-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Knfyns4MPQTKIQdvuLxsQqlSKd+DIUGec83vKdLXU76Rwg7GrLfKvXr6lJX6bMnk Ng5FRooKpTGgW8eC7jVmpA== 0001104659-08-015936.txt : 20080306 0001104659-08-015936.hdr.sgml : 20080306 20080306172938 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-08-015936 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20080301 ITEM INFORMATION: Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20080306 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20080306 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SHUFFLE MASTER INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000718789 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES [3990] IRS NUMBER: 411448495 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MN FISCAL YEAR END: 1031 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-20820 FILM NUMBER: 08672039 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1106 PALMS AIRPORT DRIVE CITY: LAS VEGAS STATE: NV ZIP: 89119 BUSINESS PHONE: 7028977150 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1106 PALMS AIRPORT DRIVE CITY: LAS VEGAS STATE: NV ZIP: 89119 8-K 1 a08-7595_18k.htm 8-K

 

United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  March 1, 2008

 

 

SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Minnesota

 

0-20820

 

41-1448495

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation or Organization)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

1106 Palms Airport Drive

Las Vegas, Nevada

 

 

89119-3720

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (702) 897-7150

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

On March 6, 2008, Shuffle Master, Inc. (NASDAQ National Market: SHFL) (either the “Company,” “we” or “our”) announced that effective March 1, 2008, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer Coreen Sawdon has been appointed as Acting Chief Financial Officer, replacing Paul Meyer in that role. Mr. Meyer will continue as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer.

 

Ms. Sawdon, age 40, joined the Company in July 2005 as Vice President of Accounting.  Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Sawdon spent three years at GES Exposition Services where she was Vice President of Finance. Ms. Sawdon has more than thirteen years of public accounting experience, the last ten years of which were spent specializing in the gaming and hospitality industry. Ms. Sawdon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Pepperdine University.  The press release and Ms. Sawdon’s current Employment Agreement are included herein as Exhibit 99.1 and 10.1, respectively.  No new employment contract has been entered into relating to Ms. Sawdon’s role as Acting Chief Financial Officer with the Company.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

 (d) Exhibits

 

10.1        Employment Agreement, by and between Shuffle Master, Inc. and Coreen Sawdon.

 

99.1        Press release of Shuffle Master, Inc. appointing Coreen Sawdon as the Acting Chief Financial Officer.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

Date:    March  6, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 /s/ Mark L. Yoseloff

 

Mark L. Yoseloff

 

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

 

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EX-10.1 2 a08-7595_1ex10d1.htm EX-10.1

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

Coreen Sawdon

 

                                                THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 16th  day of October, 2007, by and between Shuffle Master, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), and Coreen Sawdon (the “Employee”), a resident of the State of Nevada.

 

RECITALS:

 

                                                A.                                   The Company is in the business of developing, manufacturing, distributing and otherwise commercializing gaming equipment, games (live, electronic and simulated), operating systems for gaming equipment, and related products and services throughout the United States and in Canada and other countries (the “Business”).

 

                                                B.                                     Company and Employee want to create an at-will employment relationship that protects the Company with appropriate confidentiality and non-compete covenants, and compensates the Employee for performing her obligations appropriately.

 

                                                C.                                     The Company and Employee desire that Employee be employed by the Company on the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT

 

                                                In consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, Employee and the Company agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Employment.  The Company hereby employs Employee as its Senior Vice President — Finance and Chief Accountant reporting to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and indirectly to the Chair of the Board of Director’s Audit Committee.  Employee shall perform the normal duties of that position and as otherwise directed as contained in Exhibit A.  Employee’s employment under this Agreement with the Company is for a term of two (2) years (the “Term”), beginning on August 1, 2007 (the “Commencement Date”), through July 31, 2009.

 

2.                                       Salary, Bonus and Benefits.

 

a.               From the Commencement Date through July 31, 2008, and retroactively to February 18, 2007, Employee shall be paid an annual base salary of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00), for the period January 1, 2007 through February 17, 2007, Employee shall be paid an annual base salary of One Hundred Seventy-Seven Thousand Six Hundred Seventy Five Dollars ($177,675.00) paid in the same intervals as other Employees of the Company; and if employed through October 31, 2007, Employee will be eligible to receive an executive bonus in accordance with the terms and conditions of the executive bonus program and/or the individual performance bonus program authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) for other comparable senior vice president-level employees of the Company for fiscal year 2007,

 

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with a bonus in a range of percentages, but with a target bonus of 40% of Employee’s base salary.

