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 earliest event reported):  January 28, 2011

 

MTR GAMING GROUP, INC.

(exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

DELAWARE

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

000-20508

 

84-1103135

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification Number)

 

 

 

 

STATE ROUTE 2 SOUTH, P.O. BOX 356, CHESTER, WEST VIRGINIA

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

26034

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code:   (304) 387-8000

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations 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 .

 

(e)           On January 28, 2011, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of MTR Gaming Group, Inc. (the “Company”) approved the grant by the Company of nonqualified stock options, restricted stock units and cash-based performance awards under the Company’s 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”).  The following grants were made by the Company on January 28, 2011 to the following key employees:

 

 

 

Nonqualified
Stock Options

 

Restricted
Stock Units

 

Target Value
Cash-Based
Performance Award

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeffrey J. Dahl

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

112,700

 

37,600

 

$

200,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John W. Bittner, Jr.

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

65,700

 

21,900

 

$

116,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Narciso A. Rodriguez-Cayro

Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary

 

56,300

 

18,800

 

$

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jack B. Sours

President and General Manager

Mountaineer Park, Inc.

 

54,200

 

18,100

 

$

96,300

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fred A. Buro

President and General Manager

Presque Isle Downs, Inc.

 

51,600

 

17,200

 

$

91,700

 

 

The Company has entered into a Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement (“Option Agreement”), a Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (“RSU Agreement”), and a Cash-Based Performance Award Agreement (“Performance Agreement”), each under the terms of the 2010 Plan, with each of the above persons.

 

The Option Agreement provides that nonqualified stock options will vest and become exercisable in three equal installments, 33% on each of the first and second anniversaries of the date of grant and 34% on the third anniversary of the date of grant; and that all unvested options will fully vest and become exercisable immediately upon (i) the termination of employment by the death or the disability of the person and (ii) consummation of a change of control of the Company.

 

The RSU Agreement provides that 100% of the RSUs granted will vest and become non-forfeitable upon the third anniversary of the date of grant; and that all unvested RSUs will vest immediately upon (i) the termination of employment by the death or the disability of the person and (ii) consummation of a change of control of the Company. Additionally, pursuant to the terms of the employment agreements for certain of the above-named persons, all unvested RSUs would also vest immediately upon the termination of employment for reasons other than for cause, as defined.

 

The Performance Agreement relates to the achievement of differing levels of performance (as defined) and is measured by the level of the Company’s Corporate Free Cash Flow (as defined) over a one-year Performance Period, defined as the calendar year.  The earned award under the Performance Agreement will vest and become payable at the end of the Vesting Period, defined as the two calendar year period following the Performance Period. Subject to the provisions of the Performance Agreement, the earned award will vest immediately upon (i) the termination of employment by the death or the disability of the person and (ii) consummation of a change of control of the Company.

 

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Item 9.01.              Financial Statements and Exhibits .

 

(d)           Exhibits:

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

10.1

 

Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement (2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan).

 

 

 

10.2

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan).

 

 

 

10.3

 

Form of Cash-Based Performance Award Agreement (2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan).

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

 

MTR GAMING GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/S/ JOHN W. BITTNER, JR.

 

 

 

John W. Bittner, Jr.

 

 

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date:

February 3, 2011

 

 

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

MTR Gaming Group, Inc.
2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

 

Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement

 



 

MTR Gaming Group, Inc.
2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan
Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement

 

THIS AGREEMENT, effective as of the Date of Grant set forth below, represents the grant of a Nonqualified Stock Option (a “Stock Option”) by MTR Gaming Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”), to the Participant named below, pursuant to the provisions of the MTR Gaming Group, Inc. 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

You have been selected to receive a grant of a Stock Option pursuant to the Plan, as specified below.

 

The Plan provides a description of the terms and conditions governing the Stock Option. If there is any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the Plan’s terms shall completely supersede and replace the conflicting terms of this Agreement. All capitalized terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan, unless specifically set forth otherwise herein.

