Exhibit 10.6.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT, dated and effective as of November 7, 2005, is made and entered
into by and between AmeriCredit Corp., a Texas corporation, having an office at
801 Cherry Street, Suite 3900, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 (hereinafter referred to
as “Employer”), each subsidiary corporation of Employer whether executing this
Agreement or not (each, a “Subsidiary”), and Chris A. Choate (hereinafter
referred to as “Employee”).

 

WHEREAS, Employer desires that the Employee continue as an employee of Employer
and Subsidiary to provide the necessary leadership and management skills that
are important to the success of Employer and Subsidiary. Employer believes that
retaining the Employee’s services as an employee of Employer and Subsidiary and
the benefits of his business experience are of material importance to Employer
and Subsidiary.

 

WHEREAS, Employer and Employee are parties to an Employment Agreement dated as
of July 1, 1997, previously amended by Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement
dated as of July 1, 1998 (the “Existing Employment Agreement”).

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend and restate the Existing Employment
Agreement in the manner, and on the terms and conditions herein provided.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Employee’s employment by Employer and the
mutual promises and covenants contained herein, the receipt and sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto intend by this Agreement to
specify the terms and conditions of Employee’s employment relationship with
Employer and Subsidiary and the post-employment obligations of Employee.

 

1. General Duties of Employer and Employee:

 

1.1. Employer agrees to employ Employee and Employee agrees to accept employment
by Employer and to serve Employer in an executive capacity upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein. The duties and responsibilities of Employee shall
include those described for the particular position held by Employee while
employed hereunder in the By-laws of Employer or Subsidiary or other documents
of Employer or Subsidiary. The capacity that Employee shall hold during the term
hereof shall be that position as determined by the Board of Directors of
Employer or Subsidiary, or any duly authorized committee thereof, from time to
time in its sole discretion. While employed hereunder, the initial position that
Employee shall hold shall be Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer (until such time as such position may be changed as aforesaid).

 

1.2. While employed hereunder, Employee shall obey the lawful directions of the
Board of Directors of Employer or Subsidiary, any duly authorized committees
thereof or any authorized officers of Employer or Subsidiary and shall use his
best efforts to promote the interests of Employer and Subsidiary and to maintain
and to promote the reputation thereof. While employed hereunder, Employee shall
devote his time, efforts, skills and attention to the affairs of Employer and
Subsidiary in order that he shall faithfully perform his duties and obligations
hereunder and such as may be assigned to or vested in him by the Board of
Directors of Employer or Subsidiary, any duly authorized committees thereof or
any duly authorized officer of Employer or Subsidiary.

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1.3. During the term of this Agreement, Employee may from time to time engage in
any businesses or activities that do not compete directly and materially with
Employer or Subsidiary and any of their subsidiaries, provided that such
businesses or activities do not materially interfere with his performance of the
duties assigned to him in compliance with this Agreement by the Board of
Directors of Employer or Subsidiary, any duly authorized committees thereof or
any authorized officer of Employer or Subsidiary. In any event, Employee is
permitted to (i) invest his personal assets as a passive investor in such form
or manner as will not contravene the best interests of Employer or Subsidiary,
(ii) participate in various charitable efforts, or (iii) serve as a director or
officer of any other entity or organization when such position has previously
been approved by the Board of Directors of Employer or Subsidiary.

 

2. Compensation and Benefits:

 

2.1. As compensation for services to Employer and Subsidiary, Employer shall pay
to Employee during the term of this Agreement a salary at an annual rate to be
fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors of Employer or any duly
authorized committee thereof, which annual rate shall initially be $400,000 on a
per annum basis. The salary shall be payable in equal biweekly installments,
subject only to such payroll and withholding deductions as may be required by
law and other deductions applied generally to employees of Employer for
insurance and other employee benefit plans. The Board of Directors of Employer,
or any authorized committee or officer of Employer, shall review Employee’s
overall annual compensation at least annually, with a view to ascertaining the
adequacy thereof and such compensation may be increased (but not decreased) by
the Board of Directors of Employer from time to time by an amount that in the
opinion of the Board of Directors of Employer is justified by Employee’s
performance.

 

2.2. Upon Employee furnishing to Employer customary and reasonable documentary
support (such as receipts or paid bills) evidencing costs and expenses incurred
by him in the performance of his services and duties hereunder (including,
without limitation, travel and entertainment expenses) and containing sufficient
information to establish the amount, date, place and essential character of the
expenditure, Employee shall be reimbursed for such costs and expenses in
accordance with Employer’s normal expense reimbursement policy. Employee shall
be entitled to participate in all group life, health and medical insurance
plans, stock option plans and other stock programs and compensation plans and
such other benefits, plans or programs as may be from time to time specifically
adopted and approved by Employer for employees generally.