 

b.              During the second fiscal year of this Agreement, Employee will receive an annualized base salary of no less than Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000), and will also be eligible to participate in an executive bonus program and/or in an individual performance bonus program that applies to other comparable senior vice-president level employees of the Company as authorized by the Board, up to a target bonus of 45% of Employee’s base salary.  Employee will not, however, be eligible to participate in the Company’s non-executive bonus program.  Employee acknowledges receipt of any bonuses or incentives applicable to fiscal years 2005 and 2006 and any equity grants promised to Employee in her Letter Agreement with the Company, dated June 17, 2005.  Employee also acknowledges receipt of 5,000 restricted shares on July 17, 2007, in anticipation of this Agreement.

 

c.               Any stock options or restricted stock units granted at any time to Employee shall vest in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable grant by the Board and, as otherwise may be applicable, with any relevant terms and conditions of the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan as amended (the “Plan”).  Employee acknowledges that any option grants are at the sole discretion of the Board.

 

d.              Employee’s salary is set in the expectation that (except for vacation days and holidays) Employee’s full time will be devoted to Employee’s duties hereunder.

 

e.               During Employee’s employment with the Company, the Company will promptly pay or reimburse Employee for reasonable travel, entertainment and other expenses incurred by Employee in the furtherance of or in connection with the performance of Employee’s duties.  Such reimbursement will be in accordance with Company policies in existence from time to time.

 

f.                 For as long as the Company makes the following benefits available to any comparable senior vice president-level employees of the Company, Company agrees to provide Employee with:

 

i.                  Club Sport Family membership;

ii.               Premiere Care medical services.

 

g.              Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, Employee shall be and is an employee “at will,” terminable at any time, with or without just cause or notice.

 

3.                                       Outside Services or Consulting.  Employee shall devote Employee’s full professional time and best professional efforts to the Company.  Employee may render other professional or consulting services to other persons or businesses from time to time during the Term, only if Employee meets all of the following requirements:

 

a.               The services do not interfere in any manner with the Employee’s ability to fulfill all of her duties and obligations to the Company.

 

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b.              The services are not rendered to any business that may compete with the Company in any area of the Business or do not otherwise violate paragraph 4 hereof.

 

c.               The services do not relate to any products or services, which form part of the Business.

 

d.              Employee informs and obtains the consent of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

 

4.                                       Non-competition.  In consideration of the provisions of this Agreement, Employee hereby agrees that she shall not, during the term of her full-time employment and for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter:

 

a.               Directly or indirectly own, manage, operate, participate in, consult with or work for any business, which is engaged in the Business anywhere in the United States or Canada.

 

b.              Either alone or in conjunction with any other person, partnership or business, directly or indirectly, solicit, hire, or divert or attempt to solicit, hire or divert any of the Employees, independent contractors, or agents of the Company (or its affiliates or successors) to work for or represent any competitor of the Company (or its affiliates or successors), or to call upon any of the customers of the Company (or its affiliates or successors).

 

c.               Directly or indirectly provide any services to any person, company or entity, which is engaged in the Business anywhere in the United States or Canada.

 

5.                                       Confidentiality; Inventions.

 

a.               Employee shall fully and promptly disclose to the Company all inventions, discoveries, software and writings that Employee may make, conceive, discover, develop or reduce to practice either solely or jointly with others during Employee’s employment with the Company, whether or not during usual work hours.  Employee agrees that all such inventions, discoveries, software and writing shall be and remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company, and Employee hereby agrees to assign, and hereby assigns all of Employee’s right, title and interest in and to any such inventions, discoveries, software and writings to the Company.  Employee agrees to keep complete records of such inventions, discoveries, software and writings, which records shall be and remain the sole property of the Company, and to execute and deliver, either during or after Employee’s employment with the Company, such documents as the Company shall deem necessary or desirable to obtain such letters patent, utility models, inventor’s certificates, copyrights, trademarks or other appropriate legal rights of the United States and foreign countries as the Company may, in its sole discretion, elect, and to vest title thereto in the Company, its successors, assigns, or nominees.

 

b.              “Inventions,” as used herein, shall include inventions, discoveries, improvements, ideas and conceptions, developments and designs, whether or not patentable, tested, reduced to practice, subject to copyright or other rights or forms of protection, or relating to data processing, communications, computer software systems, programs and procedures.