 

The parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Participant :

 

Date of Grant :

 

Number of Shares Covered by This Stock Option :

 

Exercise Price :

 

Date of Expiration :

 

1.            Service With the Company . Except as may otherwise be provided in Sections 4, 5, or 6, the Stock Option granted hereunder is granted on the condition that the Participant remains in Service with the Company or its Subsidiaries from the Date of Grant through (and including) each applicable Vesting Date (as provided in Section 2 below).

 

This grant of a Stock Option shall not confer any right to the Participant (or any other Participant) to be granted in the future a Stock Option or other Awards under the Plan.

 

2.            Vesting of Stock Option . Except as hereinafter provided, the shares covered by this Stock Option shall vest according to the following schedule, provided the Participant has continued his or her Service with the Company or its Subsidiaries through such anniversary or anniversaries (as applicable, a “Vesting Date”).

 

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Vesting Date

 

Number of Shares
Covered by This
Stock Option Vesting

 

Cumulative Number
of Shares Covered by This
Stock Option Vesting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

anniversary of Date of Grant

 

 

 

 

 

anniversary of Date of Grant

 

 

 

 

 

anniversary of Date of Grant

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.            Exercise of Stock Option . Except as hereinafter provided, the Participant may exercise this Stock Option at any time after the applicable Vesting Date (according to the vesting schedule set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement), provided that no exercise may occur subsequent to the close of business on the Date of Expiration (as defined on page 1 of this Agreement). This Stock Option may be exercised in whole or in part, but not for less than one hundred (100) shares at any one time, unless fewer than one hundred (100) shares then remain subject to the Stock Option, and the Stock Option is then being exercised as to all such remaining shares.

 

4.            Termination of Service by Death or Disability . In the event the Service of the Participant with the Company or its Subsidiaries is terminated by reason of death or Disability (as defined below), all unvested shares covered by this Stock Option shall immediately become fully vested as of the date of termination, and all vested shares covered by this Stock Option shall remain exercisable at any time prior to the Date of Expiration (as defined on page 1 of this Agreement), or for one (1) year after the date of termination, whichever period is shorter.  For purposes hereof, “Disability” shall mean that the Participant is considered “disabled” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(C) of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

 

5.            Termination of Service for Other Reasons . If the Service of the Participant with the Company or its Subsidiaries shall terminate for any reason other than the reasons set forth in Section 4, the shares covered by this Stock Option not yet vested as of the date of termination shall be forfeited. All shares covered by this Stock Option vested as of the date of termination shall remain exercisable at any time prior to their expiration date, or for ninety (90) days after the effective date of termination, whichever period is shorter.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Service of the Participant with the Company or its Subsidiaries is terminated by the Company or its Subsidiaries for Cause (as defined below), the Stock Option and the Participant’s right to purchase any shares covered by the Stock Option, whether or not vested, shall immediately terminate and all rights hereunder shall cease.

 

For purposes of this Section 5, “Cause” shall be determined solely by the Committee in the exercise of good faith and reasonable judgment, and shall mean the Participant’s termination of service due to:

 

(a)          Persistent neglect or negligence in the performance of the Participant’s Service duties; or

 

(b)          Conviction (including pleas of guilty or no contest) for any act of fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement, or for any criminal offense related to the Participant’s Service; or

 

(c)          Any deliberate and material breach of fiduciary duty to the Company or other conduct that leads to material damage or prejudice of the Company; or

 

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(d)          A material breach of an essential Company policy, such as the Company’s code of conduct; or

 

(e)          An order of a federal or state regulatory agency or a court of competent jurisdiction requiring the termination of the Participant’s Service with the Company.

 

6.            Change in Control . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company prior to the Participant’s termination of Service, all shares covered by this Stock Option that have not previously become vested shall immediately vest subject to applicable federal and state securities laws.

