Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Employment Agreement – Fleetwood Enterprises Inc.


EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Employment Agreement (this "Agreement") is effective as of June 15, 2002 (the "Effective Date"), and is entered into by and between , an individual ("Executive"), and Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").


R E C I T A L S

WHEREAS, by entering into this Agreement, the terms of Executive's employment with the Company shall be governed by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any prior agreement between Executive and the Company or any of the Company's affiliated entities relating to Executive's employment with the Company or any of its affiliated entities shall be superseded by the terms of this Agreement except to the extent set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, the parties hereto agree as follows:


A G R E E M E N T

1. Employment. As of the Effective Date, the Company hereby employs Executive to serve in the capacity of [Title] ("[Title]"). The Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") and/or the Company's Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO") may provide other designations of title to Executive as the Board and/or CEO, in their discretion, may deem appropriate.

Executive agrees to perform the duties and functions as assigned by the CEO and/or by the Board of Directors. Except for legal holidays, vacations and absences due to temporary illness, Executive shall devote his time, attention and energies to the business of the Company on a full-time basis. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that he is under no restriction, limitation or other prohibition to perform his duties as described herein.

2. Employment Compensation And Benefits.

    (a) Base Salary. Executive’s initial base salary shall be at the annual rate
    of Dollars
    ($ )
    (the “Base Salary”), which shall be payable at least as frequently as monthly and subject to deductions and withholdings required by applicable law and as customary in respect of the Company’s
    salaried employees. The Company, on the basis of Executive’s performance and the Company’s financial success and progress, shall review this salary level at least annually.

    (b) Incentive Compensation. As additional compensation to provide incentives for Executive to extend efforts which will
    assist in increasing the profits of the Company, Executive shall be eligible to receive incentive compensation based on achieving individual and organizational performance objectives in accordance
    with the terms and conditions of the Company’s management compensation plan, implemented at the beginning of fiscal year 2002, and as may be modified from time to time.

    (c) Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to annual vacations in accordance with the Company’s vacation policies in effect
    during the term of this Agreement.

    (d) Expense Reimbursement. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable amounts actually expended by Executive in
    the course of performing his duties for the Company and in accordance with any Company-established guidelines where Executive tenders receipts or other documentation reasonably substantiating the
    amounts as required by the Company.

    (e) Other Benefits. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to receive all of the rights,
    benefits and privileges under any retirement, pension, profit-


    sharing, group medical insurance, group dental insurance, group-term life insurance, disability insurance and other employee benefit plan or program of the Company which may be now in
    effect or hereafter adopted, to the extent that Executive is eligible under the provisions thereof.

3. Termination.

    (a)
    At Will. The Company shall employ Executive at will, and either Executive or the Company may terminate Executive “s employment with
    the Company at any time and for any reason, with or without cause.

    (b)
    Qualifying Termination. Executive’s termination shall be considered a “Qualifying Termination” unless:

      (i) Executive
      voluntarily terminates his employment with the Company and its affiliated companies. Executive, however, shall not be considered to have voluntarily terminated his employment with the Company and its
      affiliated companies if his overall targeted total cash compensation (base salary plus
      targeted short term bonus), (TCC), is reduced or adversely modified in any material respect (unless the
      modification applies generally to similarly situated executives in the Company) or his position is modified or changed so that he is no longer an officer of the Company and he elects to terminate his
      employment within sixty (60) days following such reduction, modification or change.

      (ii) The
      termination is on account of Executive’s death or Disability. “Disability” shall mean a physical or mental incapacity as a result of which Executive becomes unable
      to continue the performance of his responsibilities for the Company and its affiliated companies and which, at least three (3) months after its commencement, is determined to be total and
      permanent by a physician agreed to by the Company and Executive, or in the event of Executive’s inability to designate a physician, his legal representative. In the absence of agreement between the
      Company and Executive, each party shall nominate a qualified physician and the two physicians so nominated shall select a third physician who shall make the determination as to Disability.