 

3



 

c.               Employee understands that all copyrightable work that Employee may create while employed by the Company is a “work made for hire,” and that the Company is the owner of the copyright therein.  Employee hereby assigns all right, title and interest to the copyright therein to the Company.

 

d.              Employee has no inventions, improvements, discoveries, software or writings useful to the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates in the normal course of business, which were conceived, made or written prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

e.               Employee will not publish or otherwise disclose, either during or after Employee’s employment with the Company, any published or proprietary or confidential information or secret relating to the Company, the Business, the Company’s operations or the Company’s products or services.  Employee will not publish or otherwise disclose proprietary or confidential information of others to which Employee has had access or obtained knowledge in the course of Employee’s employment with the Company.  Upon termination of Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, retain or take with Employee any drawing, writing or other record in any form or nature which relates to any of the foregoing.

 

f.                 Employee understands that Employee’s employment with the Company creates a relationship of trust and confidence between Employee and the Company.  Employee understands that Employee may encounter information in the performance of Employee’s duties that is confidential to the Company or its customers.  For the Term hereof, and until the information falls into the public domain, Employee agrees to maintain in confidence all information pertaining to the Business or the Company to which Employee has access including, but not limited to, information relating to the Company’s products, inventions, trade secrets, know how, systems, formulas, processes, compositions, customer information and lists, research projects, data processing and computer software techniques, programs and systems, costs, sales volume or strategy, pricing, profitability, plans, marketing strategy, expansion or acquisition or divestiture plans or strategy and information of similar nature received from others with whom the Company does business.  Employee agrees not to use, communicate or disclose or authorize any other person to use, communicate or disclose such information orally, in writing, or by publication, either during Employee’s employment with the Company or thereafter except as expressly authorized in writing by the Company unless and until such information becomes generally known in the relevant trade to which it relates without fault on Employee’s part, or as required by law.

 

6.                                       Termination or Non-Extension by Company Without Just Cause

 

a.               Employee’s employment by the Company is “at will” therefore, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company may terminate Employee’s full-time employment at any time either with or without just cause. In the event of any termination of Employee’s full-time employment with the Company without just cause, or in the event that Employee’s full-time employment is not extended or renewed beyond the Term on terms at least as favorable to Employee as Employee is receiving during the last year of the Term, then Employee will remain bound to the covenants not to compete and

 

4



 

confidentiality obligations of paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Agreement, according to their terms, and each one of the following shall apply:

 

i.                                          Employee shall be paid an amount equal to one-half of her then annual base salary, paid over a period of twelve (12) months from Employee’s termination, in equal monthly installments and at the same intervals as other Employees of the Company are then being paid their base salaries;

 

ii.                                       Employee shall continue to receive, during the twelve (12) months from Employee’s termination, all medical insurance and any other benefits (except for the benefit in paragraph 2(f)(i)) or insurance coverages which Employee would have received had her employment not been so terminated, or not extended, provided however, if the Employee is not eligible for said medical insurance, the Company shall pay the COBRA premiums for continuation coverage during the said twelve (12) month period;

 

iii.                                    Employee shall receive additional compensation for her covenant not to compete equal to the average annual bonus which Employee has received for the three most recent fiscal years during which Employee was employed, provided however that if Employee has not been employed for three full fiscal years, then the Company shall use the actual number of full fiscal years that the Employee was employed; and if the Employee has not been employed for a full fiscal year, than the Company shall use the bonus amount, if any, paid to Employee (but annualized for a full fiscal year) from the most recent partial  fiscal year for which the Employee was entitled to a bonus under this Agreement, and the amount due under this paragraph 6(a)(iii) shall be paid in the same intervals as other Employees of the Company are then being paid their base salaries;

 

iv.                                   Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, during the 12-month period referred to in this paragraph 6, Employee shall remain a part-time employee of the Company’s and, subject to Employee’s other professional duties, shall be available to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

 

b.              For purposes hereof, any of the following acts or events shall, at Employee’s option, constitute a termination without just cause under this paragraph 6 (but the following is not the entire list of reasons or events which may constitute a “termination without just cause”):

 

i.                                          any material diminution or reduction of Employee’s title, position, duties or responsibilities, except as caused by the acts or omissions of Employee; or

 

ii.                                       any material breach by Company of this Agreement that is not cured within thirty (30) days  after written notice by Employee of such breach.

