiliates from any and all obligations arising under the Prior
Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
Company and the Employee hereby agree that the Prior Agreement shall be, and it
hereby is, terminated and this Agreement is entered into effective as of
December 1, 1998 to read in its entirety as follows:
1. Release of the Prior Agreement. Employee, on behalf of himself and his
heirs, assigns, legal representatives, and agents, hereby fully and forever
releases, discharges, disclaims and renounces any and all claims, demands,
actions, causes of action and/or suits in law or equity now or hereafter
existing, whether known or unknown, relating to or arising from the Prior
Agreement, against the Company and its directors, officers, shareholders,
agents, employees, successors, assigns and legal representatives. Employee
hereby represents and warrants that he has not assigned or otherwise transferred
any claim, demand, action or cause of action released hereby. Employee
acknowledges that he has had the benefit of counsel of its own choice and has
been afforded an opportunity to review this Agreement with chosen counsel.
2. Employment. The Company agrees to continue the Employee in its employ,
and the Employee agrees to remain in the employ of the Company, for the period
set forth in Paragraph 3, in the position and with the duties and
responsibilities set forth in Paragraph 4, and upon the other terms and
conditions herein provided.
3. Term. The term of this Agreement (the "Employment Term") shall be
one-year, commencing on the date hereof, and shall be automatically renewed on
each day following the
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date hereof so that on any given day the unexpired portion of the Employment
Term shall be one year. The Employment Term shall continue to be renewed each
day unless and until written notice is given by either party to the other party,
at which time the Employment Term shall expire one year from the date such
written notice is received by the other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Employee's employment hereunder may be terminated earlier in accordance with
the provisions of Paragraph 6.
4. Position and Duties.
(a) During the Employment Term, the Employee shall serve as Executive Vice
President and General Counsel of the Company, reporting directly to the Chief
Operating Officer and Board of Directors of the Company. In such capacity, the
Employee shall perform the duties of Executive Vice President and General
Counsel, as set forth in the Company's Bylaws, as they may be amended from time
to time, and shall have such other duties, functions, responsibilities, and
authority commensurate with such office as are from time to time delegated to
the Employee by the Chief Operating Officer or the Board of Directors of the
Company, provided that such duties, functions, responsibilities, and authority
are reasonable and customary for a person serving as Executive Vice President
and General Counsel of an enterprise comparable to the Company.
(b) During the Employment Term, the Employee shall devote his full time,
skill, and attention and his best efforts during normal business hours to the
business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates to the
extent necessary to discharge faithfully and efficiently the duties and
responsibilities delegated and assigned to the Employee herein or pursuant
hereto, except for usual, ordinary, and customary periods of vacation and
absence due to illness or other disability. It is understood that the Employee's
employment during the Employment Term shall be on an exclusive basis, except
that the Employee may, subject to the provisions of Paragraphs 9, 10 and 11
hereof, undertake, or continue to conduct, other business, civic or charitable
activities during the Employment Term if such activities do not materially
interfere, directly or indirectly, with the duties of the Employee hereunder,
and do not compete with any business of the Company; provided, however; that no
additional outside business activities shall be undertaken without the prior
written consent of the Board of Directors.
5. Compensation and Related Matters.
(a) Base Salary. During the Employment Term, the Company shall pay to the
Employee for his services hereunder a base salary ("Base Salary") at the rate of
not less than $275,000 per year, payable in installments in accordance with the
general payroll practices of the Company in effect at the time such payment is
made with respect to other senior executives of the Company, but in no event
less frequently than monthly, or as otherwise mutually agreed upon. The
Employee's Base Salary shall be subject to such increases (but not decreases) as
may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Company in
its sole discretion.
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(b) Bonuses. In addition to Base Salary, the Employee shall be entitled to
receive during the Employment Term such bonuses or other discretionary
compensation payments, if any, as the Chairman of the Board of the Board of
Directors of the Company may determine to award him from time to time. Any such
bonuses or other discretionary compensation payments shall be payable to the
Employee in the manner specified by the Chairman of the Board of the Board of
Directors at the time any such bonus or other payment is awarded.
