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EXHIBIT 10.27    
  


 
 

Anchor Gaming
  Anchor Gaming 1995 Stock Option Plan    



 
  STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT    
  


    THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of January 3, 2000, is by and between Anchor Gaming ("Anchor Gaming"), a Nevada
corporation, and the person named on the signature page to this Agreement (the "Participant"). 


 
 

RECITALS    
  


    WHEREAS Anchor Gaming has adopted the Anchor Gaming 1995 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") to enable employees of
Anchor Gaming and its majority-owned subsidiaries to acquire shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, of Anchor Gaming ("Common Stock") in accordance
with the provisions of the Plan. 


    WHEREAS
The Board of Directors (the "Board") has selected Participant to participate in the Plan and has determined to grant
Participant the right and option to purchase shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that if any change is made in the shares of Common Stock
(including, but not limited to, changes by stock dividend, stock split, merger or consolidation, but not including the issuance of additional shares for consideration), the Board of Directors or the
Committee appointed to administer the Plan (the "Committee"), will make such adjustments in the number and kind of shares (which may consist of shares
of a surviving corporation to a merger) that may thereafter be optioned and sold under the Plan and the number and kind of shares (which may consist of shares of a surviving corporation to a merger)
and purchase price per share of shares subject to outstanding Stock Option Agreements under the Plan as the Board of
Directors or the Committee determines are equitable to preserve the respective rights of the Participants under the Plan. 


    NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual promises and other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, Anchor Gaming and Participant agree as
follows: 


	1.
	Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:



	(a)
	"Company" means Anchor Gaming and its majority-owned subsidiaries and any successor to substantially all of the business of Anchor
Gaming and its majority owned subsidiaries.



	(b)
	"Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following events, as a result of one transaction or a series of transactions:
(i) any "person" (as that term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "Exchange Act"), but excluding the Company, its
affiliates, and any qualified or non-qualified plan maintained by the Company or its affiliates) becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated
under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of Anchor Gaming representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of Anchor Gaming's then outstanding securities;
(ii) individuals who constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company immediately prior to a contested election for positions on the Board cease to constitute a majority as a
result of such contested election; (iii) Anchor Gaming is combined (by merger, share exchange, consolidation, or otherwise) with another entity and as a result of such combination, less than
50% of the outstanding securities of the surviving or resulting entity are owned in the aggregate by the former shareholders of Anchor Gaming; (iv) the Company sells, leases, or otherwise
transfers all or a majority of all of its properties or assets to another person or entity; (v) a dissolution or liquidation of Anchor 





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Gaming
or; (vi) any other transaction or series of transactions is consummated that results in a required disclosure under Item 1 of Form 8-K or successor form. 



	(c)
	"Confidential Information" means all written, machine-reproducible, oral and visual data, information, and material, including, but
not limited to, business, financial, and technical information; and computer programs, documents, and records (including those that Participant develops in the scope of his or her employment) that
(i) the Company or any of its customers or suppliers treats as proprietary or confidential through markings or otherwise, (ii) relates to the Company or any of its customers or suppliers
or any of their business activities, products, or services (including software programs and techniques) and is competitively sensitive or not generally known in the relevant trade or industry, or
(iii) derives independent economic value from not being generally known to, and is not readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its
disclosure or use. Confidential Information does not include any information or material that is approved by Anchor Gaming for unrestricted public disclosure.



	(d)
	"Expiration Date" means the date and time as of which the Option expires, which is the earlier of (i) the close of business on
the date one year after the entire Option has Vested or (ii) the date and time as of which all rights to exercise the Option are terminated under  Section 2(d).



	(e)
	"Market Value" of a share of Purchased Stock on a given date means (i) if the Purchased Stock is Publicly Traded, the closing
sale price for Purchased Stock, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, on such date or, if no closing sale price is available for such date, on the most recent prior date for which a
closing sale price is available or, if no closing sale price is available, the closing bid price, as so determined, on such date or, if no closing bid price is available for such date, the closing bid
price on the most recent prior date for which a closing bid price is available, or (ii) if the Purchased Stock is not Publicly Traded, its fair market value, as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors, as of such date.



