Exhibit 10.2
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
This EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this
“Agreement”) is made and entered into October 15, 2008
by and between VAIL RESORTS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company and Jeffrey W. Jones
(“Executive”).
Whereas the parties had previously entered into
that certain Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated
September 29, 2004 (the “Original Agreement”), as
amended by that First Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment
Agreement (“First Amendment”), but now desire to make
certain updates to the terms contained in that Original Agreement
as required to comply with law and as otherwise agreed to herein
and in order to accomplish the foregoing to enter into this
replacement Agreement.
The parties hereto agree as follows:
(a) The Company
hereby employs Executive to serve as Senior Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer on the terms and conditions
set forth herein. In such capacity, Executive shall have the
responsibilities normally associated with such position, subject to
the direction and supervision of the Chief Executive Officer (the
“CEO and the Board of Directors of the Company (the
“Board”). Executive shall also serve as a
member of the Board.
(b) Executive
accepts employment hereunder and agrees that, during the term of
Executive’s employment, Executive will observe and comply
with the policies and rules of the Company and devote substantially
all Executive’s time during normal business hours and best
efforts to the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder,
which duties shall be performed in an efficient and competent
manner and to the best of Executive’s
ability. Executive further agrees that, during the term
of this Agreement, Executive will not, without the prior written
consent of the CEO and the Board, directly or indirectly engage in
any manner in any business or other endeavor, either as an owner,
employee, officer, director, independent contractor, agent,
partner, advisor, or in any other capacity calling for the
rendition of Executive’s personal services. This
restriction shall not preclude Executive from having passive
investments, and devoting reasonable time to the supervision
thereof (so long as such does not create a conflict of interest or
interfere with Executive’s obligations hereunder), in any
business or enterprise that is not in competition with any business
or enterprise of the Company or any of its parents, subsidiaries or
affiliates (collectively, the
“Companies”). This Agreement shall not limit
Executive’s community or charitable activities so long as
such activities do not impair or interfere with Executive’s
performance of the services contemplated by this
Agreement.
For all services rendered by Executive to or on
behalf of the Companies, the Company shall provide or cause to be
provided to Executive, subject to making any and all withholdings
and deductions required of the Company or its affiliates by law
with all other income tax consequences being borne by Executive,
the following:
(a)
Base Salary . Executive shall receive a base
salary of Four Hundred Fifty Five Thousand Two Hundred Seventy One
Dollars ($455,271.00) per year (the “Base Salary”),
payable in accordance with the normal payroll practices of the
Company, and net of mandatory time off deductions and other
applicable withholding and deductions. Executive’s
Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the CEO and the
Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation
Committee”). Any increases in such Base Salary
shall be at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, after
consultation with and upon recommendation of the CEO, and Executive
acknowledges that the Compensation Committee is not obligated to
grant any increases. The Base Salary shall not be
lowered during the term of this Agreement without Executive’s
written consent.
(b) Vail
Resorts Management Incentive Plan for Corporate Executives
. Executive shall be entitled to participate in the
Management Incentive Plan for Corporate Executives (the
“MIP”) on the same terms as may be applicable to other
senior executives of the Company and subject to the terms of the
MIP. Under the MIP, Executive’s target annual
bonus will be Sixty Percent (60%) of Executive’s Base Salary
based upon Executive’s performance in light of objectives
established by the CEO, and the Companies’ performance in
light of objectives established by the Compensation
Committee. Any awards under the MIP are at the
discretion of the Compensation Committee.
(c)
Benefits; Paid Time Off . Executive shall be
eligible to participate in the benefit plans and perks and on the
same terms as may be extended generally to other senior executives
of the Companies and to the extent Executive is eligible under the
terms of the applicable plan. Executive shall also
receive Two Hundred Sixteen (216) hours of paid time off, which
amount shall include hours for paid holidays, as well as be
required to take such hours of mandatory-time-off in accordance
with the Company’s policies and procedures.
(d) Clubs
and Other Privileges . Executive shall, subject to
applicable rules in effect from time to time, be entitled during
the term of employment to the benefits of membership in such of the
private clubs owned and operated by the Company as designated by
the CEO from time to time (collectively
“Clubs”) as part of the Company’s quality
evaluation program and subject to completion of bi-annual feedback
surveys; provided that Executive shall not actually be a member of
such Clubs and in no event shall Executive be entitled to any claim
of reimbursement for any initiation or similar
fees. Executive shall be solely responsible for the
payment of any and all charges incurred at such Clubs, but may
utilize Executive’s annual allowance provided pursuant to
Executive Perquisite Fund (as may be in effect from time to time)
to pay such charges, excepting only the payment of regular dues,
which Executive shall not be obligated to pay. In
addition, Executive shall receive all other benefits and
perquisites on the same terms afforded from time to time to senior
executives generally ( e.g ., season ski passes, executive
perquisite fund).