(c) Employee Benefits. During the Employment Term, the Employee shall be
entitled to participate in all employee benefit plans, programs, and
arrangements (including, without limitation, any pension, profit sharing,
savings, retirement, incentive compensation, bonus, stock option, stock
purchase, life insurance, medical, dental, accident, and disability plans,
programs, and arrangements) provided by the Company from time to time to its
senior executives generally, subject to and on a basis consistent with the
terms, conditions, and overall administration (including eligibility and vesting
requirements) of such plans, programs, and arrangements; provided, however, that
nothing contained in this Agreement shall require the Company at any time to
institute any, or any particular, employee benefit plan, program, or
arrangement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of any such plan,
program, or arrangement and the terms of this Agreement, the terms of such plan,
program, or arrangement shall be controlling. Any disputes with respect to any
such plan, program, or arrangement shall be resolved in the manner specified in
such plan, program, or arrangement, if the same contains a provision governing
resolution of disputes. The Company reserves the right to modify, amend, or
terminate any such plan, program, or arrangement at any time in such manner as
it shall determine.
(d) Withholding. All compensation shall be subject to normal required tax
withholdings.
(e) Expenses for Professional Memberships. During the Employment Term, the
Employee shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable
expenses incurred by the Employee in accordance with standard business practices
of accounting and receipts, for the cost of all professional association
memberships and/or seminars reasonably attendant thereto.
(f) Other Expenses. During the Employment Term, the Employee shall be
entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by
the Employee in performing his duties and responsibilities hereunder, in
accordance with the policies, practices, and procedures of the Company from time
to time in effect.
(g) Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Term, the Employee shall be
entitled to the fringe benefits customarily provided by the Company to its other
senior executives, in accordance with the policies, practices, and procedures
of the Company from time to time in effect.
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(h) Vacations. During the Employment Term, the Employee shall be entitled to
reasonable periods of vacation, not to exceed four (4) weeks in each year, with
pay, and reasonable periods of sick leave with pay, commensurate with the
Employee's position. The Employee shall also be entitled to all paid holidays
given by the Company to its senior executives. The Employee agrees to utilize
his vacation at such time or times as are (i) consistent with the proper
performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder and (ii) mutually
convenient for the Company and the Employee.
6. Termination of Employment.
(a) Death. The Employee's employment hereunder shall terminate automatically
upon his death.
(b) Complete Disability. The Company shall have the right to terminate
Employee's employment under this Agreement prior to the expiration of the
Employment Term upon the Complete Disability of the Employee as hereinafter
defined. The term "Complete Disability" as used in this Subparagraph shall mean
(i) the total inability of Employee, despite any reasonable accommodation
required by law, due to bodily injury or disease or any other physical or mental
incapacity, to perform the services provided for hereunder for a period of 120
days in the aggregate, within a period of 180 consecutive days during the term
of this Agreement, in addition to any statutorily required leave of absence, and
(ii) where such inability will, in the opinion of a qualified physician, be
permanent and continuous during the remainder of Employee's life. If the Company
determines in good faith that the Complete Disability of the Employee has
occurred during the Employment Term, the Company may notify the Employee of the
Company's intention to terminate the Employee's employment hereunder for such
Complete Disability. In such event, the Employee's employment hereunder shall
terminate effective on the 30th day following the date such Notice of
Termination (as defined below) is given to the Employee (the "Disability
Effective Date").
(c) Termination by Company. The Company may terminate the Employee's
employment hereunder for Cause (as defined below) or without Cause.
(i) For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean any of the
following:
(A) conduct by the Employee that, in the good faith opinion of the
Board of Directors of the Company, is materially detrimental to the
Company or reflects unfavorably on the Company or the Employee to such
an extent that the Company's best interests reasonably require the
Employee's discharge;
(B) conduct by the Employee that constitutes fraud, dishonesty, or a
criminal act with respect to the Company;
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(C) embezzlement of funds or misappropriation of other property
by the Employee from the Company;
(D) conviction of the Employee of a felony or of any other crime
involving fraud, dishonesty, or moral turpitude;
(E) the willful and continued failure by the Employee to
substantially perform his duties hereunder (other than any such
failure resulting from illness of or injury to the Employee or the
Employee's physical or mental incapacity which do not rise to the
level of a "Complete Disability"), after demand for substantial
performance is delivered by the Company that specifically identifies
the manner in which the Company believes the Employee has not
substantially performed his duties and Employee fails to perform his
duties within thirty (30) days after receiving such demand;
(F) failure of the Employee to obtain or retain for any reason,
any permit, license or approval which shall be required by any
regulatory agency or entity with jurisdiction over any portion of
the Company's business or any other business of a subsidiary of the
Company within thirty (30) days (or if the Company in good faith
determines that such 30 day period is not feasible, within 120 days)
after the applicable deadline for obtaining or retaining such
permit, license or approval; or
(G) any other material breach by the Employee of any of the
provisions of this Agreement.