 

7.            Restrictions on Transfer . A Stock Option granted pursuant to this Agreement may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated (a “Transfer”), other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, except as provided in the Plan. If any Transfer, whether voluntary or involuntary, of shares covered by this Stock Option is made, or if any attachment, execution, garnishment, or lien shall be issued against or placed upon the shares covered by this Stock Option, the Participant’s right to such shares covered by this Stock Option shall be immediately forfeited by the Participant to the Company, and this Agreement shall lapse.

 

8.            Adjustments . The Stock Option granted hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 4.3 of the Plan relating to adjustments for recapitalizations, reclassifications and other changes in the Company’s corporate structure.

 

9.            Beneficiary Designation . The Participant may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under this Agreement is to be paid in case of his death before he receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Director of Human Resources of the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.

 

10.         Continuation of Service . This Agreement shall not confer upon the Participant any right to continue Service with the Company or its Subsidiaries, nor shall this Agreement interfere in any way with the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ right to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time. The Participant’s Service shall continue to be on an “at-will” basis.

 

11.         Rights as a Stockholder . The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to the shares subject to this Agreement until such time as the purchase price has been paid, and the shares have been issued and delivered to him.

 

12.         Procedure for Exercise of Stock Option . This Stock Option may be exercised by delivery of written notice to the Company at its executive offices, addressed to the attention of the Secretary of the Company. Such notice: (a) shall be signed by the Participant or his legal representative; (b) shall specify the number of full shares then elected to be purchased with respect to the Stock Option; and (c) shall be accompanied by payment in full of the exercise price of the shares to be purchased and applicable withholding taxes, and the Participant’s copy of this Agreement.  Upon the exercise of a portion of the Stock Option at a time when there is not in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to the shares of Common Stock, the Participant hereby

 

3



 

represents and warrants, and by virtue of such exercise shall be deemed to represent and warrant, to the Company that the shares of Common Stock shall be acquired for investment and not with a view to the distribution thereof, and not with any present intention of distributing the same, and the Participant shall provide the Company with such further representations and warranties as the Company may require in order to ensure compliance with applicable federal or state registration, listing and/or qualification requirements.

 

Subject to limitations imposed by applicable laws, the exercise price and applicable withholding taxes shall be payable to the Company in full either: (a) in cash; (b) by personal, certified or cashiers’ check payable to the order of the Company; (c) by tendering either actually or constructively by attestation, shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total exercise price; (d) by irrevocably authorizing a third party, acceptable to the Committee, to sell shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the Stock Option and to remit to the Company a sufficient portion of the sales proceeds to pay the entire exercise price and any tax withholding resulting from such exercise; (e) by other property deemed acceptable by the Committee, including a “net exercise” of stock options allowing the Participant to exercise stock options by receiving the spread value of the stock options exercised in the form of full value shares of Common Stock; or (f) by a combination of (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e).

 

In the event the Participant chooses to pay the exercise price and applicable withholding taxes by previously owned shares through the attestation method, the number of shares issued to the Participant upon the exercise of the Stock Option shall be net of the shares attested to.

 

As promptly as practicable after receipt of notice and payment upon exercise, the Company shall cause to be issued and delivered to the Participant or his legal representative, as the case may be, certificates for the shares of Common Stock so purchased, which may, if appropriate, be endorsed with appropriate restrictive legends. The share certificates shall be issued in the Participant’s name (or, at the discretion of the Participant, jointly in the names of the Participant and the Participant’s spouse). The Company shall maintain a record of all information pertaining to the Participant’s rights under this Agreement, including the number of shares of Common Stock for which his Stock Option is exercisable. If the Stock Option shall have been exercised in full, this Agreement shall be returned to the Company and canceled.