 

c.               In the event that, at the end of the Term, the Company elects not to extend or renew Employee’s full-time employment beyond the Term on terms at least favorably to Employee as Employee is receiving during the last fiscal year of the Term, then such non-renewal shall be treated as a termination without cause.  In such case, the provisions of paragraphs 6(a)(i) through (iv) shall apply and Employee shall be bound to the

 

5



 

provisions of paragraphs 4 and 5 hereof for the period of time during which Employee is being paid pursuant to paragraph 6(a).

 

7.                                       Early Termination by Company for Just Cause.  The Company may terminate Employee for just cause.  In the event the Company terminates the Employee for just cause, the Employee will remain bound under the provisions of paragraphs 4 and 5, but will not be entitled to any compensation or benefits following her termination of employment under this Agreement.  Termination for “just cause” shall mean any of the following (and none of the following shall be interpreted as cumulative):

 

a.               dishonesty as to a matter which is materially injurious to the Company;

 

b.              the commission of a willful act or omission intended or likely to materially injure the business of the Company;

 

c.               a violation of any of the material provisions of Sections 4 and/or 5 hereof;

 

d.              a determination in good faith by the CFO or the Board that the Employee has failed to make a good faith effort to fully perform her duties as assigned by either the CFO or the Board, which is not remedied by the Employee within fifteen (15) days following the CFO’s or the Board’s written notice stating such alleged failure;

 

e.               the Employee is repeatedly inattentive to her duties pursuant to this Agreement and has received written notice of same and, if curable, has failed to so cure within 15 days of such written notice;

 

f.                 the Employee fails or is unable to become licensed in any jurisdiction where licensing is required, or once licensed, any loss or suspension thereof;

 

8.                                       Voluntary Termination by Employee.

 

a.               In the event Employee voluntarily terminates her employment with the Company, Employee will remain bound under the provisions of paragraphs 4 and 5 hereof, but will not be entitled to receive any compensation and benefits following her termination of employment except for any payments or benefits required by law.

 

b.              Voluntary termination means an intentional termination by the Employee without good reason and without pressure by the Company; and further, provided that there was not a material breach of this Agreement by the Company, prior to any such termination which remains uncured.

 

9.                                       Cooperation with Change in Control.  Employee will reasonably cooperate with the Company in the event of a Change in Control.

 

10.                                 No Conflicting Agreements.  Employee has the right to enter into this Agreement, and hereby confirms Employee has no contractual or other impediments to the performance of Employee’s obligations including, without limitation, any non-competition or similar agreement in favor of any other person or entity.

 

6



 

11.                                 Company Policies.  During the term of Employee’s employment, Employee shall engage in no activity or employment which may conflict with the interest of the Company, and Employee shall comply with all policies and procedures of the Company including, without limitation, all policies and procedures pertaining to ethics.

 

12.                                 Independent Covenants.  The covenants and agreements on the part of the Employee contained in paragraphs 4 and 5 hereof shall be construed as agreements independent of any other provision in this Agreement; thus, it is agreed that the relief for any claim or cause of action of the Employee against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall be measured in damages and shall not constitute a defense or bar to enforcement by the Company of those covenants and agreements.

 

13.                                 Injunctive Relief; Attorneys’ Fees.  In recognition of the irreparable harm that a violation by Employee of any of the covenants contained in either paragraphs 4 or 5 hereof would cause the Company, the Employee agrees that, in addition to any other relief afforded by law, an injunction (both temporary and permanent) against such violation or violations may be issued against him or her and every other person and entity concerned thereby, it being the understanding of the parties that both damages and an injunction shall be proper modes of relief and are not to be considered alternative remedies.  Employee consents to the issuance of such injunctive relief without the posting of a bond or other security.  In the event of any such alleged violation, THE LOSING PARTY AGREES TO PAY THE COSTS, EXPENSES AND REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES INCURRED BY THE PREVAILING PARTY IN PURSUING OR DEFENDING ANY OF ITS RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH ALLEGED VIOLATIONS, IN ADDITION TO THE ACTUAL DAMAGES SUSTAINED BY THE PREVAILING PARTY AS A RESULT THEREOF.

 

14.                                 Notice.  Any notice sent by registered mail to the last known address of the party to whom such notice is to be given shall satisfy the requirements of notice in this Agreement.

 

15.                                 Entire Agreement.  This Agreement is the entire agreement of the parties hereto concerning the subject matter hereof and supersedes and replaces in its entirety any oral or written existing agreements or understandings between the Company and the Employee relating generally to the same subject matter.  Company and Employee hereby acknowledge that there are no agreements or understandings of any nature, oral or written, regarding Employee’s employment, apart from this Agreement, and Employee acknowledges that no promises or agreements not contained in this Agreement have been made or offered by the Company.

