EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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This Employment Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of this date
by and between DONOBi, Inc., a Nevada corporation ("Corporation"), and Xxxxxxx
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X. Xxxxxx, III ("Executive").
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WHEREAS, the Corporation and the Executive desire that the term of this
Agreement begin on January 1, 2005 ("Effective Date"); and
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WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to employ the Executive as its President and
Chief Executive Officer and Executive is willing to accept such employment by
the Corporation, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. DUTIES. During the term of this Agreement, the Executive agrees
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to be employed by and to serve the Corporation as its President and Chief
Executive Officer, and the Corporation agrees to employ and retain the Executive
in such capacities. In such capacity, the Executive shall render such
managerial, administrative and other services as are customarily associated with
or incident to such position and shall perform such other duties and
responsibilities for the Corporation as the Corporation may reasonably require,
consistent with such position. The Executive shall devote a substantial portion
of his business time, energy and skill to the affairs of the Corporation, as the
Executive shall report to the Corporation's Board of Directors.
The Corporation shall not appoint any individual to whom the Executive shall
report, or who shall have the right to supervise the Executive, provided,
however, that the Corporation's board of directors may appoint one or more
members of the board of directors to coordinate the reporting from the Executive
to the board of directors. In the event that the Corporation changes the
Executive's title, working conditions or specifies duties so that the
Executive's powers and duties are diminished or reduced, or include powers,
duties or working conditions which are not generally consistent with the title
of Chief Executive Officer, or if the Corporation changes the reporting
relationship so that the Executive reports to another officer or employee, other
than the Corporation's Board of Directors as a whole, then at any time
thereafter, at the Executive's option and upon thirty days notice, and provided
that such changes shall not have been rescinded or corrected to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Executive within said thirty day period, the Executive shall
have the right to terminate the employment relationship, and in such event, the
employment shall be deemed to have been terminated by the Corporation without
cause.
SECTION 2. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT.
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2.1 Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement the following terms
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shall have the following meanings:
2.1.1 "Termination For Cause" shall mean termination by the Corporation of
the Executive's employment by the Corporation by reason of the Executive's
willful dishonesty towards, fraud upon, or deliberate injury or attempted injury
to the Corporation, or by reason of the Executive's willful material breach of
this Agreement which has resulted in material injury to the Corporation.
2.1.2 "Termination Other Than For Cause" shall mean Corporation's
termination of the Executive's employment (other than in a Termination for
Cause) and shall include constructive termination of the Executive's employment
by reason of the Corporation's material breach of this Agreement, such
constructive termination to be effective upon notice from the Executive to the
Corporation of such constructive termination.
2.1.3 "Voluntary Termination" shall mean the Executive's termination of
his employment from the Corporation by the Executive other than (i) constructive
termination as described herein, (ii) "Termination Upon a Change in Control,"
and (iii) termination by reason of the Executive's death or disability as
described herein.
2.1.4 "Termination Upon a Change in Control" shall mean the Executive's
termination of his/her employment with the Corporation within 120 days following
a "Change in Control."
2.1.5 "Change in Control" shall mean (i) the time that the Corporation
first determines that any person and all other persons who constitute a group
(within the meaning of 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
("Exchange Act")) have acquired direct or indirect beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of twenty percent (20%) or
more of the Corporation's outstanding securities, unless a majority of the
"Continuing Directors" approves the acquisition not later than ten (10) business
days after the Corporation makes that determination, or (ii) the first day on
which a majority of the members of the Corporation's board of directors are not
"Continuing Directors."
2.1.6 "Continuing Directors" shall mean, as of any date of determination,
any member of the Corporation's board of directors who (i) was a member of that
board of directors on February 16, 2004, (ii) has been a member of that board of
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directors for the two years immediately preceding such date of determination, or
(iii) was nominated for election or elected to the Corporation's board of
directors with the affirmative vote of the greater of (x) a majority of the
Continuing Directors who were members of the Corporation's board of directors at
the time of such nomination or election or (y) at least 2 Continuing Directors.