(ii) Any such termination shall be effective upon the Company's
giving a Notice of Termination (as defined below).
(d) Termination by Employee. The Employee may terminate his employment
hereunder at any time during the Employment Term for any reason.
(e) Termination by Employee for Good Reason. The Employee may terminate his
employment hereunder for Good Reason (as defined below) at any time during the
Employment Term following a Change in Control (as defined below).
(i) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean any of
the following (without the Employee's express written consent):
(A) (1) the assignment to the Employee by the Company of any
significant duties materially inconsistent with the Employee's
positions, duties, responsibilities, or status with the Company as
in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control (as defined
below), (2) any action by the Company following a
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Change in Control that results in a substantial diminution in such positions,
duties, responsibilities, or status, (3) any change in the Employee's reporting
responsibilities, titles, or offices with the Company as in effect immediately
prior to a Change in Control, or (4) any removal of the Employee from or any
failure to reelect the Employee to any of such positions, except, in any such
case, (a) in connection with the termination of the Employee's employment
hereunder by the Company for Disability or Cause or by the Employee other than
for Good Reason, or (b) for an isolated, insubstantial, and inadvertent action
not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after
receipt of notice thereof given by the Employee;
(B) (1) a reduction by the Company of the Employee's Base Salary as in
effect on the date hereof or as increased from time to time during the
Employment Term or (2) a failure by the Company to increase (within 12 months of
the Employee's last increase in Base Salary) the Employee's Base Salary after a
Change in Control in an amount which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the
average percentage increase in base salary for all senior executives of the
Company effected in the preceding twelve (12) months;
(C) (1) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any benefit
plan, program, or arrangement (including, without limitation, the Company's
life, business travel, disability, medical, dental and hospitalization insurance
plans) in which the Employee is participating at the time of a Change in
Control, or a plan, program, or arrangement providing the Employee with
substantially equivalent benefits thereunder (collectively, "Benefit Plans"),
(2) any action by the Company that materially and adversely affects the
Employee's participation in or materially reduces the Employee's benefits under
any such Benefit Plan, or (3) any action by the Company that deprives the
Employee of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by the Employee at the time of a
Change in Control;
(D) any material failure by the Company to comply with any material
provision of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial, and
inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the
Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Employee.
(E) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of this
Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company; or
(F) any purported termination of the Employee's employment hereunder
otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement, and for purposes of
this Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective.
(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" shall mean:
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(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 (1) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (2) the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided,
however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in
Control: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an acquisition
by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (2) any acquisition by the
Company, (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the
Company, or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization,
merger, or consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation, the conditions described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of
subparagraph (C) of this Paragraph 6 (e)(ii) are satisfied; or
(B) individuals who, as of the date of this Agreement, constitute the Board
of Directors of the Company (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company;
provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the
date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's
shareholders, was approved by a vote of 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 either an
actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11
of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or
threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other
than the Board of Directors of the Company; or
(C) approval by the shareholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger,
or consolidation, in each case, unless, following such reorganization, merger,
or consolidation, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding
shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization,
merger, or consolidation 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 Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such
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reorganization, merger, or consolidation, of the Outstanding Company Common
Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no
Person (excluding the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of
the Company or such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation, and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger, or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger, or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, and (3) a majority of
the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such
reorganization, merger, or consolidation were members of the Incumbent Board at
the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger, or consolidation; or
(D) approval by the shareholders of the Company of (1) a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (2) the sale or other disposition
of all or substantially all the assets of the 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 the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners,
respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company
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 Company Common Stock and
Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (b) no Person
(excluding the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the
Company or such corporation, and any Person beneficially owning, immediately
prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation or
the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such
corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, and (c) 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 action of the Board of Directors of the Company providing for such
sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
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(f) Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Employee's employment
hereunder by the Company or by the Employee (other than a termination pursuant
to Paragraph 6(a)) shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination (as defined
below) to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of
Termination" shall mean a written notice which (i) indicates the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) in the case of a
termination for Disability, Cause or Good Reason, sets forth in reasonable
detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of
the Employee's employment under the provision so indicated, and (iii) specifies
the Date of Termination (as defined in Paragraph 6(g) below). The failure by the
Company or the Employee to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or
circumstance which contributes to a showing of Disability, Cause or Good Reason
shall not waive any right of the Company or the Employee hereunder or preclude
the Company or the Employee from asserting such fact or circumstance in
enforcing the Company's or the Employee's rights hereunder.