(e)
Expense Reimbursement . Executive shall have a
travel and entertainment budget that is reasonable in light of
Executive’s position and responsibilities and shall be
reimbursed for all reasonable business-related travel and
entertainment expenses incurred by Executive thereunder upon
submission of appropriate documentation thereof in compliance with
applicable Company policies.
(f) Legal
Expenses . The Company shall reimburse Executive’s
reasonable documented legal fees and expenses (not to exceed
$10,000) incurred in the review and negotiation of this
Agreement.
(h) Long
Term Incentive Compensation . Executive shall be entitled
to receive certain long term compensation as set forth in the First
Amendment, all in accordance with the terms and conditions set
forth therein which shall be incorporated herein with full force
and effect.
(a)
Term . The effective date of this Agreement shall
be October 15, 2008 (“Employment Commencement
Date”). Unless terminated earlier, the term of
this Agreement shall be for the period commencing with the
Employment Commencement Date and continuing through October 15,
2011 and shall thereafter be automatically renewed for successive
one-year periods unless, no later than 60 days before the
expiration of the then-current term, either Executive or the
Company gives the other written notice of non-renewal, in which
case this Agreement shall expire upon the conclusion of the
then-current initial or renewal term.
(b)
Termination for Cause . The Company may terminate
this Agreement at any time for “Cause”. For
purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (i) any
conduct involving gross negligence, gross mismanagement, or the
unauthorized disclosure of confidential information or trade
secrets; (ii) dishonesty or a violation of the Company’s Code
of Ethics and Business Conduct that has or reasonably could be
expected to result in a detrimental impact on the reputation,
goodwill or business position of any of the Companies; (iii) gross
obstruction of business operations or illegal or disreputable
conduct by Executive that impairs or reasonably could be expected
to impair the reputation, goodwill or business position of any of
the Companies, and any acts that violate any policy of the Company
relating to discrimination or harassment; (iv) commission of a
felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or the entrance of a
plea of guilty or nolo contedere to a felony or a crime involving
moral turpitude; or (v) any action involving a material breach of
the terms of the Agreement including material inattention to or
material neglect of duties and Executive shall not have remedied
such breach within 30 days after receiving written notice from the
Board specifying the details thereof. In the event of a
termination for Cause, Executive shall be entitled to receive only
Executive’s then-current Base Salary through the date of such
termination. Further, Executive acknowledges that in the
event of such a termination for Cause, Executive shall not be
entitled to receive any bonus payment for the year of termination
or subsequent years under the MIP or any other incentive
compensation plan in which Executive is then
participating.
(c)
Termination Without Cause . The Company may
terminate this Agreement at any time without Cause, by giving
Executive written notice specifying the effective date of such
termination. In the event of a termination without Cause
and provided that Executive and the Company execute (and, if
applicable, thereafter not revoke) a written release in connection
with such termination substantially in the form attached hereto as
Annex I (the “Mutual Release”), Executive shall be
entitled to receive (i) Executive’s then-current Base Salary
through the effective date of such termination, (ii) a pro-rated
bonus for the portion of the Company’s fiscal year through
the effective date of such termination, which shall be based on
applying the level of achievement of the performance targets (with
respect to both Executive and the Companies) to Executive’s
target bonus for the year of such termination payable in a lump sum
at the same time as bonuses are paid to the Company’s senior
executives generally (the “Pro-Rated Bonus”), and
(iii) twelve (12) months of Executive’s then current
Base Salary payable in a lump sum. For the purposes of
this section, any written notice of non-renewal given by the
Company pursuant to Section 3(a) of this Agreement shall be deemed
termination without Cause. Any payment to Executive made pursuant
hereto shall be paid to Executive no later than the date that is
two and a half months following the calendar year in which such
termination without Cause occurs.