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2.2 Initial Term. The term of employment of the Executive by the
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Corporation shall be for a period of two (2) years beginning with Effective Date
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("Initial Term"), unless terminated earlier pursuant to this Agreement. At any
time prior to the expiration of the Initial Term, the Corporation and the
Executive may by mutual written agreement extend the Executive's employment
under the terms of this Agreement for such additional periods as they may agree.
2.3 Termination For Cause. Termination For Cause may be effected by the
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Corporation at any time during the term of this Agreement and shall be effected
by written notification to the Executive. Upon Termination For Cause, the
Executive shall promptly be paid all accrued salary, bonus compensation to the
extent earned, vested deferred compensation (other than pension pay or profit
sharing plan benefits which will be paid in accordance with the applicable
plan), any benefits under any plans of the Corporation in which the Executive is
a participant to the full extent of the Executive's rights under such plans,
accrued vacation pay and any appropriate business expenses incurred by the
Executive in connection with his duties hereunder, all to the date of
termination, but the Executive shall not be paid any other compensation or
reimbursement of any kind, including without limitation, Severance Compensation.
2.4 Termination Other Than For Cause. Notwithstanding anything else in this
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Agreement, the Corporation may effect a Termination Other Than For Cause at any
time upon giving written notice to the Executive of such termination. Upon any
Termination Other Than For Cause, the Executive shall promptly be paid all
accrued salary, bonus compensation to the extent earned, vested deferred
compensation (other than pension plan or profit sharing plan benefits which will
be paid in accordance with the applicable plan), any benefits under any plans of
the Corporation in which the Executive is a participant to the full extent of
the Executive's rights under such plans (including accelerated vesting, if any,
of awards granted to the Executive under the Corporation's stock option plan),
accrued vacation pay and any appropriate business expenses incurred by the
Executive in connection with his duties hereunder, all to the date of
termination, and all Severance Compensation provided, but no other compensation
or reimbursement of any kind.
2.5 Termination by Reason of Disability. If, during the term of this
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Agreement, the Executive, in the reasonable judgment of the Corporation's board
of directors, has failed to perform his duties under this Agreement on account
of illness or physical or mental incapacity, and such illness or incapacity
continues for a period of more than three (3) consecutive months, the
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Corporation shall have the right to terminate the Executive's employment
hereunder by written notification to the Executive and payment to the Executive
of all accrued salary, bonus compensation to the extent earned, vested deferred
compensation (other than pension plan or profit sharing plan benefits which will
be paid in accordance with the applicable plan), any benefits under any plans of
the Corporation in which the Executive is a participant to the full extent of
the Executive's rights under such plans, accrued vacation pay and any
appropriate business expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with his
duties hereunder, all to the date of termination, with the exception of medical
and dental benefits which shall continue through the expiration of this
Agreement, but the Executive shall not be paid any other compensation or
reimbursement of any kind, including without limitation, Severance Compensation.
2.6 Death. In the event of the Executive's death during the term of this
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Agreement, the Executive's employment shall be deemed to have terminated as of
the last day of the month during which his death occurs and the Corporation
shall promptly pay to his estate or such beneficiaries as the Executive may from
time to time designate all accrued salary, bonus compensation to the extent
earned, vested deferred compensation (other than pension plan or profit sharing
plan benefits which will be paid in accordance with the applicable plan), any
benefits under any plans of the Corporation in which the Executive is a
participant to the full extent of the Executive's rights under such plans,
accrued vacation pay and any appropriate business expenses incurred by the
Executive in connection with his duties hereunder, all to the date of
termination, but the Executive's estate shall not be paid any other compensation
or reimbursement of any kind, including without limitation, Severance
Compensation.