(g) Date of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, "Date of
Termination" shall mean the effective date of termination of the Employee's
employment hereunder, which date shall be (i) if the Employee's employment is
terminated by his death, the date of his death, (ii) if the Employee's
employment is terminated because of his Disability, the Disability Effective
Date, (iii) if the Employee's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause
or by the Employee for Good Reason, the date provided for in the Notice of
Termination, which date shall in no event be earlier than the date such notice
is given.
(h) Resignation. In the event of termination of the Employee's employment
hereunder (for any reason other than the death of the Employee), the Employee
agrees that if at such time he is a director or officer of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, he will promptly deliver to the Company his written
resignation from all such positions, such resignation to be effective as of the
Date of Termination.
7. Obligations of Company Upon Termination of Employment.
(a) Death. If the Employee's employment hereunder is terminated by reason of
the Employee's death, the Company shall pay to the Employee's estate, in a lump
sum in cash within thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination, the
Employee's Base Salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect
hereunder at the time of the Employee's death, to the extent not theretofore
paid.
(b) Complete Disability. If the Employee's employment hereunder is
terminated by reason of the Employee's Complete Disability, the Company shall
pay to the Employee, in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days after the
Date of Termination, the Employee's Base Salary through the Date of Termination
at the rate in effect hereunder as of the date of the Notice of Termination, to
the extent not theretofore paid.
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(c) Termination for Cause. If the Employee's employment hereunder is
terminated for Cause, the Company shall pay to the Employee, in a lump sum in
cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination, the Employee's Base Salary
through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect hereunder as of the date
of the Notice of Termination, to the extent not theretofore paid, and,
thereafter, the Company shall have no further obligations to the Employee under
this Agreement, except as provided in Paragraph 14(c).
(d) Termination by Employee Other Than for Good Reason. If the Employee's
employment hereunder is terminated by the Employee other than for Good Reason,
the Company shall pay to the Employee, in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30)
days after the Date of Termination, the Employee's Base Salary through the Date
of Termination, to the extent not theretofore paid.
(e) Termination by Company Other Than for Cause or Termination by Employee
for Good Reason. If the Employee's employment hereunder (A) is terminated by the
Company other than (1) for Cause, (2) for Disability, or (3) pursuant to the
provisions of Paragraph 3 or (B) is terminated by the Employee for Good Reason,
then, in either case, the Company shall pay to the Employee, in a lump sum in
cash within thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination (except for the
amounts provided for in clause (ii) below, which shall be payable in
installments as therein provided), the aggregate of the following amounts:
(i) the Employee's Base Salary through the Date of Termination, at the
rate in effect hereunder at the time the Notice of Termination is given, to
the extent not theretofore paid; and
(ii) in lieu of any further Base Salary payments to the Employee for
periods subsequent to the Date of Termination, as severance pay, an amount
equal to the Employee's annual Base Salary at the rate in effect hereunder
at the time the Notice of Termination is given, for one year commencing on
the Date of Termination (the "Severance Package"), such payment to be made
in substantially equal semi-monthly installments on the fifteenth and last
days of each month commencing with the month in which the Date of
Termination occurs and continuing for twenty-four consecutive semi-monthly
payment dates (including the first such date as aforesaid); provided,
however, that such severance payment shall be reduced by the present value
(determined as provided in Section 280G(d)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended) of any other amount of severance relating to salary or
bonus continuation to be received by the Employee upon termination of his
employment under any severance plan, program, or arrangement of the Company;
(f) Sole Remedy. The right to receive the payments and other benefits
provided for under this Paragraph 7 shall be the Employee's sole and exclusive
remedy for the termination of his employment hereunder and shall be in lieu of
any claim that he might otherwise have against the Company arising from such
termination.
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8. Compliance With Other Agreements.
(a) The Company represents and warrants to the Employee that the execution,
delivery, and performance by the Company of this Agreement have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and do not and will
not conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of, or constitute a
default under, any contract, agreement, instrument, or obligation to which the
Company is a party or by which it is bound.
(b) The Employee represents and warrants to the Company that the execution,
delivery, and performance by the Employee of this Agreement do not and will not
conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of, or constitute a
default under, any contract, agreement, instrument, or obligation to which the
Employee is a party or by which he is bound. In addition, the Employee
represents to the Company that he has read and is familiar with the Company's
statement of corporate policies and procedures, and the Employee agrees to
abide by and carry out during the Employment Term all such policies and
procedures that are applicable to his employment by the Company, as they may be
modified or amended from time to time.