 

16.                                 Severability.  It is agreed and understood by the parties hereto that if any provision of this Agreement should be determined by an arbitrator or court to be unenforceable in whole or in part, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it reasonable and enforceable under the circumstances, and the court shall be authorized by the parties to reform this Agreement in the least way necessary in order to make it reasonable and enforceable.

 

17.                                 Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

 

18.                                 Heirs, Successors and Assigns.  The terms, conditions, obligations, agreements and covenants hereof shall extend to, be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and

 

7



 

their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors, assigns, and/or acquirers, including any entity which acquires, merges with, or obtain control of the Company.

 

19.                                 Waiver of Breach.  The waiver by either the Company or the Employee of any breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as or be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach by either the Company or the Employee.

 

21.                                 Dispute Resolution.  Except for the Company’s right (either pursuant to paragraph 13 hereof or otherwise) to injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of paragraphs 4 and 5 hereof, the exclusive forum for the resolution of any dispute arising under this Agreement or any question of interpretation regarding the provisions of this Agreement (other than disputes relative to paragraphs 4 or 5 hereof) shall be resolved by arbitration, to be held in Clark County, Nevada, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Such arbitration shall be before an arbitrator, who must be a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators; chosen in accordance with the rules then in effect, of the American Arbitration Association.  In the event the Employee and Company fails within a reasonable period of time to agree on an arbitrator, the arbitrator shall be chosen by the American Arbitration Association.  The decision of the arbitrator shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the Company and Employee.

 

22.                                 Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended only by a document in writing signed by both the Employee and an officer of the Company, and no course of dealing or conduct of the Company shall constitute a waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

23.                                 Fees and Costs.  In any action bought by one party against the other pursuant to this Agreement or in the event of any dispute over the meaning of this Agreement, the successful party, in addition to recovering its awarded damages and other relief, shall be entitled to recover its attorney’s fees and costs from the unsuccessful party.

 

24.                                 Non-Disparagement and Cooperation.

 

a.               During any period of time wherein the Company is paying any base salary to Employee, whether during the Term hereof or during any time after the termination or expiration of this Agreement, and for a period of three (3) years thereafter, Employee shall not disparage or otherwise make any negative comments about the Company, its policies, products, Employees or management.  The Company may enforce these non-disparagement provisions by resort to injunctive relief as set forth in paragraph 13, in addition to any other damages that it may be entitled to under this Agreement or otherwise at law.

 

b.              Employee agrees to fully cooperate with the Company and its affiliates during the entire scope and duration of any litigation or administrative proceedings involving any matters with which Employee was involved during Employee’s employment with the Company.

 

c.               In the event Employee is contacted by parties or their legal counsel involved in litigation adverse to the Company or its affiliates, Employee (i) agrees to provide notice of such contact as soon as practicable; and (ii) acknowledges that any communication with or in the presence of legal counsel for the Company (including without limitation the Company’s outside legal counsel, the Company’s inside legal counsel, and legal counsel

 

8



 

of each related or affiliated entity of the Company) shall be privileged to the extent recognized by law and, further, will not do anything to waive such privilege unless and until a court of competent jurisdiction decides that the communication is not privileged.  In the event the existence or scope of the privileged communication is subject to legal challenge, then the Company must either waive the privilege or pursue litigation to protect the privilege at the Company’s sole expense.

 

25.                                 D & O Policy.  During Employee’s employment with the Company under this Agreement, the Company shall maintain director and officer liability insurance in reasonable scope and amounts which insurance will cover Employee.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day, month and year first above written.

 

EMPLOYER:

EMPLOYEE:

 

 

SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.

COREEN SAWDON

 

 

By:

/s/ Jerry Smith

 

By:

/s/ Coreen Sawdon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its:

Senior Vice President & General Counsel.

 

Its:

Senior Vice President Finance & Chief Accountant Officer

 

 

 

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EX-99.1 3 a08-7595_1ex99d1.htm EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Ryan

Investor Relations Advisor

 

Mark L. Yoseloff, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO

Paul C. Meyer, President, COO

ph:

203.682.8200

ph:

702.897.7150

fax:

203.682.8201

fax:

702.270.5161

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHUFFLE MASTER, INC. APPOINTS NEW ACTING CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

 

Company Announces New Director of Investor Relations

 

LAS VEGAS, NV. . . Thursday, March 6, 2008. . . Shuffle Master, Inc. (NASDAQ Global Select Market: SHFL)  announced today that effective March 1, 2008, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer Coreen Sawdon has been appointed as Acting Chief Financial Officer, replacing Paul Meyer in that role. Mr. Meyer will continue as the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer.