	(f)
	"Net Investment Proceeds," with respect to any share of Purchased Stock sold or otherwise transferred by Participant or
Participant's successor in interest, means the greater of the value of the gross proceeds received for such share or the Market Value of such share on the date of sale or transfer less, in either
case, (i) the exercise price of the Option for such share, (ii) any reasonable and customary commission actually paid for the sale or transfer, and (iii) the verified amount of
any income taxes paid or payable on the sale or transfer.



	(g)
	"Option" means the right and option to purchase shares of Common Stock evidenced by this Agreement.



	(h)
	"Publicly Traded" means Common Stock has been listed on a registered national securities exchange or approved for quotation in the
Nasdaq® National Market ("NASDAQ") or another national securities exchange of automated quotation service.



	(i)
	"Purchased Stock" means any security purchased upon the exercise of this Option, together with any successor security, property or
cash issued or distributed by Anchor Gaming or any successor entity, whether by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange, reorganization, liquidation, recapitalization, or otherwise.



	(j)
	"Termination for Substantial Misconduct" means termination of employment for commission of a felony by the Participant; actions
involving moral turpitude, theft, or dishonesty by the Participant in a material matter; breach of any obligation under this Agreement or any other agreement or obligation of the Participant to the
Company; failure by Participant to carry out the directions, instructions,
policies, rules, regulations, or decisions of the Board or the executive officers of the Company including, without limitation, those relating to business 



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ethics
and the ethical conduct of the business of the Company; failure by Participant to carry out or perform his or her material duties to the Company. 



	(k)
	"Transfer" or "transfer" or derivations thereof includes any sale, assignment, gift,
pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange, or any other disposition or any interest in this Agreement, the Option, or securities issued on exercise of this Option.



	(l)
	"Vesting," or "vesting" or derivations thereof with respect to any Option issued
under this Agreement, means receiving the right to exercise the Option.



	(m)
	"Vesting Period" means the period of time commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the date on which the entire Option
has Vested. 





	2.
	Grant of Option; Purchase of Stock.



	(a)
	Subject
to the terms, conditions, and restrictions set forth in the Plan and in this Agreement, Anchor Gaming hereby grants to Participant, and Participant hereby accepts from
Anchor Gaming, the option to purchase from Anchor Gaming the number of shares of Common Stock specified on Attachment A to this Agreement, at the
purchase price so specified, which option will Vest in Participant in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set forth on Attachment A to this
Agreement. Except as provided on Attachment A, he Option shall continue to Vest only for as long as Participant is an employee of Company, unless the
Board or the Committee, in its sole discretion, agrees in writing otherwise. Participant will have the right to exercise the Option and purchase Common Stock after the Option Vests as provided in  Section 2(d)
.



	(b)
	The
purchase price of shares as to which the Option is exercised must be paid to Anchor Gaming at the time of the exercise either in cash or in such other consideration as the Board
or the Committee may approve or a combination of cash and such other consideration having a total fair market value, as determined by the Board or the Committee, equal to the purchase price.



	(c)
	The
Board or the Committee may elect to assist Participant in satisfying an obligation to pay or withhold taxes required as a result of the exercise of this Option by accepting
shares of Purchased
Stock at Market Value to satisfy the tax obligation. The shares of Purchased Stock accepted may be either shares withheld upon the exercise of this Option or other shares already owned by Participant.
In determining whether to approve acceptance of Purchased Stock to satisfy such a tax obligation, the Board or the Committee may consider whether the shares proposed to be delivered are subject to any
holding period or other restrictions on transfer and may waive or arrange for the waiver of any such restrictions.



	(d)
	The
Option is only exercisable as to Vested Options. Once Vested, (i) if the Participant ceases to be an employee of the Company for any reason whatsoever, voluntary or
involuntary, other than death, the Option may be exercised only until 5:00 p.m. Las Vegas time on the business day immediately preceding the first anniversary of such cessation the date of
cessation of employment and in any case no later than the Expiration Date, and (ii) if the Participant ceases to be an Employee because of death of the Participant, the Option may be exercised
by the Participant's estate only for two years after the Participant's death and in any case no later than the Expiration Date. 