      (iii) Executive
      is involuntarily terminated for “Cause.” For this purpose, “Cause” shall include but not be limited to:

        (a) Executive’s
        refusal to comply with a lawful, written instruction of the Board or Executive’s immediate supervisor, which refusal is not remedied by Executive within a
        reasonable period of time after his receipt of written notice from the Company identifying the refusal;

        (b) Executive’s
        act or acts of personal dishonesty which were intended to result in Executive’s personal enrichment at the expense of the Company or any of its affiliated
        companies; or

        (c) Executive’s
        conviction of any misdemeanor involving an act of moral turpitude or any felony; or

        (d) Executive’s
        failure to perform his duties in a satisfactory manner. Executive must be provided written notice of the unsatisfactory performance and provided at least
        ninety (90) days to improve his performance.

      (iv) Executive
      ceases to be employed by the Company due to the sale or acquisition of all of the equity interests in, or substantially all of the assets of, a subsidiary or
      division of the Company with which Executive is affiliated, or in connection with the merger of such a subsidiary or division, and this Agreement is assumed in writing or by operation of law by such
      acquiring or surviving person or entity or an affiliate thereof.

2


    (c) Return of Materials. In the event of any termination of Executive’s employment for any reason whatsoever, Executive shall
    promptly deliver to the Company all Company property, including, but not limited to, documents, data, and other information pertaining to Confidential Information, as defined below. Executive shall
    not take with him any documents or other information, or any reproduction, summary or excerpt thereof, containing or pertaining to any Confidential Information.

4. Change in Control.

    (a)
    Statement of Purpose. The Company believes that it is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to foster Executive’s
    objectivity in making decisions with respect to any pending or threatened Change in Control of the Company and to ensure that the Company will have the continued dedication and availability of
    Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control. The Company believes that these goals can best be accomplished by alleviating certain of the risks and
    uncertainties with regard to Executive’s financial and professional security that would be created by a pending or threatened Change in Control and that inevitably would distract Executive and could
    impair his ability to objectively perform his duties for and on behalf of the Company. Accordingly, the Company believes that it is appropriate and in the best interest of the
    Company and its stockholders to provide to Executive compensation arrangements upon a Change in Control that lessen Executive’s financial risks and uncertainties and that are reasonably competitive
    with those of other corporations. The purpose of this provision is to provide that, in the event of a “Change in Control,” Executive may become entitled to receive certain additional benefits, as
    described herein, in the event of his termination under specified circumstances.

    (b)
    Definition of Change in Control. As used in this Agreement, the phrase “Change in Control” shall mean:

      (i) The
      acquisition (other than from the Company) by any person, entity or “group,” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act
      of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (excluding, for this purpose, the Company or its subsidiaries, or any executive benefit plan of the Company or its subsidiaries which acquires beneficial
      ownership of voting securities of the Company), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of twenty-five percent
      (25%) or more of either the then-outstanding shares of common stock or the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally
      in the election of directors; or

      (ii) Individuals
      who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of Directors of the Company (as of the date hereof the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to
      constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the
      Company’s stockholders, is or was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose initial
      assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the Directors of the Company) shall be, for purposes of this Agreement, considered as
      though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board; or

      (iii) Approval
      by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger or consolidation with any other person, entity or corporation, other than

        (x) a
        merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
        outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of another entity) more

3


        than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such other entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or

        (y) a
        merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no person acquires twenty-five percent
        (25%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or

    (iv)
    approval
    by the stockholders of the Company of a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or other disposition by the
    Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.

    (c) Certain Terminations Following Change in Control. If, within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control, the
    employment of Executive is terminated (i) by the Company, other than for Cause or by reason of Executive’s death, or Disability or retirement, or (ii) by Executive for Good Reason, such
    termination shall be conclusively considered a “Qualifying Termination” based on Change in Control. “Good Reason” means, following a Change in Control, the occurrence of a change in Executive’s
    compensation; health insurance or retirement benefits; job authority, duties or responsibilities; or location of employment, which in any such cases is materially adverse to Executive.