9. Noncompetition and Related Matters.
(a) The Employee acknowledges that during the Employment Term the Company
has agreed to provide to him, and he shall receive from the Company, special
training and knowledge. The Employee acknowledges that included in the special
knowledge received is the confidential information identified in Paragraph 10.
The Employee acknowledges that this confidential information is valuable to the
Company and, therefore, its protection and maintenance constitutes a legitimate
interest to be protected by the Company by the enforcement of this covenant not
to compete. Therefore, the Employee agrees that, during the Employment Term and
for a period commencing upon the termination of the Employee's employment
hereunder and ending eighteen months after such termination, unless otherwise
extended pursuant to the terms of this Paragraph 9, the Employee will not,
directly or indirectly, either as an employee, employer, consultant, agent,
principal, partner, shareholder, corporate officer, director, or in any other
individual or representative capacity, engage or participate in any business or
activity that is engaged in a business relationship of any nature whatsoever
with the Mazatzal Casino, the Wildhorse Gaming Resort, the Pueblo of Laguana
Casino, or any gaming facility hereafter developed and/or managed by the Company
or its subsidiaries for the Rhode Island Project Indian Tribe or any other
tribal or non-tribal owner during the Employment Term (collectively, the
"Capital Customers"). The Employee represents to the Company that the
enforcement of the restriction contained in this Paragraph 9(a) would not be
unduly burdensome to the Employee and that in order to induce the Company to
employ the Employee the Employee further represents and acknowledges that the
Employee is willing and able to compete in other geographical areas not
prohibited by this Paragraph 9(a).
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(b) The Employee agrees that a breach or violation of this covenant not to
compete by the Employee shall entitle the Company, as a matter of right, to an
injunction issued by any court of competent jurisdiction, restraining any
further or continued breach or violation of this covenant. Such right to an
injunction shall be cumulative and in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other
remedies to which the Company may show itself justly entitled. Further, during
any period in which the Employee is in breach of this covenant not to compete,
the time period of this covenant shall be extended for an amount of time that
the Employee is in breach hereof.
(c) In addition to the restrictions set forth in Paragraph 9(a), the
Employee shall not, for a period commencing upon the termination of the
Employee's employment hereunder and ending eighteen months after such
termination, unless otherwise extended pursuant to the terms of this Paragraph
9, either directly or indirectly, (i) make known to any person or entity the
names and addresses of any of the Capital Customers of the Company or contacts
of the Company within the industry or any other information pertaining to such
customers or contacts, (ii) call on, solicit, or take away, or attempt to
call on, solicit, or take away, any of the Capital Customers of the Company on
whom the Employee called or with whom the Employee became acquainted during the
Employee's association with the Company, whether for the Employee or for any
other person or entity, or (iii) recruit or hire or attempt to recruit or hire,
directly or by assisting others, any other employee of the Company or any of its
affiliates.
(d) The representations and covenants contained in this Paragraph 9 on the
part of the Employee will be construed as ancillary to and independent of any
other provision of this Agreement, and the existence of any claim or cause of
action of the Employee against the Company or any officer, director, or
shareholder of the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise,
shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of the
covenants of the Employee contained in this Paragraph 9. In addition, the
provisions of this Paragraph 9 shall continue to be binding upon the Employee in
accordance with their terms, notwithstanding the termination of the Employee's
employment hereunder for any reason.
(e) If the Employee violates any covenant contained in this Paragraph 9 and
the Company brings legal action for injunctive or other relief, the Company
shall not, as a result of the time involved in obtaining the relief, be deprived
of the benefit of the full period of any such covenant. Accordingly, the
covenants of the Employee contained in this Paragraph 9 shall be deemed to have
durations as specified above, which periods shall commence upon the later of (i)
the termination of the Employee's employment hereunder and (ii) the date of
entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of a final judgment enforcing the
covenants of the Employee in this Paragraph 9.
(f) The parties to this Agreement agree that the limitations contained in
this Paragraph 9 with respect to time, geographical area, and scope of activity
are reasonable. However, if any court shall determine that the time,
geographical area, or scope of activity of any restriction contained in this
Paragraph 9 is unenforceable, it is the intention of the parties that
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of his employment hereunder, or at any other time when the Company so requests,
all memoranda, notes, records, drawings, manuals, and other documents (and all
copies thereof and therefrom) in any way relating to the business or affairs of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their clients, whether made or
compiled by the Employee or furnished to him by the Company or any of its
employees, customers, clients, consultants, or agents, which the Employee may
then possess or have under his control. The Employee confirms that all such
memoranda, notes, records, drawings, manuals, and other documents (and all
copies thereof and therefrom) constitute the exclusive property of the Company.