	3.
	Restrictions on Transfer.  The Option may not be sold or otherwise transferred and is exercisable only by Participant
during Participant's lifetime unless the transfer is by will or the laws of descent and distribution upon Participant's death. Anchor Gaming is not obligated to recognize any purported sale or other
transfer of the Option or any Purchased Stock in violation of this Section 3 


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and,
unless it elects to do otherwise, may treat any such purported sale or transfer as null, void, and of no effect. 



	4.
	Rights to Buy Back Purchased Stock and to Require Payback of Certain Profits.



	(a)
	If
the Board discovers that Participant has engaged in any conduct prohibited by Section 5 or if Participant ceases to be
employed by the Company and the Board, in its sole discretion, determines that Participant's cessation of employment resulted from a Termination for Substantial Misconduct or would have resulted from
a Termination for Substantial Misconduct had the relevant facts been known at the time of Participant's cessation of employment, Anchor Gaming will have (i) the right for 180 days after
the Board discovers the relevant facts to cancel any unexercised Option, whether or not Vested, and to buy back from Participant any shares of Purchased Stock then owned by Participant, at a purchase
price equal to the price per share paid by Participant for the shares, and (ii) the right to require Participant to pay back to Anchor Gaming in cash the Net Investment Proceeds with respect to
any shares of Purchased Stock sold or otherwise transferred by Participant.



	(b)
	Whenever
Anchor Gaming has a right to buy back shares of Purchased Stock or to require Participant to pay back to Anchor Gaming Participant's Net Investment Proceeds with respect to
any shares of Purchased Stock under this Section 4, Anchor Gaming may exercise its right by notifying
Participant or the subsequent holder of Anchor Gaming's election to exercise its right within the designated exercise period. In the case of a buyback under  Section 4(a), the giving of such notice
will give rise to an obligation on the part of Participant or the subsequent holder to tender to Anchor
Gaming, within 10 days, any previously issued certificate representing shares of Purchased Stock to be bought back, duly endorsed in blank or having a duly executed stock power attached in
proper form for transfer free and clear of any claim by any other person or entity. If any such certificate is not tendered within 10 days, Anchor Gaming may cancel any outstanding certificate
representing shares to be bought back. Anchor Gaming is required to tender the purchase price for shares to be bought back under this Section 4  within 20 days of giving notice of its election
to exercise its right to buy back shares. If the person from whom the shares are to be bought back has not complied with
an obligation to return a certificate representing shares to be bought back, however, Anchor Gaming is not required to tender the purchase price until 20 days after the certificate is duly
returned or 20 days after it cancels the certificate, whichever occurs first. 







	5.
	Competition and Non-Disclosure.  Participant acknowledges that: (i) in the course and as a result
of employment with the Company, Participant will obtain special training and knowledge and will come in contact with the Company's current and potential customers, which training, knowledge, and
contacts would provide invaluable benefits to competitors of the Company; (ii) the Company is continuously developing or receiving Confidential Information, and that during Participant's
employment he or she will receive Confidential Information from the Company, its customers and suppliers and special training related to the Company's business methodologies; and
(iii) Participant's employment by Company creates a relationship of trust that extends to all Confidential Information that becomes known to Participant. Accordingly, and as a material
inducement to Anchor Gaming to grant this Option to Participant and other good and valuable consideration, Participant agrees that Anchor Gaming will be entitled to terminate all rights to exercise
the Option and to exercise the rights specified in Section 4 if Participant does any of the following without the prior written consent of the
Company:



	(a)
	while
employed by the Company or within one year thereafter:



	(i)
	competes
with, or engages in any business that is competitive with, the Company within 250 miles of any location at which the Company has done
business during the employment of the Participant with the Company; 








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	(ii)
	solicits
or performs services, as an employee, independent contractor, or otherwise, for any person or entity (including any affiliates or
subsidiaries of that person or entity) that is or was a customer or prospect of the Company during the two years before Participant's employment with the Company ended if Participant solicited
business from or performed services for that customer or prospect while employed by Company; or



	(iii)
	recruits,
hires, or assist, directly or indirectly, anyone to recruit or hire anyone who was an employee of the Company, or of any of its
customers for whom Participant performed services of from whom Participant solicited business, within the six months before Participant's employment with the Company ended; or 







	(b)
	discloses
or uses any Confidential Information, except in connection with the good faith performance of Participant's duties as an employee; or fails to take reasonable precautions
against the unauthorized disclosure or use of Confidential Information; fails, upon Anchor Gaming' request, to execute and comply with a third party's agreement to protect its confidential and
proprietary information; solicits or induces the unauthorized disclosure or use of Confidential Information; or fails to return on Anchor Gaming's request any and all Confidential Information in the
Participant's care, custody, or control. 