 

13.         Tax Withholding .  The exercise of this Stock Option, and the Company’s obligation to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise, is subject to withholding of all federal, state, and local taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation), domestic or foreign.  The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold (including, without limitation, by reduction of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Option), or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy such taxes, required by law to be withheld with respect to any exercise of the Participant’s rights under this Agreement.  The Participant may elect, subject to any procedural rules adopted by the Committee, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by any of the means for payment of the exercise price provided in Section 12 hereof or by having the Company withhold shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined, equal to the amount required to be withheld.

 

14.         Miscellaneous .

 

(a)          This Agreement and the rights of the Participant hereunder are subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time,

 

4



 

as well as to such rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt for administration of the Plan. The Committee shall have the right to impose such restrictions on any shares acquired pursuant to this Agreement, as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such shares are then listed and/or traded, and under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such shares. It is expressly understood that the Committee is authorized to administer, construe, and make all determinations necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan and this Agreement, all of which shall be binding upon the Participant.

 

(b)          The Committee may limit the Participant’s methods for exercising a Stock Option in the event that such exercise will cause unfavorable accounting treatment to the Company.

 

(c)          The Participant agrees to take all steps necessary to comply with all applicable provisions of federal and state securities laws in exercising his rights under this Agreement.

 

(d)          This Agreement shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.

 

(e)          All obligations of the Company under the Plan and this Agreement, with respect to a Stock Option, shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

(f)           To the extent any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected by such holding and shall continue in full force in accordance with their terms.

 

(g)          To the extent not preempted by federal law, this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of Delaware without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

(h)          The Award is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code with respect to amounts subject thereto and shall be interpreted and construed in a manner consistent with that intent.  The Award shall be subject to Section 15.7 of the Plan with regard to compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

 

5



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the Date of Grant.

 

 

 

 

MTR Gaming Group, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Participant

 

6


Exhibit 10.2

 

MTR Gaming Group, Inc.
2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement

 



 

MTR Gaming Group, Inc.
2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan
Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement

 

THIS AGREEMENT, effective as of the Date of Grant set forth below, represents a grant of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) by MTR Gaming Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”), to the Participant named below, pursuant to the provisions of the MTR Gaming Group, Inc. 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

You have been selected to receive a grant of RSUs pursuant to the Plan, as specified below.

 

The Plan provides a description of the terms and conditions governing the RSUs. If there is any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the Plan’s terms shall completely supersede and replace the conflicting terms of this Agreement. All capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan, unless specifically set forth otherwise herein.

 

The parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Participant :

 

Date of Grant :

 

Number of RSUs Granted :

 

Vesting Date :

 

1. Service with the Company . Except as may otherwise be provided in Sections 6, 7, and 8, the RSUs granted hereunder are granted on the condition that the Participant continues to provide Service to the Company or its Subsidiaries from the Date of Grant through (and including) the Vesting Date, as set forth above (referred to herein as the “Vesting Period”).

 

This grant of RSUs shall not confer any right to the Participant (or any other Participant) to be granted in the future RSUs or other Awards under the Plan.

 

2. Vesting . Except as hereinafter provided, the RSUs shall vest           percent (   %) on the        anniversary of the Date of Grant, provided the Participant has continued his Service with the Company or its Subsidiaries through such Vesting Date.

 

3. Timing of Payout . Payout of all vested RSUs shall occur as soon as administratively feasible following the Vesting Date, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after such Vesting Date.  Payment with respect to vested RSUs is subject to tax withholding as provided in Section 13 below.

 

4. Form of Payout . Vested RSUs will be paid out solely in the form of shares of Common Stock of the Company.

 

5. No Dividend and Voting Rights . During the Vesting Period and pending the vesting and payout of any RSUs under Sections 2 and 3 above, Participant shall not be entitled to dividend or dividend equivalent rights and further, the Participant shall not have voting rights with respect to the RSUs.