5. Severance Payment and Benefits.

(a) If
Executive’s employment is terminated as a result of a Qualifying Termination as defined in Sections 3b and 4(c), and if Executive delivers a fully-executed release
and waiver of all claims against the Company, then, upon expiration of any applicable revocation period contained in the release and waiver, the Company shall pay or provide Executive the following
Severance Payment and benefits based on Executive’s eligibility as described below:

    (i) As
    eligible, Executive shall receive the Severance Payment, as defined below, which shall be payable in equal monthly installments beginning on the first day of the
    first full month and continuing on the first day of each month thereafter during the Severance Period. The Severance Payment is in lieu of any severance payment benefits which otherwise may at that
    time be available under the Company’s applicable policies and Executive shall be entitled to receive whatever additional severance payment benefits, if any, for which he may qualify according to the
    provisions of this Agreement regarding Change in Control.

    As
    used herein, “Monthly Severance Payment” shall mean the monthly installment amount of the Base Salary of Executive at the time of Executive’s termination plus the monthly average of
    the short-term incentive payments (quarterly bonus) actually paid to Executive during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding Executive’s termination.

    Executive
    will be eligible for a number of Monthly Severance Payments based on the schedule below:

Length of Service


Monthly Severance Payments


New hire up to six months 0
Six months up to 12 months 3
12 months up to 18 months 6
18 months up to 24 months 9
24 months or more 12

    Length
    of Service is the number of full months immediately before the date of Executive’s Qualifying Termination during which Executive has been continuously employed by the Company or
    any of its affiliated companies. Each Monthly Severance Payment shall be subject to deductions

4


    and withholdings required by applicable law. As used herein, “Severance Period” shall mean that period beginning upon Executive’s Qualifying Termination and ending upon the lapse thereafter of the
    number of months equal to the number of Monthly Severance Payments.

    (ii) During
    the Severance Period and to the extent reasonably practicable, Executive shall be entitled to receive benefits comparable to those which had been made available
    to him (including his family) under the Associate Healthcare Management Plan and any company sponsored retirement plan before the Qualifying Termination. To the extent reasonably practicable, these
    benefits shall be continued to Executive in a comparable manner, a comparable cost and at a comparable level as provided to Executive (including his family) immediately prior to the Qualifying
    Termination. In some cases, benefits may be converted to a reasonably similar private plan—provided that the Company pays all additional costs associated with conversion. The provision of
    these benefits shall be earlier terminated or reduced, as applicable, if and to the extent Executive receives comparable benefits as a result of concurrent coverage through another program.
    Participation in all other benefits plans including group life insurance, personal accident insurance, and disability insurance, etc., will cease as of the date of termination.

    (iii) Any
    and all of Executive’s unvested stock options shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable according to the terms and conditions contained in the equity
    incentive plan(s) pursuant to which such options were granted.

(b) In
the event of a Qualifying Termination as a result of a Change in Control, as defined in Section 4 hereof, an additional twelve (12) months of Severance
Payments and benefits as calculated and described in Section 5 (a) (i), (ii) and (iii) above will be provided to Executive. In the event that Executive becomes entitled to
receive a Severance Payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5(b), such Severance Payment and any other benefits or payments (including transfers of property) that Executive
receives, or is to receive, pursuant to this Agreement or any other agreement, plan or arrangement with the Company in connection with a Change in Control of the Company (“Other Benefits”) shall be
subject to the tax imposed pursuant to Section 4999, or any successor thereto, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”) or any comparable provision of state law (an
“Excise Tax”), the following rules shall apply:

    (i) The
    Company shall pay to Executive, within thirty (30) days after the Executive’s Qualifying Termination, an additional amount (the “Gross-Up
    Payment”) such that the net amount retained by Executive, after deduction of any Excise Tax with respect to the Severance Payment or the Other Benefits and any federal, state, and local income tax,
    FICA tax, and Excise Tax upon such Gross-Up Payment, is equal to the amount that would have been retained by Executive if such Excise Tax were not applicable. It is intended that Executive
    shall not suffer any loss or expense resulting from the assessment of any Excise Tax or the Company’s reimbursement of Executive for payment of any such Excise Tax.