 

2.3 Employee shall be entitled to such vacation, holiday, and (subject to the
provisions of Section 6.3 hereof) other paid or unpaid leave of absence as is
consistent with Employer’s normal policies or as otherwise approved by the Board
of Directors of Employer.

 

2.4 As long as this Agreement in is effect, Employer agrees to provide and
maintain life insurance coverage on the life of Employee in the face amount of
$300,000, with proceeds thereunder payable to such beneficiaries as Employee may
designate, and Employer agrees to pay all premiums on such policy. Coverage
shall continue throughout the employment term hereof. Such coverage may consist
of term, group term, whole life or any other form of coverage selected by
Employer in its sole discretion and may be with such insurers as Employer may
select.

 

3. Preservation of Business; Fiduciary Responsibility:

 

Employee shall use his best efforts to preserve the business and organization of
Employer and Subsidiary, to keep available to Employer and Subsidiary the
services of present employees and to preserve the business relations of Employer
and Subsidiary with dealers, retailers, suppliers, distributors, customers and
others. Employee shall not commit any act, or in any way assist others to commit
any act, that would injure Employer or Subsidiary. So long as Employee is
employed by Employer or Subsidiary, Employee shall observe and fulfill proper
standards of fiduciary responsibility attendant upon his service and office.

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4. Employee’s Obligation to Refrain From Using or Disclosing Information:

 

4.1. As part of Employee’s fiduciary duties to Employer and Subsidiary, Employee
agrees, both during the term of this Agreement and thereafter, to protect,
preserve the confidentiality of and safeguard Employer’s and Subsidiary’s secret
or confidential information, knowledge, ideas, concepts, improvements,
discoveries and inventions, and, except as may be expressly required by
Employer, Employee shall not, either during his employment by Employer or
Subsidiary or thereafter, directly or indirectly, use for his own benefit or for
the benefit of another, or disclose to another, any of such information, ideas,
concepts, improvements, discoveries or inventions.

 

4.2. Upon termination of his employment with Employer and Subsidiary, or at any
other time upon request, Employee shall immediately deliver to Employer all
documents embodying any of Employer’s or Subsidiary’s secret or confidential
information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries and inventions.

 

5. Initial Term; Extensions of the Term:

 

5.1. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the effective date hereof and
shall end on June 30, 2008.

 

5.2. The term of this Agreement shall automatically be extended for additional
one-year periods commencing on July 1, 2006 and on July 1 thereafter, unless
either Employee or Employer gives written notice to the other on or before any
March 1 of his or its intention not to extend this Agreement. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, it is the intention of the parties
hereto that, unless and until such notice of non-extension is provided by either
Employer or Employee as provided in the immediately preceding sentence (or
unless this Agreement is terminated pursuant to the terms hereof), as of each
July 1 hereafter the term of this Agreement shall be extended for one year so as
to provide for a prospective three-year employment term as of each such date.

 

6. Termination other than by Expiration of the Term: Employer or Employee may
terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement at any time, but only on
the following terms:

 

6.1. Employee may terminate his employment under this Agreement at any time upon
at least ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to Employer.

 

6.2. Employer may terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement at any
time, without prior notice, for “due cause” upon the good faith determination by
the Board of Directors of Employer or Subsidiary that “due cause” exists for the
termination of the employment relationship. As used herein, the term “due cause”
shall mean any of the following events:

 

(i) any intentional misapplication by Employee of Employer’s or Subsidiary’s
funds, or any other act of dishonesty injurious to Employer or Subsidiary
committed by Employee; or

 

(ii) Employee’s conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude; or

 

(iii) Employee’s use or possession of any controlled substance or abuse of
alcoholic beverages; or

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(iv) Employee’s breach, non-performance or non-observance of any of the terms of
this Agreement if such breach, non-performance or non-observance shall continue
beyond a period of ten (10) days immediately after notice thereof by Employer to
Employee; or

 

(v) any other action by the Employee involving willful and deliberate
malfeasance or gross negligence in the performance of Employee’s duties.