2.7 Voluntary Termination. In the event of a Voluntary Termination, the
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Corporation shall promptly pay all accrued salary, bonus compensation to the
extent earned, vested deferred compensation (other than pension plan or profit
sharing plan benefits which will be paid in accordance with the applicable
plan), any benefits under any plans of the Corporation in which the Executive is
a participant to the full extent of the Executive's rights under such plans,
accrued vacation pay and any appropriate business expenses incurred by the
Executive in connection with his duties hereunder, all to the date of
termination, but no other compensation or reimbursement of any kind, including
without limitation, Severance Compensation.
2.8 Termination Upon a Change in Control. In the event of a Termination
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Upon a Change in Control, the Executive shall immediately be paid all accrued
salary, bonus compensation to the extent earned, vested deferred compensation
(other than pension plan or profit sharing plan benefits which will be paid in
accordance with the applicable plan), any benefits under any plans of the
Corporation in which the Executive is a participant to the full extent of the
Executive's rights under such plans (including accelerated vesting, if any, of
any awards granted to the Executive under the Corporation's Stock Option Plan),
accrued vacation pay and any appropriate business expenses incurred by the
Executive in connection with his duties hereunder, all to the date of
termination, and all Severance Compensation, but no other compensation or
reimbursement of any kind.
2.9 Notice of Termination. The Corporation may effect a termination of this
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Agreement pursuant to the provisions of this Section upon giving thirty (30)
days' written notice to the Executive of such termination. The Executive may
effect a termination of this Agreement pursuant to the provisions of this
Section upon giving thirty (30) days' written notice to the Corporation of such
termination.
SECTION 3. SALARY, BENEFITS AND BONUS COMPENSATION.
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3.1 Base Salary. As payment for the services to be rendered by the
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Executive as provided in Section 1 and subject to the terms and conditions of
Section 2, the Corporation agrees to pay to the Executive a "Base Salary" for
the twelve (12) calendar months beginning the Effective Date at the rate of
$120,000 per annum payable in 24 equal bi-monthly installments of $5,000.00.
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The Executive's Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Compensation
Committee of the Corporation's board of directors ("Compensation Committee"),
and the Base Salary for each year (or portion thereof) beginning January 1, 2006
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shall be determined by the Compensation Committee which shall authorize an
increase in the Executive's Base Salary for such year in an amount which, at a
minimum, shall be equal to the cumulative cost-of-living increment on the Base
Salary as report in the "Consumer Price Index, Bremerton, Washington, All
Items," published by the U.S. Department of Labor (using January 1, 2005 as the
base date for computation).
3.2 Bonuses. The Executive shall be eligible to receive a non-discretionary
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bonus (Addendum A) for each year (or portion thereof) during the term of this
Agreement and any extensions thereof, and a discretionary bonus with the actual
amount of any such bonus to be determined by the Corporation's Board of
Directors based upon its evaluation of the Executive's performance during such
year. All such bonuses shall be reviewed annually by the Compensation
Committee.
3.3 Additional Benefits. During the term of this Agreement, the Executive
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shall be entitled to the following fringe benefits:
3.3.1 Executive Benefits. The Executive shall be eligible to participate
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in such of the Corporation's benefits and deferred compensation plans as are now
generally available or later made generally available to the Corporation's
executive officers, including, without limitation, the Corporation's Stock
Option Plan, profit sharing plans, dental and medical plans, personal
catastrophe and disability insurance, financial planning, retirement plans and
supplementary executive retirement plans, if any. For purposes of establishing
the length of service under any benefit plans or programs of the Corporation,
the Executive's employment with the Corporation will be deemed to have commenced
on the original date of hire.
3.3.2 Vacation. The Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of
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vacation during each year during the term of this Agreement and any extensions
thereof, prorated for partial years.
3.3.3 Life Insurance. For the term of this Agreement and any extensions
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thereof, the Corporation shall at its expense procure and keep in effect term
life insurance on the life of the Executive payable as directed by the Executive
in the aggregate amount of $1,000,000.