    (ii) For
    purposes of determining whether any of the Severance Payments or Other Benefits will be subject to an Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (i) any
    other payments or benefits received or to be received by Executive in connection with a Change in Control of the Company or Executive’s termination of employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this
    Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any person whose actions result in a Change in Control or any person affiliated with the Company or such person) shall be
    treated as “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (or any successor thereto), and all “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of
    Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code (or any successor thereto) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company’s independent auditors and
    acceptable to Executive such other payments or benefits (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments, or such excess parachute payments (in whole or in part) represent reasonable

5


    compensation for services actually rendered within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4) of the Code (or any successor thereto), (ii) the amount of the Severance Payments and Other Benefits
    which shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (A) the total amount of the Severance Payments or Other Benefits or (B) the amount of excess parachute
    payments within the meaning of Sections 280G(b)(1) and (4) of the Code (or any successor or successors thereto), after applying clause (i), above, and (iii), the value of any
    non-cash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Company’s independent auditors in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of
    the Code (or any successor or successors thereto).

    (iii) For
    purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of
    federal income taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rates of taxation in the state and
    locality of Executive’s residence on the date of the Executive’s
    Qualifying Termination, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes.

    (iv) In
    the event that the Excise Tax is subsequently determined to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder at the time of the Executive’s Qualifying
    Termination, the Executive shall repay to the Company, at the time that the amount of such reduction in Excise Tax is finally determined, the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable
    to such reduction plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code (or any successor thereto) (the “Applicable Rate”). In the event that
    the Excise Tax is determined to exceed the amount taken into account hereunder at the time of such Qualifying Termination (including by reason of any payment the existence or amount of which cannot be
    determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment), the Company shall make an additional Gross-Up Payment in respect of such excess (plus interest, determined at the Applicable
    Rate, payable with respect to such excess) at the time that the amount of such excess is finally determined.

6. Nondisclosure of Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges that during the term of his employment with the Company,
he will have access to and become acquainted with information of a confidential, proprietary or secret nature which is or may be either applicable to, or related in any way to, the present or future
business of the Company, the research and development or investigation of the Company, or the business of any customer of the Company (“Confidential Information”). For example, Confidential
Information includes, but is not limited to, devices, secret inventions, processes and compilations of information, records, specifications, designs, plans, proposals, software, codes, marketing and
sales programs, financial projections, cost summaries, pricing formula, and all concepts or ideas, materials or information related to the business, products or sales of the Company and its customers
and vendors. Executive shall not disclose any Confidential Information, directly or indirectly, or use such information in any way, either during the term of this Agreement or at any time thereafter,
except as required in the course of employment with the Company. Executive also agrees to comply with the Company’s policies and regulations, as established from time to time for the protection of its
Confidential Information, including, for example, executing the Company’s standard confidentiality agreements. This section shall survive termination of this Agreement.

7. Non-Solicitation. Executive agrees that so long as he is employed by the Company and for a period of
twenty-four (24) months after termination of his employment for any reason, he shall not (a) directly or indirectly solicit, induce or attempt to solicit or induce any
employee of the Company or any of its affiliated companies to discontinue his employment with the Company; (b) usurp any opportunity of the Company or any of its affiliated companies of which
Executive became aware during his tenure at the Company or which is made available to him on the basis of the belief that Executive is still employed by the Company; or (c) directly or
indirectly solicit or induce or attempt to influence any person or business that is an account, customer or client of the Company or any of its affiliated

6


companies to restrict or cancel the business of any such account, customer or client with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. This section shall survive termination of this Agreement.

8. Successors.

    (a) This
    Agreement is personal to Executive, and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by Executive other than by will or the laws of
    descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s legal representatives.

    (b) The
    rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company.

9. Governing Law. This Agreement is made and entered into in the State of California, and the internal laws of California
shall govern its validity and interpretation in the performance by the parties hereto of their respective duties and obligations hereunder.

10. Modifications. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by an instrument in writing executed by all of the parties
hereto.

11. Entire Agreement.Except as otherwise set forth herein, this
Agreement supersedes any and all prior written or oral agreements between Executive and the Company. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the terms
and conditions of Executive’s employment with the Company; provided, however, that this Agreement is not intended to supersede any agreements that Executive may previously have entered into regarding
the protection of trade secrets and confidential information.