 

1



 

6. Termination of Service by Death or Disability . In the event the Service of the Participant is terminated by reason of death or Disability (as defined below), all RSUs held by the Participant at the date of termination and still subject to the Vesting Period shall immediately become fully vested as of the date of termination and shall be paid as soon as administratively feasible in accordance with Section 3 herein.  For purposes hereof, “Disability” shall mean that the Participant  is considered “disabled” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(C) of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

 

7. Termination of Service for Other Reasons . If the Service of the Participant with the Company or its Subsidiaries shall terminate for any reason other than the reasons set forth in Section 6, all RSUs held by the Participant at the date of termination and still subject to the Vesting Period shall be forfeited. All vested RSUs held by the Participant at the date of termination shall be paid as soon as administratively feasible in accordance with Section 3 herein to the extent not previously paid.

 

8. Change in Control . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company during the Vesting Period and prior to the Participant’s termination of Service with the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Vesting Period imposed on the RSUs shall immediately lapse, with all such RSUs vesting subject to applicable federal and state securities laws. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, payout of all vested RSUs shall occur on the effective date of the Change in Control in accordance with Section 13.1 of the Plan.

 

9. Restrictions on Transfer . RSUs granted pursuant to this Agreement may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated (a “Transfer”), other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, except as provided in the Plan. If any Transfer, whether voluntary or involuntary, of RSUs is made, or if any attachment, execution, garnishment, or lien shall be issued against or placed upon the RSUs, the Participant’s right to such RSUs shall be immediately forfeited by the Participant to the Company, and this Agreement shall lapse.

 

10. Adjustments . The RSUs granted hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 4.3 of the Plan relating to adjustments for recapitalizations, reclassifications and other changes in the Company’s corporate structure.

 

11. Beneficiary Designation . The Participant may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under this Agreement is to be paid in case of his death before he receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Director of Human Resources of the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.

 

12. Continuation of Service . This Agreement shall not confer upon the Participant any right to continue Service with the Company or its Subsidiaries, nor shall this Agreement interfere in any way with the Company’s or Subsidiaries’ right to terminate the Participant’s Service. The Participant’s Service shall continue to be on an “at-will” basis.

 

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13. Rights as a Stockholder . The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to the shares subject to this Agreement until such time as the shares have been issued and delivered to him.

 

14. Tax Withholding .  The Company’s obligation to payout RSUs under this Agreement is subject to withholding of all federal, state and local taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation), domestic or foreign. The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold (including, without limitation, by reduction of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the RSUs), or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy such taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to any payout to the Participant under this Agreement.  The Participant may elect, subject to any procedural rules adopted by the Committee, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined, equal to the amount required to be withheld.

 

15. Miscellaneous .

 

(a)                                                   This Agreement and the rights of the Participant hereunder are subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, as well as to such rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt for administration of the Plan. The Committee shall have the right to impose such restrictions on any shares acquired pursuant to this Agreement, as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such shares are then listed and/or traded, and under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such shares. It is expressly understood that the Committee is authorized to administer, construe, and make all determinations necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan and this Agreement, all of which shall be binding upon the Participant.

 

(b)                                                   The Participant agrees to take all steps necessary to comply with all applicable provisions of federal and state securities laws in exercising his rights under this Agreement.

 

(c)                                                    This Agreement shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.

 

(d)                                                   All obligations of the Company under the Plan and this Agreement, with respect to the RSUs, shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

(e)                                                    To the extent any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected by such holding and shall continue in full force in accordance with their terms.

 

(f)                                                     To the extent not preempted by federal law, this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

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(g)                                                    The Award is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code with respect to amounts subject thereto and shall be interpreted and construed in a manner consistent with that intent. The Award shall be subject to Section 15.7 of the Plan with regard to compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed effective as of the Date of Grant.

 

 

 

 

MTR Gaming Group, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Participant

 

4


Exhibit 10.3

 

MTR Gaming Group, Inc.
2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

 

Form of Cash-Based Performance Award Agreement

 



 

MTR Gaming Group, Inc.
2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan
Cash-Based Performance Award Agreement

 

THIS AGREEMENT, effective as of the Date of Award set forth below, represents the award of a Cash-Based Performance Award by MTR Gaming Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”), to the Participant named below, pursuant to the provisions of the MTR Gaming Group, Inc. 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

You have been selected to receive a Cash-Based Performance Award pursuant to the Plan, as specified below.