The obligation of confidentiality set forth in Paragraph 10 shall continue
notwithstanding the Employee's delivery of any such documents to the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Paragraph 11 or any other
provision of this Agreement, the Employee shall be entitled to retain any
written materials received by the Employee in the capacity as a shareholder of
the Company or the Company's affiliates. The provisions of this Paragraph 11
shall continue in effect notwithstanding termination of the Employee's
employment hereunder for any reason.
12. Indemnity.
(a) Subject only to the exclusions set forth in Paragraph 12(b) below and
the restrictions set forth in the New Jersey Business Corporation Act, and in
addition to any rights of Employee under the By-Laws of the Company, or any
applicable state law, the Company hereby further agrees to hold harmless and
indemnify Employee:
(i) Against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably occurred by
Employee in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(including an action by or in the right of the Company, its subsidiaries
and/or affiliates) to which Employee is, was, or at any time becomes a
party, or is threatened to be made a party, by reason of the fact that
Employee is, was, or at any time becomes, a director, officer, employee,
consultant, or agent of the Company (its subsidiaries and/or affiliates), or
is, or was, serving, or at any time serves, at the request of the Company,
as a director, officer, employee, consultant, partner, trustee or agent
(regardless of his title) of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise; and
(ii) Otherwise to the fullest extent as may be provided to Employee by
the Company under the provisions of the By-Laws of the Company and the New
Jersey Business Corporation Act; and
(iii) From any and all income and excise taxes (and interest and
penalties relating thereto) imposed on Employee with reference to any
payment under this Paragraph 12 (including, without limitation, payments in
indemnity for such taxes).
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such restrictive covenant set forth herein shall not thereby be terminated but
shall be deemed amended to the extent required to render it valid and
enforceable.
(g) Nothing contained in this Paragraph 9 shall be construed to prohibit the
Employee from investing in stock or other securities listed on a national
securities exchange or actively traded in the over-the-counter market of any
corporation or other entity engaged in a business or activity competitive with
the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, provided that the
Employee and the members of his immediate family shall not, directly or
indirectly, hold more than a total of one percent (1%) of all such shares of
stock or other securities issued and outstanding, and provided further that the
Employee shall not perform any services on behalf of, or in the operation of the
affairs of, such corporation or other entity.
(h) The restrictions contained in Paragraph 9(a) shall not apply with
respect to any period or periods following the Employment Term if the Employee's
employment hereunder is terminated by the Company upon a Complete Disability of
the Employee.
10. Confidentiality. The Employee recognizes and acknowledges that the
Company's trade secrets and other confidential or proprietary information, as
they may exist from time to time, are valuable, special, and unique assets of
the Company's business, access to and knowledge of which are essential to the
performance of the Employee's duties hereunder. The Employee confirms that all
such trade secrets and other information constitute the exclusive property of
the Company. During the Employment Term and for a period of two years following
the termination of the Employment Term/thereafter without limitation of time,
the Employee shall hold in strict confidence and shall not, directly or
indirectly, disclose or reveal to any person, or use for his own personal
benefit or for the benefit of anyone else, any trade secrets, confidential
dealings, or other confidential or proprietary information of any kind, nature,
or description (whether or not acquired, learned, obtained, or developed by the
Employee alone or in conjunction with others) belonging to or concerning the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any of their customers or clients or
others with whom they now or hereafter have a business relationship, except (i)
with the prior written consent of the Company duly authorized by its Board of
Directors, (ii) in the course of the proper performance of the Employee's duties
hereunder, (iii) for information (x) that becomes generally available to the
public other than as a result of unauthorized disclosure by the Employee or his
affiliates or (y) that becomes available to the Employee subsequent to the
termination of his employment hereunder and on a nonconfidential basis from a
source other than the Company or its subsidiaries who is not bound by a duty of
confidentiality, or other contractual, legal, or fiduciary obligation, to the
Company or such customers, clients, or others having a business relationship, or
(iv) as required by applicable law or legal process. The provisions of this
Paragraph 10 shall continue in effect notwithstanding termination of the
Employee's employment hereunder for any reason.
11. Business Records. Given the secretive and competitive environment in
which the Company does business and the fiduciary relationship that the Employee
will have with the Company hereunder, the Employee agrees to promptly deliver to
the Company, upon termination
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(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnity pursuant to this Paragraph
12 shall be paid by the Company:
(i) except to the extent the aggregate of losses to be indemnified
thereunder exceed the sum of Five Hundred ($500) Dollars, plus the amount of
such losses for which the Employee has already been indemnified, either
pursuant to any Insurance Policies which may be purchased and maintained by
the Company.