12. Dispute Resolution

    (a) Any
    controversy or dispute between the parties involving the construction, interpretation, application or performance of the terms, covenants, or conditions of this
    Agreement or in any way arising under this Agreement (a “Covered Dispute”) shall, on demand by either of the parties by written notice served on the other party in the manner prescribed in
    Section 14 hereof, be referenced pursuant to the procedures described in California Code of Civil Procedure (“CCP”) Sections 638, et seq., as
    they may be amended from time to time (or such procedures as nearly the same as may be available under the laws of California, the “Reference Procedures”), to a retired Judge from the superior court
    of California for the County of Riverside (the “Venue County”) for a decision.

    (b) The
    Reference Procedures shall be commenced by either party by the filing in the superior court of Venue County a petition pursuant to CCP Section 638(1) (or such
    procedures as nearly the same as may be available under the laws of California, a “Petition”). Said Petition shall designate as a referee a Judge from the list of retired superior court Judges from
    the Venue County who have made themselves available for trial or settlement of civil litigation under said Reference Procedures. If the parties hereto are unable to agree on the designation of a
    particular retired superior court Judge of the Venue
    County, or the designated Judge is unavailable or unable to serve in such capacity, request shall be made in said Petition that the Presiding or Assistant Presiding Judge of the superior court of the
    Venue County appoint as referee a retired superior court Judge from the aforementioned list.

    (c) Except
    as hereafter agreed by the parties, the referee shall apply the internal law of the State of California in deciding the issues submitted hereunder. Unless formal
    pleadings are waived by agreement among the parties and the referee, the moving party shall file and serve its complaint within fifteen (15) days from the date a referee is designated as
    provided herein, and the other party shall have fifteen (15) days thereafter in which to plead to said complaint. Each of

7


    the parties reserves its respective rights to allege and assert in such pleadings all claims, causes of action, contentions and defenses which it may have arising out of or relating to the general
    subject matter of the Covered Dispute that is being determined pursuant to the Reference Procedures. Reasonable notice of any motions before the referee shall be given, and all matters shall be set at
    the convenience of the referee. Discovery shall be conducted as the parties agree or as allowed by the referee. Unless waived by each of the parties, a reporter shall be present at all proceedings
    before the referee.

    (d) It
    is the parties’ intention by this Section 13 that all issues of fact and law and all matters of a legal and equitable nature related to any Covered Dispute
    will be submitted for determination by a referee designated as provided herein. Accordingly, the parties hereby stipulate that a referee designated as provided herein shall have all powers of a Judge
    of the superior court including, without limitation, the power to grant equitable and interlocutory and permanent injunctive relief.

    (e) Each
    of the parties specifically (i) consents to the exercise of jurisdiction over his person by a referee designated as provided herein with respect to any and
    all Covered Disputes; and (ii) consents to the personal jurisdiction of the California courts with respect to any appeal or review of the decision of any such referee.

    (f) Each
    of the parties acknowledges that the decision by a referee designated as provided herein shall be a basis for a judgment as provided in CCP Section 644 and
    shall be subject to exception and review as provided in CCP Section 645, or such procedures as nearly the same as may be available under the laws of California.

    (g) The
    Company shall pay all fees and costs incurred by Executive in connection with the Reference Procedures for a Covered Dispute other than attorneys’ fees incurred by
    Executive.

13. Notices. Any notice or communications required or permitted to be given to the parties hereto shall be delivered
personally or be sent by United States registered or certified mail, postage prepaid and
return receipt requested, and addressed or delivered as follows, or at such other addresses the party addressed may have substituted by notice pursuant to this Section:

To the Company: To Executive:
Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc.
3125 Myers Street Home Address
Riverside, California 92503-5527 City, State, Zip
Attn: General Counsel

14. Captions. The captions of this Agreement are inserted for convenience and do not constitute a part hereof.

15. Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, but this Agreement shall be construed as if
such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein and there shall be deemed substituted for such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision such other provision as will
most nearly accomplish the intent of the parties to the extent permitted by the applicable law. In case this Agreement, or any one or more of the provisions hereof, shall be held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable within any governmental jurisdiction or subdivision thereof, this Agreement or any such provision thereof shall not as a consequence thereof be deemed to be invalid, illegal
or unenforceable in any other governmental jurisdiction or subdivision thereof.

8


16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but
all of which shall together constitute one in the same Agreement.

IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered effective as of the day and year first written above.


[Name of Executive]
FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By:


Name:

Title:

9

Was this helpful?

Copied to clipboard