(d)
Termination By Executive For Good Reason
. Executive shall be entitled to terminate this
Agreement at any time for “Good Reason” by giving the
Company written notice of such termination. For purposes
of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean (i) the
Company has breached its obligations hereunder in any material
respect, (ii) the Company has decreased Executive’s then
current Base Salary, (iii) Executive is directed to relocate
Executive’s principal office more than 30 miles from
Interlocken Business Park without Executive’s consent, and/or
(iv) the Company has effected a material diminution in
Executive’s reporting title, responsibilities, authority, or
duties as in effect immediately prior to such change, which shall
also be deemed to have occurred, in the case of a Change in
Control, as defined below, if the Company is no longer listed on a
public trading exchange; provided , however , that
Executive shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement for
Good Reason unless: (a) Executive has provided notice to the
Company of any of the foregoing conditions within 90 days of the
initial existence of the condition executive was aware or
reasonably should have been; (B) the Company has been given at
least 30 days after receiving such notice to cure such condition;
and (C) Executive actually terminates employment within [six
months] following the initial existence of the
condition. In such event, provided that Executive and
the Company have executed (and, if applicable, thereafter not
revoked) the Mutual Release, Executive shall be entitled to receive
(w) Executive’s then current Base Salary through the
effective date of such termination, (x) a Pro-Rated Bonus,
(y) twelve (12) months of Executive’s then current Base
Salary payable in a lump sum. Any payment to Executive
made pursuant hereto shall be paid to Executive no later than the
date that is two and a half months following the calendar year in
which such termination for Good Reason occurs.
(e)
Termination By Executive Without Good Reason
. Executive may also terminate this Agreement at any
time without Good Reason by giving the Company at least thirty (30)
days’ prior written notice. In such event,
Executive shall be entitled to receive only Executive’s
then-current Base Salary through the date of
termination. Further, Executive acknowledges that in the
event of such a termination without Good Reason, Executive shall
not be entitled to receive any bonus payment for the year of
termination or subsequent years under the MIP or any other
incentive compensation plan in which Executive is then
participating.
(f)
Termination Due To Disability . In the event that
Executive becomes “Totally and Permanently Disabled”
(as reasonably determined by the Board acting in good faith), the
Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement upon
written notice to Executive; provided, however, that in the event
that Executive and the Company execute (and, if applicable,
thereafter not revoke) the Mutual Release, Executive
shall be entitled to receive (i) Executive’s then-current
Base Salary through the date of such termination, (ii) a Pro-Rated
Bonus, and (iii) Executive’s then-current Base Salary, net of
short term disability payments remitted to Executive by the Company
pursuant to the Company’s Short-Term Disability Plan, through
the earlier of (y) the scheduled expiration date of this Agreement
(but in no event less than twelve (12) months from the date of
disability) or (z) the date on which Executive’s long-term
disability insurance payments commence.
(h)
Termination Due To Death . This Agreement shall
be deemed automatically terminated upon the death of
Executive. In such event, provided Executive’s
personal representative and the Company execute a release
substantially in the form of the Mutual Release, Executive’s
personal representative shall be entitled to receive (i)
Executive’s then-current Base Salary through such date of
termination, and (ii) a Pro-Rated Bonus.
(i)
Other Benefits . Upon Executive’s
termination pursuant to Sections 3(c) or (d), and, in the event
that Executive and the Company execute (and, if applicable,
thereafter not revoke) the Mutual Release, the Company agrees to
pay Executive, in lump sum, one year’s COBRA premiums for
continuation of health and dental coverage in existence at the time
of such termination, as determined as of Executive’s date of
termination . This payment will be remitted to Executive at
the same time that Executive is paid pursuant to Sections 3(c) and
(d). Except as expressly set forth in this Section 3,
Executive shall not be entitled to receive any compensation or
other benefits in connection with the termination of
Executive’s employment.
(j)
Termination in Connection with a Change in Contro
l. In the event of a termination of Executive’s
employment by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good
Reason or notice by the Company of non-renewal of this Agreement,
all within 365 days of a consummation of a Change in Control of the
Company and provided that Executive and the Company execute (and,
if applicable, thereafter not revoke) the Mutual Release, Executive
shall be entitled to receive (i) Executive’s then-current
Base Salary through the effective date of such termination or
non-renewal, (ii) a Pro-Rated Bonus, (iii) a lump sum payment equal
to twelve (12) months of Executive’s then current Base
Salary plus an amount equal to the cash bonus paid to Executive in
the prior calendar year, payable no later than the date that is two
and a half months following the calendar year in which such
termination or non-renewal occurs, and (iv) to the extent not
already vested, full vesting of any RSUs, SARs or other equity
awards (including, but not limited to performance share options)
held by Executive whether granted to Executive pursuant to this
Agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this Agreement,
“Change in Control” shall mean an event or series of
events by which: (A) any “person”
or “group” (as such terms are used
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