EX-10.2



 





EXHIBIT
10.2




EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT




     THIS AGREEMENT is made as of October 25, 2006, between Centerplate, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), and William H. Peterson, 3045 McConnell Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90064
(“Executive”). In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties
hereto agree as follows:



     1. Employment Period and Duties.



          (a) Executive’s employment with the Company shall begin on a date to be mutually agreed but
not later than November 13, 2006 and shall continue until terminated by either Executive or the
Company in accordance with Section 3 (the “Employment Period”).




          (b) Subject to the terms of this Agreement, Executive will be employed by the Company as
Executive Vice President-Operations. Executive will perform the duties typically associated with
such position and/or such other duties as may be specified by the Company’s President and Chief
Executive Officer from time to time.




          (c) Executive hereby accepts such employment and agrees to discharge all of such duties and
responsibilities faithfully and to the best of Executive’s ability, and to devote all of
Executive’s business time, skill and attention to such duties and responsibilities. During the
Employment Period, Executive agrees not to engage in any other activities of any kind which could
give rise to a conflict of interest for Executive with respect to his obligations to the Company.




     2. Compensation and Benefits. During the Employment Period:



          (a) Base Salary. Executive will be paid the annualized sum of $360,000 (the “Base
Salary”), less applicable withholdings, payable in regular installments in accordance with the
Company’s regular payroll practices. The Company endeavors to review its compensation of senior
management personnel on an annual basis, and Executive’s Base Salary may be adjusted from time to
time in the Company’s sole discretion.




          (b) Bonuses. Executive will be entitled to participate in the Company’s Annual Bonus
Plan (the “Plan”) in accordance with the terms of the Plan in effect from time to time.
Executive’s bonus target will be 50% of Base Salary. For 2006, Executive’s bonus award under the
Plan will be $100,000. For 2007, Executive’s award under the Plan will be no less than $100,000.
After six months of continuous service, Executive will be entitled to receive a special bonus of
$150,000. This bonus will not affect or be credited against Executive’s 2007 bonus award under the
Plan.




 









 








          (c) Long Term Performance Plan. Executive will be entitled to participate in the
Company’s Long-Term Performance Plan (the “LTPP”) in accordance with the terms of the LTPP
established by the Board from time to time.




          (d) Benefits. Executive may participate, on the same basis and subject to the same
qualifications as other senior management personnel of the Company, in all health and welfare
benefit programs offered by the Company and in the Company’s 401(k) retirement and savings program,
as in effect from time to time, after applicable waiting periods and during applicable enrollment
periods. Executive will be entitled to a Company-leased automobile in accordance with applicable
Company policy, as it may be amended from time to time.




          (e) Expense Reimbursement. The Company shall reimburse Executive, upon submission of
proper invoices in accordance with the Company’s normal procedures, for all reasonable
out-of-pocket business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder.




          (f) Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to four weeks of vacation, in accordance
with the Company’s policies applicable from time to time to the Company’s senior management.




     3. Termination.



          (a) The Employment Period shall terminate upon at least one month’s advance notice by
Executive, in the event of his resignation. The Company shall be entitled to accept Executive’s
resignation prior to the effective date proposed by Executive. In addition, the Employment Period
shall terminate (i) immediately upon notice by the Company, for Cause (as hereinafter defined);
(ii) immediately in the event of Executive’s death or Disability (as hereinafter defined); or (iii)
upon two weeks’ notice by the Company, without Cause. The Company may, in its sole discretion,
provide pay to Executive in lieu of such two week notice period.




          (b) In the event the Employment Period is terminated by the Company without Cause, and
provided Executive has executed and delivered to the Company a valid and effective release of all
claims against the Company in a form acceptable to the Company, Executive shall be entitled to
receive severance in an amount equal to one year of Executive’s then-current Base Salary, payable
in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices (less appropriate withholdings) over a
one year period from the date of termination. The commencement of such payments will be delayed,
if necessary, to comply with applicable law.




          (c) Except as provided in Section 3(b), Executive shall not be entitled to any Base Salary,
bonus or other payments or benefits of any kind upon termination of his

2









 








employment, other than (i) Executive’s then-current Base Salary through his termination date; (ii)
accrued and unused vacation (to the extent applicable under Company policy); (iii) reimbursement of
expenses to which Executive is entitled under the terms set forth in Section 2(e) for the period
preceding the termination date; and (iv) payments, if any, to which Executive is entitled under the
terms of the LTPP.




          (d) For purposes of this Agreement:




          “Cause” means (i) Executive’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, any
felony, or to a non-felony crime involving moral turpitude; (ii) an act or omission by Executive
involving fraud or dishonesty, or which subjects the Company to disrepute; (iii) any conduct by
Executive that constitutes “just cause” under applicable law; (iv) failure by Executive to perform
material duties or to comply with Company policies as reasonably directed by the Company’s
President and Chief Executive Officer, after written notice and a period of thirty (30) days to
correct such failure, (v) gross negligence, willful misconduct or gross insubordination by
Executive in connection with his employment; or (vi) any breach by Executive of this Agreement.