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3.3.4 Automobile Allowance. For the term of this Agreement and any
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extensions thereof the Corporation shall provide the Executive with an
automobile allowance of $400.00 per month.
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3.3.5 Physical Examination. The Executive certifies that he can perform
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his duties as described here with this document. Not more than once every two
years, the Executive shall be entitled to receive a physical examination at the
Corporation's expense; and at the Corporation's request, will take a physical
examination annually and provide the results to the an Insurance Company.
3.3.6 Reimbursement for Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the
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Corporation shall reimburse the Executive for reasonable and properly documented
out-of-pocket business and/or entertainment expenses incurred by the Executive
in connection with his duties under this Agreement, including, but not limited
to, service and social club dues.
SECTION 4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION.
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4.1 Severance Compensation in the Event of a Termination Upon a Change in
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Control. In the event the Executive's employment is terminated in a Termination
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Upon a Change in Control, the Executive shall be paid as severance compensation
("Severance Compensation") his Base Salary (at the rate payable at the time of
such termination), for a period of the lesser of the remaining portion of the
Initial Term or twelve (12) months from the date of such termination provided.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, the Executive may in
the Executive's sole discretion, by delivery of a notice to the Corporation
within thirty (30) days following a Termination Upon a Change in Control, elect
to receive from Compensation a lump sum Severance Compensation payment by bank
cashier's check equal to the present value of the flow of cash payments that
would otherwise be paid to the Executive pursuant to this Section. The
Executive shall also be entitled to an accelerated vesting of any awards granted
to the Executive under the Corporation's Stock Option Plan to the extent
provided in the stock option agreement entered into at the time of grant. The
Executive shall continue to accrue retirement benefits and shall continue to
enjoy any benefits under any plans of the Corporation in which the Executive is
a participant to the full extent of the Executive's rights under such plans,
including any prerequisites provided under this Agreement, though the remaining
term of this Agreement; provided, however, that the benefits under any such
plans of the Corporation in which the Executive is a participant, including any
such prerequisites, shall cease upon re-employment by a new employer.
4.2 Severance Compensation in the Event of a Termination Other Than for
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Cause. In the event the Executive's employment is terminated in a Termination
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Other Than for Cause, the Executive shall be paid as Severance Compensation his
Base Salary (at the rate payable at the time of such termination), for a period
of the lesser of the remaining portion of the Initial Term or twelve (12) months
from the date of such termination, on the dates specified in Section 3.1;
provided, however, that if the Executive is employed by a new employer during
such period, the Severance Compensation payable to the Executive during such
period will be reduced by the amount of compensation that the Executive is
receiving from the new employer. Executive is under no obligation to mitigate
the amount owed by the Corporation to the Executive pursuant to this Section by
seeking other employment. The Executive shall be entitled to an accelerated
vesting of any awards granted to the Executive under the Corporation's Stock
Option Plan to the extent provided in the stock option agreement entered into at
the time of grant.
4.3 No Severance Compensation Upon Other Termination. In the event of a
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Voluntary Termination, Termination For Cause, termination by reason of the
Executive's death or disability as described herein, the Executive or his estate
shall not be paid any Severance Compensation.
4.4 Limit on Aggregate Compensation Upon a Change in Control.
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Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, solely in the event of a
Termination Upon a Change in Control, the amount of Severance Compensation paid
to the Executive, but exclusive of any payments to the Executive in respect of
any stock options then held by the Executive (or any compensation deemed to be
received by the Executive in connection with the exercise of any stock options
at any time) or by virtue of the Executive's exercise of a Limited Right under
the Option Plan upon a Change in Control, shall not include any amount that the
Corporation is prohibited from deducting for federal income tax purposes by
virtue of 280G of the Internal Revenue Code or any successor provision.