(ii) in respect to remuneration paid to Employee if it shall be
determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such
remuneration was in violation of law;
(iii) on account of any suit in which judgment is rendered against
Employee for an accounting of profits made from the purchase or sale by
Employee of securities of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section
16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and amendments thereto, or
similar provisions of any Federal, state or local statutory law;
(iv) on account of actions or omissions by the Employee which are
finally adjudicated to have been material to the cause of action adjudicated
and (A) were in breach of his duty of loyalty to the Company or its
shareholders, (B) were not in good faith or involved a knowing violation of
law or (C) resulted in receipt by Employee of an improper personal benefit;
or
(v) if a final decision by a court having jurisdiction in the matter
shall determine that such indemnification to Employee is not lawful.
(c) All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall
continue during the period Employee is a director, officer, employee, consultant
or agent of the Company (or is, or was, serving at the request of the Company as
a director, officer, employee, partner, consultant, or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise), and shall
continue thereafter so long as Employee shall be subject to any possible claim
or threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal or investigative, by reason of the fact that Employee was an officer or
director of the Company, or serving in any other capacity referred to herein.
(d) The Company shall not be liable to indemnify Employee under this
Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or claim effected
without its written consent. The Company shall not settle any action or claim in
any manner which would impose any penalty or limitation on Employee without
Employee's written consent. Neither the Company nor Employee will unreasonably
withhold consent to any proposed settlement.
(e) The Company will pay all expenses immediately upon the presentment of
bills for such expenses. Employee agrees that Employee will reimburse the
Company for all reasonable
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expenses paid by the Company in defending any civil or criminal action, suit or
proceeding against Employee in the event, and only to the extent, that it shall
be ultimately determined that Employee is not entitled to be indemnified by the
Company for such expenses under the provisions of the applicable state statute,
the By-Laws, this Agreement, or otherwise. This Agreement shall not affect any
rights of Employee against the Company, any insurer, or any other person to seek
indemnification or contribution.
(f) If the Company fails to pay any expenses (including, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, legal fees and expenses incurred in defending
any action, suit or proceeding), Employee shall be entitled to institute suit
against the Company to compel such payment, and the Company shall pay Employee
all costs and legal fees incurred in enforcing such right to prompt payment.
(g) Neither the failure of the Company, its Board of Directors, independent
legal counsel, nor its stockholders, to have made a determination that
indemnification of the Employee is proper in the circumstances because he has
met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the New Jersey Business
Corporation Act, nor an actual determination by the Company, its Board of
Directors, independent legal counsel, or its shareholders, that the Employee has
not met such applicable standard of conduct shall be a defense to any action on
the part of Employee to recover indemnification under this Agreement, or create
a presumption that Employee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
13. Mitigation. In the event of and following the termination of the
Employee's employment hereunder, the Employee shall be required to endeavor to
mitigate in accordance with applicable law his damages and the payments provided
for under this Agreement by seeking employment elsewhere or becoming
self-employed, but shall not be required to accept (i) a position for which he
is not suited or that would derogate from his standing in the position he held
with the Company or (ii) a position in a location, other than that of his
principal residence or its environs, that is not convenient for him or (iii) a
position that would constitute a violation by him of the provisions of Paragraph
9. To the extent that the Employee shall receive compensation, benefits, and
service credit for benefits from other employment secured pursuant to the
provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, the payments to be made and
the benefits and service credit for benefits to be provided by the Company
hereunder shall be correspondingly reduced. Such reduction shall, in the event
of any question or disagreement, be determined jointly by the firm of certified
public accountants regularly employed by the Company and a firm of certified
public accountants selected by the Employee, in each case upon the advice of
actuaries to the extent the certified public accountants consider necessary,
and, in the event such accountants are unable to agree on a resolution of the
matter, such reduction shall be determined by an independent firm of certified
public accountants selected jointly by both firms of accountants. The fees and
expenses of the Company's accountants shall be borne by the Company, the fees
and expenses of the Employee's accountants shall be borne by the Employee, and
the fees and expenses of any actuaries or third firm of accountants shall be
borne equally by the Company and the Employee.
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14. Miscellaneous.
(a) Set Off. The Employee hereby grants to the Company the right to set
off against, and authorizes the Company to deduct from, any payments to the
Employee, or to his heirs, legal representatives, or successors, provided
for in this Agreement, any amounts which may be due and owing by the
Employee to the Company, whether arising hereunder or otherwise.