          “Disability” means Executive becomes physically or mentally incapacitated and is
therefore unable (or will as a result thereof, be unable) for a period of 120 consecutive days, or
for an aggregate of 180 days in any consecutive twelve month period, to perform his duties. Any
questions about the existence of the Disability about which Executive and the Company are unable to
agree shall be determined in writing by a qualified independent physician mutually acceptable to
Executive (or his representative) and the Company. If Executive (or his representative) and the
Company cannot agree on a qualified independent physician, each shall choose such a physician and
the two chosen physicians shall jointly appoint a third who shall make such determination in
writing. The determination of Disability made in accordance with this provision shall be
conclusive and binding for all purposes hereunder.




     4. Confidential Information.



          (a) Executive acknowledges that by virtue of his position, he will be privy to the Company’s
and its subsidiaries’ confidential information, including, but not limited to:
(i) business and strategic plans; (ii) forecasts and projections, computer programs and software,
profits, costs of sales, labor costs, per capita spending, inventory turnover, cost structures,
profitability of particular accounts and other financial information; (iii) information regarding
the identities, addresses, key contacts, needs, and pricing or bidding constraints of clients and
prospective clients of the Company and its subsidiaries; (iv) customer, franchise and supplier
agreements, strategic alliances and preferred provider agreements, and the terms thereof; and (v)
methods of operation, strategies for expansion, acquisition targets, bidding strategies and bids,
policy and procedure manuals, recipes and menus, accounting forms and procedures, marketing plans
and techniques (hereafter collectively, the “Confidential Information”). Executive shall not (i)
use the Confidential Information for the benefit of himself or any person or entity other than the
Company and its subsidiaries, or (ii) disclose all or any part of the Confidential Information to
any person or entity, for any reason or purpose whatsoever, other than as required




3









 







in the performance of his duties. Executive shall not be in breach of this Section for making any
disclosure required by law, provided that the Executive shall notify the Company in writing before
making any such disclosure and cooperate with the Company in seeking to obtain protection for the
Confidential Information. Anything discovered or created by Executive relating to the Company’s or
its subsidiaries’ business, or based on Confidential Information, will be the property of the
Company or its subsidiaries.




          (b) Upon termination of the Employment Period, Executive will return to the Company all
property belonging to the Company or its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, all records,
documents and other materials of whatever nature and in any format (including electronic media)
containing Confidential Information, without retaining any copies thereof.




     5. Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation.



          (a) Executive acknowledges that the Company has invested, and will continue to invest,
substantial time, effort and money in developing and serving its customer base, and that
Executive’s position with the Company is of a special, unique and key character. In his position,
Executive will have knowledge of extremely sensitive Confidential Information which would
inevitably be used by Executive if he were to engage in activities that are competitive with the
Company. Executive also acknowledges that his employment will involve direct contact and
relationships with actual and prospective clients and that part of the services for which Executive
is compensated includes the creation, promotion and development of customer relationships on behalf
of the Company. (For the purposes of this Section 5, a reference to the Company shall be deemed to
include its subsidiaries.)




          (b) Executive agrees that during the Employment Period and for two (2) years thereafter (the
“Restricted Period”), he shall not, whether as an owner, officer, director, employee,
consultant, or in any other capacity, directly or indirectly, work or consult with or for, or
provide services to: (i) any of the Company’s then-current clients or prospective clients, or any
sports, recreational or entertainment facilities of the same types (e.g., stadiums, arenas,
convention centers, racetracks), as the Company’s then-current clients; provided, however, that in
the second year of the Restricted Period, Executive may, with the consent of the Company, which
shall not be unreasonably withheld, provide facility management services to any sports or
entertainment facilities that are not then-current clients or prospective clients of the Company;
or (ii) any business that competes with the Company (a “Company Competitor”). A Company Competitor
shall include, without limitation, Aramark Corporation/SMG, Delaware North Corporation, Compass
Group plc/Levy Restaurants, Global Spectrum/Ovations, and their respective affiliates.




          (c) During the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, whether as an owner, officer, director,
employee, consultant, or in any other capacity, directly or indirectly, (i) attempt to induce any
employee of the Company to leave his/her employment or hire any person who was an employee of the
Company during the two year period preceding Executive’s termination

4









 








date; or (ii) attempt to induce any client or prospective client, supplier, vendor, franchisee
or other business relation of the Company not to do business with, or to cease doing business with,
the Company, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such person or entity and
the Company (including, without limitation, making any negative or disparaging statements or
communications regarding the Company or any of its employees).