SECTION 5. OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES OF EXECUTIVE. The Corporation acknowledges
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that the Executive has commitments and business activities not related to the
Corporation and that certain of these commitments and business affairs involve
activities related to technology and technology companies, unrelated business
opportunities, and personal investments, including, but not limited to real
estate investment, mortgage banking, and auto warranty resale. There shall be
no restriction on the Executive's ability to fulfill such commitments or engage
in such business activities, provided that during the term of the Executive's
employment under this Agreement or for a period of six months after the
termination of such employment (other than a Termination Other Than For Cause or
a Termination Upon Change in Control) the Executive shall not divert away from
the Corporation, for officers personal benefit, or for the benefit of an
organization in which officer has a material financial interest, any
opportunity, arising during such period to effect the corporations core business
unless the Corporation's board of directors have determined not to pursue such
opportunity.
The Executive shall own all intellectual property rights and goodwill in and to
all works of authorship, inventions, and know how (including, but not limited
to, any text and software, documentation, design & algorithms) that the
Executive creates develops and/or designs in the course of commitments or
business activities not related to the Corporation, and the Corporation shall
make no claim of ownership for said works.
Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Executive from devoting time during
reasonable periods required for investing personal assets and/or those of family
members in such form or manner that will not violate this Agreement and these
activities will be permitted so long as they do not materially adversely affect
the performance of the Executive's duties and obligations to the Corporation.
SECTION 6. PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS. The Corporation's obligation to pay the
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Executive the compensation and to make the arrangements provided herein shall be
unconditional, and the Executive shall have no obligation whatsoever to mitigate
damages hereunder. If litigation after a Change in Control shall be brought to
enforce or interpret any provision contained herein, the Corporation, to the
extent permitted by applicable law and the Corporations' articles of
incorporation and bylaws, hereby indemnifies the Executive for the Executive's
reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements incurred in such litigation.
SECTION 7. CONFIDENTIALITY. The Executive agrees that all confidential and
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proprietary information relating to the Corporation's business shall be kept and
treated as confidential both during and after the term of this Agreement, except
as may be permitted in writing by the Corporation's board of directors or as
such information is within the public domain or comes within the public domain
without any breach of this Agreement.
SECTION 8. WITHHOLDINGS. All compensation and benefits to the Executive
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hereunder shall be reduced by all federal, state, local and other withholdings
and similar taxes and payments required by applicable law.
SECTION 9. INDEMNIFICATION. In addition to any rights to indemnification to
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which the Executive is entitled to under the Corporation's articles of
incorporation and bylaws, the Corporation shall indemnify the Executive at all
times during and after the term of this Agreement to the maximum extent
permitted under Nevada Law or any successor provision thereof and any other
applicable state law, and shall pay the Executive's expenses in defending any
civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition
of such action, suit or proceeding, to the maximum extent permitted under such
applicable state laws.
SECTION 10. NOTICES. Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing and
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shall be effective when actually delivered in person or three days after being
deposited in the United States mail, registered or certified, postage prepaid
and addressed to the party at the address stated in this Agreement or such other
address as either party may designate by written notice to the other.
SECTION 11. WAIVER. The waiver by either party of the breach of any
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provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be construed
as a waiver of any subsequent breach.
SECTION 12. ASSIGNMENT. Except as otherwise provided within this Agreement,
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neither party hereto may transfer or assign this Agreement without the prior
written consent of the other party.
SECTION 13. LAW GOVERNING. This Agreement shall be governed by and
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construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada.
SECTION 14. VENUE. This parties to this Agreement agree that any action on
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this Agreement shall be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction located in
Kitsap County, Washington.