 

The Plan provides a description of the terms and conditions governing the Cash-Based Performance Award. If there is any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the Plan’s terms shall completely supersede and replace the conflicting terms of this Agreement. All capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan, unless specifically set forth otherwise herein.

 

The parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Participant :

 

Date of Award :

 

Target Award Opportunity :

 

Performance Period :

 

Vesting Period :

 

Performance Measure : Corporate Free Cash Flow

 

1. Service with the Company . Except as may otherwise be provided in Sections 4, 5, and 6 the Cash-Based Performance Award is awarded on the condition that the Participant continues to provide Service to the Company or its Subsidiaries from the beginning of the Performance Period through the end of the Performance Period, and further, from the beginning of the Vesting Period through the end of the Vesting Period.

 

This Cash-Based Performance Award shall not confer any right to the Participant (or any other Participant) to receive in the future Cash-Based Performance Awards or other Awards under the Plan.

 

2. Performance Measure and Performance Goals . The performance measure under this Award Agreement shall be the Company’s “Corporate Free Cash Flow,” which shall generally mean budgeted EBITDA less budgeted capital expenditures for the Performance Period, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion (the “Performance Measure”).  The Committee may adjust the Performance Measure as provided in Section 7 hereof.

 

The performance goal under this Award Agreement shall relate to the achievement of differing levels of performance (i.e., threshold, target, and maximum) over the Performance Period. The

 

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Participant shall earn the percentage of his Target Award Opportunity that corresponds to the achieved performance goal for the Performance Period as set forth below:

 

Performance Measure—2011 Corporate Free Cash Flow

 

Performance
Level

 

Performance Requirement

 

Corporate
Free Cash
Flow

 

Payout Opportunity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Threshold

 

% of the target performance goal

 

$

 

 

% of target opportunity(1)

 

Target

 

% of the target performance goal

 

$

 

 

% of target opportunity

 

Maximum

 

% of the target performance goal

 

$

 

 

% of target opportunity(1)

 

 


(1) Payout opportunity results are interpolated on a straight-line basis between threshold and target, and between target and maximum performance.

 

3.    Determination and Vesting of Earned Award. Except as otherwise provided herein , the Participant’s Earned Award for the Performance Period shall equal the product of: (a) the Participant’s Target Award Opportunity and (b) the percent of Target Award Opportunity earned as determined in Section 2 above. The Committee shall have the sole authority to calculate the Participant’s Earned Award. Upon determination by the Committee that a Participant is entitled to an Earned Award, such Earned Award shall vest                 percent (   %) on the       anniversary of the Date of Award, subject to the continued Service of the Participant through the Vesting Period.

 

4.    Form and Timing of Payout. Subject to the approval of the Committee, payment of the Participant’s Earned Award, if any, shall be made in cash, in a single lump sum, in the following manner, subject to tax withholding as provided in Section 12 below:

 

(a)          The Participant shall receive payment of his Earned Award as soon as administratively feasible following the Vesting Date, but in no event later than sixty (60) days following the end of the Vesting Period, provided that the Participant has continued his Service with the Company through the end of the Vesting Period.

 

(b)          If the Service of the Participant is terminated during the Performance Period due to death or Disability (as defined below), then the Participant shall be entitled to be paid a prorated Earned Award, as determined under this subparagraph (b). The prorated Earned Award shall equal the product of (x) and (y) where (x) is the Earned Award the Participant would have earned based on actual performance measured as of the end of the Performance Period and (y) is a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full calendar months that the Participant was employed by the Company during the Performance Period and the denominator of which is the number of months in the Performance Period. Any payouts shall be made as soon as administratively feasible following such payout determination, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the end of the Performance Period.  For purposes hereof, “Disability” shall mean that the Participant is considered “disabled” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(C) of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

 

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(c)          If the Service of the Participant is terminated after the end of the Performance Period but prior to the end of the Vesting Period due to death or Disability, then the Participant shall immediately be entitled to the Earned Award as determined under Section 3. Any payouts shall be made as soon a practical following such payout determination, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the date of termination.