If
any court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision of this Section 5 to be unreasonable as to substantive scope, duration or geographic
scope, then the Participant expressly agrees that, at Anchor's sole discretion, and in addition to any other remedies at law or equity that may be available to Anchor Gaming: (i) such provision
will be considered to be amended to provide the broadest scope of protection to the Company that such court would find reasonable and enforceable or (ii) Anchor Gaming may require that this
Agreement be rescinded. 



	6.
	Compliance with Securities Laws.  Participant hereby agrees that, upon demand by Anchor Gaming, any person exercising
this Option, at the time of such exercise, will deliver to Anchor Gaming a written representation to the effect that the shares of Purchased Stock being acquired are being acquired for investment and
not with a view to any resale or distribution thereof. Participant further agrees that neither Participant nor any successor in interest of Participant will sell or otherwise transfer the Option or
any shares of Purchased Stock in any way that might result in a violation of any federal or state securities laws or regulations. Participant further acknowledges and agrees that Anchor Gaming may
require Participant or any subsequent holder of the Option or of any shares of Purchased Stock to provide Anchor Gaming, prior to any sale or other transfer, with such other representations,
commitments, and opinions regarding compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations as Anchor Gaming may deem necessary or advisable.



	7.
	Stock Certificates; Rights as Shareholder.  All certificates representing shares of Purchased Stock will bear such
legends as the Board determines are necessary or appropriate. Whether or not certificates representing shares of Purchased Stock have been issued or delivered, Participant will have all the rights of
a shareholder of Purchased Stock, including voting, dividend and distribution rights, with respect to shares of Purchased Stock owned by Participant. Participant will not have any rights as a
shareholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock subject to the Option before the date of issuance to Participant of shares upon exercise of the Option.



	8.
	Income Tax Withholding.  Participant shall, upon request by the Company, reimburse the Company for, or the Company may
withhold from sums or property otherwise due or payable to Participant, any amounts the Company is required to remit to applicable taxing authorities as income tax withholding
with respect to the Option or any Purchased Stock. If shares of Purchased Stock are withheld for such purpose, they will be withheld at Market Value. If Participant fails to reimburse the Company for
any such amount when requested, the Company has the right to recover that amount by selling or canceling sufficient shares of any Purchased Stock held by Participant. 


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	9.
	Compliance with Plan.  Participant acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and further acknowledges that this
Agreement is entered into, and the Option is granted, pursuant to the Plan. If the provisions of the Plan are inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of the Plan supersede
the provisions of this Agreement.



	10.
	Notices.  Any notice to Anchor Gaming or the Company that is required or permitted by this Agreement shall be
addressed to the attention of the Secretary of Anchor Gaming at its principal office. Any notice to Participant that is required or permitted by this Agreement shall be addressed to Participant at the
most recent address for Participant reflected in the appropriate records of the Company. Either party may at any time change its address for notification purposes by giving the other written notice of
the new address and the date upon which it will become effective. Whenever this Agreement requires or permits any notice from one party to another, the notice must be in writing to be effective and,
if mailed, shall be deemed to have been given on the third business day after the same is enclosed in an envelope, addressed to the party to be notified at the appropriate address, property stamped,
sealed, and deposited in the United States mail, and, if mailed to the Company, by certified mail, return receipt requested.



	11.
	Remedies.  Anchor Gaming is entitled, in addition to any other remedies it may have at law or in equity, to temporary
and permanent injunctive and other equitable relief to enforce the provisions of this Agreement. Any action to enforce the provisions of, or relating to, this Agreement may be brought in the state or
federal courts having jurisdiction in the State of Nevada. By signing this Agreement, Participant consents to the personal jurisdiction of such courts in any such action.