 

6.3. In the event Employee is incapacitated by Disability, accident, sickness or
otherwise so as to render Employee mentally or physically incapable of
performing the services required under Section 1 for a period of one hundred
eighty (180) consecutive business days, and such incapacity is confirmed by the
written opinion of two (2) practicing medical doctors licensed by and in good
standing in the state in which they maintain offices for the practice of
medicine, upon the expiration of such period or at any time reasonably
thereafter, or in the event of Employee’s death, Employer may terminate
Employee’s employment under this Agreement upon giving Employee or his legal
representative written notice at least thirty (30) days’ prior to the
termination date. Employee agrees, after written notice by the Board of
Directors of Employer or Subsidiary or a duly authorized committee or any
officer of Employer or Subsidiary, to submit to examinations by such practicing
medical doctors selected by the Board of Directors of Employer or Subsidiary or
a duly authorized committee or any officer of Employer or Subsidiary. For the
purposes of this Section 6.3, “Disability” shall mean a person (i) is unable to
engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in
death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12
months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental
impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last
for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement
benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health
plan covering employees of Employer or Subsidiary.

 

6.4. Employer may terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement at any
time for any reason whatsoever, even without “due cause,” by giving a written
notice of termination to Employee, in which case the employment relationship
shall terminate immediately upon the giving of such notice.

 

7. Effect of Termination:

 

7.1. In the event the employment relationship is terminated (a) by Employee upon
sixty (60) days’ written notice pursuant to Section 6.1, (b) by Employer for
“due cause” pursuant to Section 6.2, or (c) by Employee breaching this Agreement
by refusing to continue his employment and failing to give the requisite sixty
(60) days’ written notice, all compensation and benefits shall cease as of the
date of termination (it being specifically agreed that Employee shall not be
entitled to any bonuses not yet vested at the date of termination), other than:
(i) those benefits that are provided by retirement and benefit plans and
programs specifically adopted and approved by Employer or Subsidiary for
Employee that are earned and vested by the date of termination, and
(ii) Employee’s pro rata annual salary plus all earned and vested bonuses
through the date of termination. Employee’s right to exercise stock options and
Employee’s rights in other stock plans, if any, shall remain governed by the
terms and conditions of the appropriate stock plan.

 

7.2. If Employee’s employment relationship is terminated pursuant to Section 6.3
hereof due to Employee’s incapacity or death, Employee (or, in the event of
Employee’s death, Employee’s legal representative or estate) will be entitled to
those benefits that are provided by retirement and benefits plans and programs
specifically adopted and approved by Employer or Subsidiary for Employee that
are earned and vested at the date of termination and, even though no longer
employed by Employer or Subsidiary, shall continue to receive the salary
compensation (payable in the manner as prescribed in the second sentence of
Section 2.1) for six (6) months following the date of termination. Employee (or,
in the event of Employee’s death,

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Employee’s legal representative or estate) shall not, however, be entitled to
any bonuses not yet vested at the date of termination of employment. Employee’s
right to exercise stock options and Employee’s rights in other stock plans, if
any, shall remain governed by the terms and conditions of the appropriate stock
plans.

 

7.3. If Employer (i) terminates the employment of Employee other than pursuant
to Section 6.2 hereof for “due cause” or other than for a disability or death
pursuant to Section 6.3 hereof or (ii) decreases Employee’s salary below its
then current level, as such salary level may have been increased from time to
time above the initial level specified in Section 2.1, or reduces the employee
benefits and perquisites below the levels provided for by the terms of Section 2
hereof, other than as a result of any amendment or termination of any employee
and/or executive benefit plan or arrangement, which amendment or termination is
applicable to all employees of Employer or Subsidiary, then such action by
Employer, unless consented to in writing by Employee, shall be deemed to be a
constructive termination by Employer of Employee’s employment (a “Constructive
Termination”). In the event of a Constructive Termination, the Employee shall be
entitled to receive, in a lump sum six (6) months after the date of the
Constructive Termination, an amount equal to one year’s salary (undiscounted) in
effect immediately prior to the event giving rise to the Constructive
Termination. For purposes of this Section 7.3, the term “salary” shall mean the
annual rate of compensation, excluding any bonuses, provided to Employee under
Section 2.1 hereof immediately prior to the event giving rise to the
Constructive Termination. In the event of such Constructive Termination, all
other rights and benefits Employee may have under the employee benefit plans and
arrangements of Employer generally shall be determined in accordance with the
terms and conditions of such plans and arrangements.