(b) Jurisdiction and Venue. In respect of any action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement, each of the parties hereto
consents to the jurisdiction and venue of any federal or state court located
within Maricopa County, Arizona, waives personal service of any and all
process upon it or him, consents that all such service of process may be
made by first class registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested, directed to it or him at the address specified in
Subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph 14, agrees that service so made shall be
deemed to be completed upon actual receipt thereof, and waives any objection
to jurisdiction or venue of, and waives any motion to transfer venue from,
any of the aforesaid courts.
(c) Survival. Neither the expiration or the termination of the term of
the Employee's employment hereunder shall impair the rights or obligations
of either party hereto which shall have accrued hereunder prior to such
expiration or termination. The provisions of Paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12,
and the rights and obligations of the parties thereunder, shall survive the
expiration or termination of the term of the Employee's employment
hereunder.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted
to be given hereunder by either party hereto shall be in writing and shall
be given by hand delivery or by first class registered or certified United
States mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the party for
which intended at the following addresses (or at such other addresses as
shall be specified by the parties by like notice):
If to the Company, at:
2701 E. Camelback Road, Suite 484
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Attention: William S. Papazian, Executive Vice President
and General Counsel
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with a copy to:
Charles B. Brewer, Chairman
Southmark Corporation
2711 LBJ Freeway, Suite 950
Dallas, Texas 75234
If to the Employee, at:
4901 East Calle del Medio
Phoenix, Arizona 85018
with a copy to:
All such notices and other communications shall be effective only upon receipt
by the addressee.
(e) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties hereto concerning the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral,
including the Prior Agreement, between the parties with respect to such
subject matter.
(f) Binding Effect; Assignment, No Third Party Benefit. This Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns;
provided, however, that the duties and responsibilities of the Employee
hereunder may not be assumed by, or delegated to, any other person. Nothing
in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon
any person other than the parties hereto, and their respective heirs, legal
representatives, successors, and permitted assigns, any rights, benefits, or
remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
(g) Amendment. This Agreement may not be modified or amended in any
respect except by an instrument in writing signed by the party against whom
such modification or amendment is sought to be enforced.
(h) Waiver. Any term or condition of this Agreement may be waived at any
time by the party hereto which is entitled to have the benefit thereof, but
such waiver shall only be effective if evidenced by a writing signed by such
party, and a waiver on one occasion shall not be deemed to be a waiver of
the same or any other type of breach
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on a future occasion. No failure or delay by a party hereto in exercising
any right or power 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 other right or power.
(i) Authority. No person, other than pursuant to a resolution of the
Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof, shall have
authority on behalf of the Company to agree to modify, amend, or waive any
provision of this Agreement or anything in reference thereto.
(j) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be
unenforceable, (a) this Agreement shall be considered divisible, (b) such
provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent it is deemed
unenforceable, and (c) in all other respects this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect; provided, however, that if any such provision may be
made enforceable by limitation thereof, then such provision shall be deemed
to be so limited and shall be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by
applicable law.
(k) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Arizona, without regard
to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
(l) Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings herein are inserted
for convenience of reference only, do not constitute a part of this
Agreement, and shall not affect in any manner the meaning or interpretation
of this Agreement.
(m) References. All references in this Agreement to Paragraphs,
subparagraphs, and other subdivisions refer to the Paragraphs,
subparagraphs, and other subdivisions of this Agreement unless expressly
provided otherwise. The words "this Agreement," "herein," ("hereof,"
"hereby," "hereunder," and words of similar import refer to this Agreement
as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so
limited. Whenever the words "include," "includes," and "including" are used
in this Agreement, such words shall be deemed to be followed by the words
"without limitation." Words in the singular form shall be construed to
include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires.
Wherever any terms of the masculine gender are used in reference to the
Employee in this Agreement, such terms shall be deemed changed to the
corresponding terms of the feminine gender if the Employee is a female.
(n) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto
in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original,
but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.
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(o) Drafter. The parties further acknowledge that they have, through
their respective counsel, participated in the preparation of this Agreement,
and it is understood that no provision of this Agreement shall be construed
against any of the parties or their attorneys in the preparation and
execution of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed on
its behalf by its duly authorized officer, and the Employee has executed this
Agreement, as of the date first set forth above.
CAPITAL GAMING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: /s/ Charles B. Brewer
-----------------------------------
Name
Title: Chairman
EMPLOYEE
/s/ William S. Parazian
---------------------------------------
William S. Papazian
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