	12.
	Assignment.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective
heirs, personal representatives, successors, and assigns. However, Participant does not have the power or right to assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of Anchor Gaming.



	13.
	Attorneys' Fees.  If any legal proceeding is brought to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the
prevailing party will be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees, costs, and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which that party may be entitled.



	14.
	Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the validity and
enforceability of all other provisions of this Agreement will not be affected.



	15.
	Headings.  The section headings used herein are for reference and convenience only and do not affect the
interpretation of this Agreement.



	16.
	Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of Nevada,
without regard to the choice of law rules in such law or any other principle that could require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.



	17.
	Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, together with the Plan and any procedure adopted by the Board or the Committee
under the Plan, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter and may be waived or modified only in writing. 


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    IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Participant and a duly-authorized representative of Anchor Gaming have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written. 



	PARTICIPANT:

Geoffrey A. Sage	 	ANCHOR GAMING
	

/s/ GEOFFREY A. SAGE   
	
 	

By:	

/s/ T. J. MATTHEWS   

	Signature	 	 	Title:  CEO




 
 

CONSENT OF SPOUSE    
  


    As the spouse of Participant, I consent to be bound by this Stock Option Agreement and agree that this consent will be binding on my interest under this
Agreement and on my heirs, legatees, and assigns. 



	 	 	/s/ BRENDA M. SAGE   

	 	 	Signature
	

 	
 	

Brenda M. Sage

	 	 	Printed Name




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ATTACHMENT A    
    
    TO    
    
    STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT    
    
    FOR    
    
    Geoffrey A. Sage    
  



	1.	 	Purchase Price:	 	$50.00 per Share.
	2.	 	Expiration Date:	 	December 31, 2005, unless earlier terminated under terms of the Agreement.
	3.	 	Vesting Schedule:	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	Vesting Dates
 
	 	 
	 	Number of

Options Vesting

	 	 	June 30, 2000	 	5,000
	 	 	December 31,2000	 	5,000
	 	 	December 31, 2003	 	10,000
	 	 	December 31, 2004	 	10,000
	 	 	            Total	 	30,000
	 	 	 	 	 	 	






    Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Agreement or of this Attachment A, in the event of a Change of Control, if that the
Participant is terminated other than in a Termination for Substantial Misconduct, significantly demoted, or required to relocate to a place of work more than 60 miles from his or her prior place of
work either in contemplation of a Change of Control or within one year following a Change of Control, the Options of the Participant under the Agreement will become immediately Vested and
exerciseable. Such Options will remain fully Vested and exercisable for one year from the date of the termination, demotion, or requirement to relocate. 


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	MEMORANDUM TO:	 	Stan Fulton and Mike Rumbolz
	

FROM:	
 	

Geoff Sage /s/ GEOFF SAGE   
	

DATE:	
 	

January 3, 2000
	

SUBJECT:	
 	

Summary of our recent discussions regarding my compensation structure
	


	

Base pay:	
 	

Increase to $150,000 effective 1/1/00
	

 	
 	

Increase to $200,000 effective 1/1/01
	

Bonus:	
 	

$100,000 minimum each December
	

Stock options:	
 	

30,000 new options @ $50.00 grant price to vest as follows: 5,000 shares on 06/30/00, 5,000 shares on 12/31/00, 10,000 shares on 12/31/03, and 10,000 shares on 12/31/04





    The
Anchor Gaming Compensation committee (Glen Hettinger. Chairman, Mike Fulton and Mike Rumbolz, members) discussed and agreed to the above. 


    Please
sign below to evidence our mutual understanding of the above. 



	 	 	/s/ MIKE RUMBOLZ   
 Mike Rumbolz	 	12/31/99
 date




Anchor Gaming  •  815 Pilot Road Suite G
  •  Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
(702) 896-7568  •  Fax
(702) 896-6992









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EXHIBIT 10.27


Anchor Gaming Anchor Gaming 1995 Stock Option Plan

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

RECITALS

CONSENT OF SPOUSE

ATTACHMENT A TO STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT FOR Geoffrey A. Sage