 

8. Employee’s Non-Competition Obligation:

 

8.1. Employee acknowledges and agrees that he serves in a special capacity for
Employer and Subsidiary pursuant to which he will acquire unique knowledge of
the operations and business of Employer and Subsidiary and, as such, will not be
engaged in a common calling. During the existence of Employee’s employment by
Employer and Subsidiary hereunder and, if the employment of Employee is
terminated by Employer for any reason pursuant to Section 6.2 or Section 6.4, or
Employee voluntarily terminates his employment (unless such voluntary
termination occurs within twelve months after a “change in control,” as defined
in Section 8A.1 hereof), for a period of one year from the date on which he
shall cease to be employed by Employer or Subsidiary, Employee shall not, acting
alone or in conjunction with others, directly or indirectly, and whether as
principal, agent, officer, director, partner, employee, consultant, broker,
dealer or otherwise, in any of the Business Territories (as defined below),
engage in any business in competition with the business conducted by Employer,
Subsidiary or any subsidiary of Employer or Subsidiary, whether for his own
account or otherwise, or solicit, canvass or accept any business or transaction
for or from any other company or business in competition with such business of
Employer or Subsidiary in any of the Business Territories. For purposes hereof,
the term “Business Territories” means the geographical regions within the
geographic borders of each State in which Employer or Subsidiary is doing
business during the term of this Agreement and (in the case of post-employment
non-competition obligations) at the date of the termination of Employee’s
employment with Employer and Subsidiary and any State in which Employer had
reasonable prospects of engaging in business during the noncompetition period
following termination of employment.

 

8.2. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of
Section 8.1 shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws
and public policies of the State of Texas. Accordingly, if any particular
portion of Section 8.1 shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable,
Section 8.1 shall be deemed amended to (i) reform the particular portion to
provide for such maximum restrictions as will be valid and enforceable or if
that is not possible, then (ii) delete therefrom the portion thus adjudicated to
be invalid or unenforceable.

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8A. Change in Control

 

8A.1 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary otherwise provided herein, if a
“change of control” (as defined below) of Employer occurs and within twelve
(12) months from the date of such “change of control,” Employee voluntarily
terminates the employment relationship under this Agreement by giving ninety
(90) days’ written notice to Employer or Subsidiary under Section 6.1 hereof or
within such twelve (12) month period Employer or Subsidiary gives written notice
to Employee to terminate Employee’s employment relationship without “due cause”
pursuant to Section 6.4, or in the event that the Employee shall die or become
disable within such twelve (12) month, then, even though no longer employed by
Employer, Employee (or, if applicable, Employee’s legal representative or
estate) shall be entitled to earned and vested bonuses at the date of
termination plus a payment equal to the amount of Employee’s salary
(undiscounted), as “salary” is defined below, prorated for the remainder of the
fiscal year in which the “change of control” occurs, plus the present value
(employing a discount rate of 8%) of two additional years’ salary, payable in a
lump sum six (6) months after the date of termination. Employee’s right to
exercise stock options and Employee’s rights in other stock plans, if any, shall
remain governed by the terms and conditions of the appropriate stock plan. For
purposes of this Section 8A.1, the term “salary” shall mean the sum of (i) the
annual rate of compensation provided to Employee under Section 2.1 hereof
immediately prior to the “change in control,” plus (ii) the average annual cash
bonuses or other cash incentive compensation paid to Employee by Employer for
the three years in the three year period immediately preceding the year in which
there shall occur a “change in control.” Employee’s right to exercise stock
options and Employee’s rights in other stock plans, if any, shall remain
governed by the terms and conditions of the appropriate stock plan. “Change in
control” shall be deemed to have occurred (i) on the date that any one person,
or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of
Employer that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes
more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock
of Employer, (ii) on the date that a majority of the members of Employer’s Board
of Directors is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose
appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of
Employer’s Board of Directors prior to the date of the appointment or election
or (iii) on the date any one person, or more than one person acting as a group
acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the
most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from Employer that
have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40% of the total
gross fair market value of all the assets of Employer immediately prior to such
acquisition or acquisitions.

 

8A.2 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if (a) there is a
change in the ownership or effective control of Employer or in the ownership of
a substantial portion of the assets of Employer (within the meaning of
Section 280G(b)(2)(A) of Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”)) and (b) the
payments otherwise to be made pursuant to Section 8.1 and any other payments or
benefits otherwise to be paid to Employee in the nature of compensation to be
received by or for the benefit of Employee and contingent upon such event (the
“Termination Payments”) would create an “excess parachute payment” within the
meaning of Section 280G of the Code, then Employer shall make the Termination
Payments in substantially equal installments, the first installment being due
six (6) months after the date of termination and each subsequent installment
being due on January 31 of each year, such that the aggregate present value of
all Termination Payments, whether pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, will
be as close as possible to, but not exceed, 299% of Employee’s base amount,
within the meaning of Section 280G.