          (d) Executive agrees that the foregoing restrictions are reasonable in time and scope in light
of his position and duties at the Company and are necessary to protect the Company’s trade secrets.
Executive expressly acknowledges that any actual or threatened breach of Section 4 or this Section
5 will result in significant and continuing injury to the Company, the monetary value of which may
be impossible to establish. Therefore, Executive agrees that, in the event a breach or threatened
breach of Section 4 or this Section 5, the Company, in addition to other rights and remedies
available to them at law, shall be entitled to specific performance and/or injunctive or other
equitable relief (without posting a bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent
violation of such sections.




          (e) Executive and the Company intend that the covenants and restrictions contained in Sections
4 and 5 shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. Accordingly, the parties request
that such covenants and restrictions be modified, if necessary, to bring them into conformance with
any rule of law or statutory provision, while giving maximum effect to the intent of the parties
expressed herein, and that the covenants and restrictions be enforced as modified. If an
arbitration panel or a court refuses to modify this Agreement and instead holds any provision of
this Agreement to be invalid, the parties agree that that provision will be deemed automatically
amended to the extent made necessary by the arbitrators’ or court’s opinion and shall be
enforceable as so modified.




     6. Executive’s Representations. Executive represents to the Company that he is not
subject to any employment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-disclosure agreement or other
agreement, covenant, understanding or restriction which would prevent him from fully performing his
duties hereunder.



     7. Arbitration. Except for claims barred by the applicable statute of limitations,
any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to Executive’s employment, including, without
limitation, claims against any current or former employee, officer or director of the Company,
claims relating to the termination of employment, discrimination, retaliation, defamation or
misrepresentation and claims relating to the breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, shall
be resolved by arbitration in the City of Stamford, Connecticut by a three (3) member panel in
accordance with the then governing rules of the American Arbitration Association relating to
employment disputes, including, without limitation, the optional rules for emergency measures of
protection. The arbitrators’ decision shall be written and shall include findings of fact and law
that support the decision. The arbitrators shall have the authority to award any remedy or relief
that a court could order or grant, including, without limitation, specific performance or
injunctive relief; provided, however, that the arbitrators shall have no authority to make any
ruling, finding or award that does not conform to the terms and conditions



5









 







of this Agreement. All fees and expenses of the arbitration including, without limitation,
arbitrators and administrative fees, shall be borne by the parties equally; however, each party
shall bear the expense of its own counsel, experts, witnesses and preparation and presentation of
proof. The findings of the arbitration panel shall be final and binding on the parties, except to
the extent that Connecticut law allows for judicial review of arbitration awards. Judgment upon
any arbitration award may be entered and enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction. Except
as required by law or to the extent required to enforce any award or participate in the arbitration
(including, without limitation, communicating with counsel and witnesses or potential witnesses),
the parties will keep any arbitration proceeding and the underlying dispute confidential and shall
require those to whom permitted disclosures are made under this provision to maintain such
confidentiality.



     8. Miscellaneous.



          (a) This Agreement embodies the complete agreement and understanding between the parties and
supersedes any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or between the parties,
written or oral, which relates to the subject matter hereof.




          (b) Executive acknowledges that his services are unique and personal and, therefore, Executive
may not assign or delegate his duties or obligations hereunder. The Company’s rights and
obligations hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the Company’s
successors and assigns.




          (c) The validity, construction, interpretation, administration and effect of this Agreement
shall be governed, construed and interpreted under the laws of the State of Connecticut without
giving any effect to the choice of law rules of any state.




          (d) The parties agree that any monetary recovery in connection with a dispute arising out of
this Agreement shall be limited to a party’s actual damages and that neither the Company nor
Executive shall seek or be entitled to receive any special, consequential or punitive damages of
any kind in connection with any such dispute.




          (e) No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be valid or binding unless made in
writing and signed by Executive and the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer.




          (f) Neither the failure nor the delay of any party to exercise any right under this Agreement
on one or more occasions shall constitute or be deemed a waiver of such breach or right. Waivers
shall only be effective if they are in writing and signed by the party against whom the waiver or
consent is to be enforced. No waiver given by any party under this Agreement shall be construed as
a continuing waiver of such provision or a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement.




6









 








          (g) The provisions contained in Sections 4, 5 and 7 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.




          (h) All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing, sent by personal
delivery, or by overnight delivery service addressed to Executive, at his last known residence
address, and to the Company at its principal office, or to such other addresses as the parties may
from time to time specify to one another in compliance with this subsection.




          (i) The invalidity or non-enforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect
the remaining provisions of this Agreement or the application thereof, provided that no party is,
as a result thereof, deprived of the enjoyment of its substantial benefits under this Agreement.




          (j) Captions in this Agreement are inserted only as a matter of convenience and shall not be
used to interpret or construe any provision of this Agreement.




     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first
written above.



	 	 	 	 	 
	CENTERPLATE, INC.	 	EXECUTIVE:
	 
	 	 	 	 
	By:
	 	/s/ Janet L. Steinmayer	 	/s/ William H. Peterson
	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Janet L. Steinmayer
	 	William H. Peterson
	 

	 	President and Chief Executive Officer	 	 







7