 

5.    Termination of Service for Other Reasons. If the Service of the Participant with the Company or its Subsidiaries shall terminate during the Performance Period or during the Vesting Period for any reason other than the reasons set forth in Sections 4(b) and 4(c) above, then the Participant shall not be entitled to the payment of any Cash-Based Performance Award hereunder.

 

6.    Change in Control . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, (i) during the Performance Period and prior to the Participant’s termination of Service with the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Participant shall be entitled to a payment equal to the Participant’s Target Award Opportunity, or (ii) after the end of the Performance Period but prior to the end of the Vesting Period and prior to the Participant’s termination of Service with the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Participant shall immediately be entitled to the Earned Award as determined under Section 3. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, payout shall be made in cash in a single lump sum and shall occur on the effective date of the Change in Control in accordance with Section 13.1 of the Plan.

 

7.    Discretion to Adjust Performance Measures and Performance Goals. In calculating the Participant’s Earned Award under Section 3, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may modify the Performance Measure during, and after the end of the Performance Period to reflect significant events and any other unusual items that occur during the Performance Period, provided that any such modification shall be in accordance with Section 12.3 of the Plan.

 

8.    Restrictions on Transfer . Cash-Based Performance Awards granted pursuant to this Agreement may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated (a “Transfer”), other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, except as provided in the Plan. If any Transfer, whether voluntary or involuntary, of Cash-Based Performance Awards is made, or if any attachment, execution, garnishment, or lien shall be issued against or placed upon the Cash-Based Performance Awards, the Participant’s right to such Cash-Based Performance Awards shall be immediately forfeited by the Participant to the Company, and this Agreement shall lapse.

 

9.    Beneficiary Designation . The Participant may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under this Agreement is to be paid in case of his death before he receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Director of Human Resources of the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.

 

10.   Continuation of Service . This Agreement shall not confer upon the Participant any right to continue Service with the Company or its Subsidiaries, nor shall this Agreement interfere in any way with the Company’s or Subsidiaries’ right to terminate the Participant’s Service. The Participant’s Service shall continue to be on an “at-will” basis.

 

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11.   Rights as a Stockholder . The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Cash-Based Performance Award subject to this Agreement.

 

12.   Tax Withholding .  The Company’s obligation to payout Cash-Based Performance Awards under this Agreement is subject to withholding of all federal, state and local taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation), domestic or foreign. The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy such taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to any payout to the Participant under this Agreement.

 

13.   Miscellaneous .

 

(a)                  This Agreement and the rights of the Participant hereunder are subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, as well as to such rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt for administration of the Plan. It is expressly understood that the Committee is authorized to administer, construe, and make all determinations necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan and this Agreement, all of which shall be binding upon the Participant.

 

(b)                The Participant agrees to take all steps necessary to comply with all applicable provisions of federal and state securities laws in exercising his rights under this Agreement.

 

(c)                  This Agreement shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.

 

(d)                  All obligations of the Company under the Plan and this Agreement, with respect to the Cash-Based Performance Awards, shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 

(e)                  To the extent any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected by such holding and shall continue in full force in accordance with their terms.

 

(f)                   To the extent not preempted by federal law, this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

(g)                  The Award is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code with respect to amounts subject thereto and shall be interpreted and construed in a manner consistent with that intent. The Award shall be subject to Section 15.7 of the Plan with regard to compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed effective as of the Date of Grant.

 

 

 

 

MTR Gaming Group, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Participant

 

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