SECTION 15. ARBITRATION. If at any time during the term of this Agree-ment
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any dispute, difference or disagreement shall arise upon or in respect of the
Agreement, and the meaning and construction hereof, every such dispute,
difference and disagreement shall be referred to a single arbiter agreed upon by
the parties, or if no single arbiter can be agreed upon, an arbiter or arbiters
shall be selected in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitra-tion
Association and such dispute, difference or disagreement shall be settled by
arbitration in accordance with the then prevailing commercial rules of the
American Arbitration Associa-tion, and judgment upon the award rendered by the
arbiter may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
SECTION 16. ATTORNEY FEES. In the event an arbitration, suit or action is
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brought by any party under this Agreement to enforce any of its terms, or in any
appeal therefrom, it is agreed that the prevailing party shall be entitled to
reasonable attorneys' fees to be fixed by the arbitrator, trial court and/or
appellate court.
SECTION 17. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains the entire
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understanding between and among the parties and supersedes any prior
understandings and agreements among them respecting the subject matter of this
Agreement.
SECTION 18. MODIFICATIONS MUST BE IN WRITING. This Agreement may not be
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changed orally. All modifications of this Agreement must be in writing and must
have be signed by each party.
SECTION 19. AGREEMENT BINDING. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
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heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.
SECTION 20. GOOD FAITH, COOPERATION AND DUE DILIGENCE. The parties hereto
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covenant, warrant and represent to each other good faith, complete cooperation,
due diligence and honesty in fact in the performance of all obligations of the
parties pursuant to this Agreement. All promises and covenants are mutual and
dependent.
SECTION 21. FACSIMILE SIGNATURES. Facsimile transmission of any signed
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original document, and the retransmission of any signed facsimile transmission,
shall be the same as delivery of the original signed document. At the request
of any party, a party shall confirm documents with a facsimile transmitted
signature by signing an original document.
SECTION 22. PARTIES IN INTEREST. Nothing herein shall be construed to be to
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the benefit of any third party, nor is it intended that any provision shall be
for the benefit of any third party.
SECTION 23. SAVINGS CLAUSE. If any provision of this Agreement, or the
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application of such provision to any person or circumstance, shall be held
invalid, the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such provision
to persons or circum-stances other than those as to which it is held invalid,
shall not be affected thereby.
SECTION 24. SEPARATE COUNSEL. Executive hereby expressly acknowledge that
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he has been advised that he has not been represented by the Corporation's
attorney in this matter and has been advised and urged to seek separate legal
counsel for advice in this matter.
Dated: _______________________ Dated: ________________________
DONOBi, Inc Executive
_______________________________ ________________________________
Print Name: _________________ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, III
BONUS SCHEDULE
ADDENDUM A - BONUS SCHEDULE
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This Bonus Schedule ("Schedule") is made and entered into as of this date by and
between DONOBi, Inc., a Nevada corporation ("Corporation"), and Xxxxxxx X.
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Xxxxxx, III ("Executive").
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WHEREAS, the Corporation and the Executive desire that the term of this
Agreement begin on January 1, 2005 ("Effective Date"); and
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WHEREAS, the Corporation has employed the Executive as its President and Chief
Executive Officer and Executive is willing to accept such employment by the
Corporation, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
Employment Agreement and this Schedule.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
The Executive shall earn bonuses and escalations in base pay upon the following
changes in Gross Revenue calculated quarterly:
1. Executive shall receive a cash bonus, calculated and paid quarterly, for
increases in Gross Revenue equal to 1% of the increase exceeding a 20%
annualized increase in Gross Revenue.
2. Executive's base pay shall increase to $175,000 annually at the time that
monthly Gross Revenues exceed $416,700 (the equivalent of $5MM annual).
3. Executive's base pay shall increase to $250,000 at the time that monthly
Gross Revenues exceed $833,000 (the equivalent of $10MM annual).
The Executive shall additionally be entitled to normal and customary bonuses and
benefits bestowed upon the corporation and its employees and any other forms or
amounts as the Board of Directors sees fit from time to time.
Dated: _______________________ Dated: ________________________
DONOBi, Inc Executive
_______________________________ ________________________________
Print Name: _________________ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, III