 

9. Obligations to Refrain From Competing Unfairly:

 

9.1. In addition to the other obligations agreed to by Employee in this
Agreement, Employee agrees that during his employment with Employer or
Subsidiary and following the termination of his employment by Employer and
Subsidiary he shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, (a) induce, entice,
or solicit any employee of Employer or Subsidiary to leave his

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employment, or engage in any discussions or communications with any employee of
Employer or Subsidiary concerning such employee’s employment or the possibility
of such employee’s leaving his employment or (b) contact, communicate or solicit
any customer of Employer or Subsidiary derived from any customer list, customer
lead, mail, printed matter or other information secured from Employer,
Subsidiary or their present or past employees, or (c) in any other manner use
any customer lists or customer leads, mail, email addresses, telephone numbers,
printed material or material of Employer or Subsidiary relating thereto.

 

10. Miscellaneous:

 

10.1. All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder or
necessary or convenient in connection herewith shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been given when mailed by registered mail or certified mail,
return receipt requested, as follows (provided that notice of change of address
shall be deemed given only when received):

 

If to Employer or Subsidiary, then notice must be given to:

 

AmeriCredit Corp.

801 Cherry Street, Suite 3900

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Attention: Daniel E. Berce

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

If to Employee, to:

 

Chris A. Choate

4720 Collinwood Avenue

Fort Worth, Texas 76107

 

or to such other names or addresses as Employer, Subsidiary or Employee, as the
case may be, shall designate by notice to the other party hereto in the manner
specified in this Section 10.1.

 

10.2. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Employer,
its successors, legal representatives and assigns, and upon Employee, his heirs,
executors, administrators, representatives and assigns. Employee agrees that his
rights and obligations hereunder are personal to him and may not be assigned
without the express written consent of Employer and Subsidiary.

 

10.3. This Agreement may not be modified in any respect by any verbal statement,
representation or agreement made by any employee, officer, or representative of
Employer or Subsidiary or by any written agreement unless signed by an officer
of Employer who is expressly authorized by Employer to execute such document.

 

10.4. (a) If any provision of this Agreement or application thereof to anyone or
under any circumstances shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such
invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions or
applications of this Agreement which can be given effect without the invalid or
unenforceable provision or application.

 

(b) Without intending to limit the remedies available to Employer or Subsidiary,
it is mutually understood and agreed that Employee’s services are of a special,
unique, unusual, extraordinary and intellectual character giving them a peculiar
value, the loss of which cannot be reasonably or adequately compensated in
damages in an action at law, and, therefore, in the event of a breach by
Employee, Employer shall be entitled to equitable relief by way of injunction or
otherwise.

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(c) Employee acknowledges that Sections 4, 8 and 9 are expressly for the benefit
of Employer and Subsidiary, that Employer and Subsidiary would be irreparably
injured by a violation of Section 4, 8 and/or 9 and that Employer or Subsidiary
would have no adequate remedy at law in the event of such violation. Therefore,
Employee acknowledges and agrees that injunctive relief, specific performance or
any other appropriate equitable remedy (without any bond or other security being
required) are appropriate remedies to enforce compliance by Employer with
Section 4, Section 8 and Section 9.

 

10.5. Employee acknowledges that, from time to time, Employer or Subsidiary may
establish, maintain and distribute employee manuals or handbooks or personnel
policy manuals, and officers or other representatives of Employer or Subsidiary
may make written or oral statements relating to personnel policies and
procedures. Such manuals, handbooks and statements are intended only for general
guidance. No policies, procedures or statements of any nature by or on behalf of
Employer or Subsidiary (whether written or oral, and whether or not contained in
any employee manual or handbook or personnel policy manual), and no acts or
practices of any nature shall be construed to modify this Agreement or to create
express or implied obligations of any nature to Employee.

 

10.6. The laws of the State of Texas will govern the interpretation, validity
and effect of this Agreement without regard to the place of execution or the
place for performance thereof, and Employer and Employee agree that the state
and federal courts situated in Tarrant County, Texas shall have personal
jurisdiction over Employer and Employee to hear all disputes arising under this
Agreement. This Agreement is to be at least partially performed in Tarrant
County, Texas, and, as such, Employer and Employee agree that venue shall be
proper with the state or federal courts in Tarrant County, Texas to hear such
disputes. In the event either Employer or Employee is not able to effect service
of process upon the other with respect to such disputes, Employer and Employee
expressly agree that the Secretary of State for the State of Texas shall be an
agent of Employer and/or the Employee to receive service of process on behalf of
Employer and/or the Employee with respect to such disputes.

 

11. Additional Instruments:

 

Employee and Employer shall execute and deliver any and all additional
instruments and agreements that may be necessary or proper to carry out the
purposes of this Agreement.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound, have
executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

AMERICREDIT CORP. By:  

/s/ Daniel E. Berce

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    Daniel E. Berce     President and Chief Executive Officer EMPLOYEE By:  

/s/ Chris A. Choate

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    Chris A. Choate