 

Ms. Sawdon joined the company in July 2005 as Vice President of Accounting.  Prior to joining Shuffle Master, Ms. Sawdon spent three years at GES Exposition Services where she was Vice President of Finance. Ms. Sawdon has more than thirteen years of public accounting experience, the last ten years of which were spent specializing in the gaming and hospitality industry. Ms. Sawdon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Pepperdine University.

 

Shuffle Master also announced that Julia Boguslawski has joined the Company as its Director of Investor Relations, responsible for maintaining the Company’s critical investor relations functions as well as conducting project management for investor relations-related activities. Prior to joining Shuffle Master, Ms. Boguslawski spent four years in the hotel/lodging industry in progressive positions ranging from Business Analyst to Senior Project Analyst, and most recently as Manager of Investor Relations at CNL Hotels & Resorts, Inc. in Orlando, Florida. Ms. Boguslawski obtained her BA and MBA from Rollins College with concentrations in Philosophy and Communications, and Marketing and Management, respectively.

 

Shuffle Master, Inc. is a gaming supply company specializing in providing its casino customers Utility Products, including automatic card shufflers, roulette chip sorters and intelligent table system modules, to improve their profitability, productivity and security. The Company also develops and distributes a wide range of entertainment-based products including Proprietary Table Games and side bets, numerous Electronic Table Systems including the Table Master, Vegas Star and Rapid Table Games platforms, and a variety of Electronic Gaming Machines for select markets. The Company is included in the S&P Smallcap 600 Index. Information about the Company and its products can be found on the Internet at www.shufflemaster.com.

 

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This release contains forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations about future events, as well as on assumptions made by and information available to management. The Company considers such statements to be made under the safe harbor created by the federal securities laws to which it is subject, and assumes no obligation to update or supplement such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to, the following: changes in the level of consumer or commercial acceptance of the Company’s existing products and new products as introduced; increased competition from existing and new products for floor space in casinos; continued consolidation of gaming operations; acceleration and/or deceleration of various product development, promotion and distribution schedules; product performance issues; higher than expected manufacturing, service, selling, legal, administrative, product development, promotion and/or distribution costs; changes in the Company’s business systems or in technologies affecting the Company’s products or operations; reliance on strategic relationships with distributors and technology and manufacturing vendors; current and/or future litigation, claims and costs or an adverse judicial finding; tax matters including changes in state, federal, or foreign state tax legislation or assessments by taxing authorities; acquisitions or divestitures by the Company or its competitors of various product lines or businesses and, in particular, integration of businesses that the Company may acquire; changes to the Company’s intellectual property portfolio, such as the issuance of new patents, new intellectual property licenses, loss of licenses, claims of infringement or invalidity of patents; regulatory and jurisdictional issues (e.g., technical requirements and changes, delays in obtaining necessary approvals, or changes in a jurisdiction’s regulatory scheme or approach, etc.) involving the Company and its products specifically or the gaming industry in general; general and casino industry economic conditions; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; the financial health of the Company’s casino and distributor customers, suppliers and distributors, both nationally and internationally; adverse changes in the creditworthiness of parties with whom the Company has significant receivables; the pace of gaming expansion and the influence of anti-gaming constituents; the Company’s ability to successfully and economically integrate the TGD business acquired from PGIC; the Company’s high level of indebtedness, and specifically the Company’s ability to meet debt service obligations and to refinance indebtedness, including the Company’s $150,000 contingent convertible senior notes (the “Notes”) and the Company’s $100,000 senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”), which will depend on the Company’s future performance and other conditions or events and will be subject to many factors that are beyond the Company’s control; any statement with respect to anticipated regulatory or securities filings, anticipated release of information, internal control issues and the potential of delayed filings resulting from the steps required to complete the year-end audit; and various risks related to the Company’s customers’ operations in countries outside the United States, including currency fluctuation risks, which could increase the volatility of the Company’s results from such operations. Additional information on these and other risk factors that could potentially affect the Company’s financial results may be found in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s current reports on Form 8-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K.

 

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