EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made as of the
6th day of July 2009 (the "effective date").
BETWEEN:
Next
One Interactive, Inc.
(the
"Company")
- and
-
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
(the
"Executive")
WHEREAS the Company is engaged
in the ownership and management of travel, real estate and media related
services (the "Business"); and
WHEREAS the Company desires to
employ the Executive and the Executive desires to accept such employment in the
Business, subject to the terms, conditions and covenants herein provided;
and
WHEREAS both parties have
agreed to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE in consideration
of the mutual covenants herein contained and other good and valuable
consideration, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:
POSITION
1.
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The
Company hereby employs the Executive as, and the Executive agrees to be
employed as, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company on the terms and
conditions herein contained.
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The
Executive shall report to the Chief Operating Officer and/or the Chief Executive
Officer (as required) of the Company.
2. The
Executive shall have such duties and responsibilities as the Executive and the
Company’s COO shall agree upon from time to time. Initially, such
duties and responsibilities will include those set forth on Exhibit A
hereto.
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3.
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The
Executive shall work primarily out of the corporate office in Weston
Florida however it is understood that the executive’s duties will require
spending time in other areas of the United States including Denver
Colorado. The Company agrees that the Executive is being asked
to relocate his principal place of employment and that any and all
reasonable relocation costs shall be borne by the
Company.
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4.
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The
Executive will agree to work with the CEO, COO and other executives of the
company to prepare budgets for the Company, develop reporting systems,
develop new business opportunities, and assist in all financial aspects of
the company, working directly with the CEO/COO on projects and development
of the corporation business plan and financial and reporting systems in an
overall effort to aid the corporation in achieving its goals of operating
in an efficient and fiscally responsible
manor.
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REMUNERATION
5.
(a) The Executive shall receive a
minimum base salary from the Company of no less than US$150,000 per year of
employment.
During
the Term hereof (the "Salary"), payable in
accordance with the Company's payroll practices in force from time to time shall
be inclusive of all applicable income, employment insurance and other taxes and
charges that are required by law to be withheld by the Company or the
Executive.
(b) Except
as otherwise provided herein, the Salary shall be pro-rated for
any
partial
year.
(c)
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The
company will agree to enter into an option plan with the executive for
Stock options to be set under similar terms and conditions as those of
other senior management as soon as the stock option plan for the Parent
company is approved by the
Board.
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6. Bonuses. The
Company will agree to include the Executive in any cash bonuses that may be set
from time to time by the Board of Directors as part of a Senior Management
Incentive package. The Executive right to access any bonus is solely at the
discretion of the Board of Directors.
Other bonuses - Additionally
the senior management will agree to review the systems and financial controls as
implemented by the Executive after the 90 day and 180 day anniversary of the
executive joining the Company and if deemed by senior management that financial
systems have been enhanced so as to allow the senior management greater ability
in the oversight and general operations of the business then Senior Management
will agree to work with the executive to develop an “Other Bonus”
that specifically rewards the Executive for the ‘FINANCIAL CONTROLS” . While no
terms for the potential earn out of this “other bonus’ are set and such bonus is
to be developed in good faith based upon the performance of the executive such
“other bonus” if
earned and paid will be paid in common stock of the
corporation and will in no case exceed 25,000 shares of the company stock based
on a current price of $2.00 per share.
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BENEFITS AND
EXPENSES
7. The
Executive has agreed to cover his own health, life and medical benefit plan and
will not be using the plan that is made available by the Company generally to
its executives for the first 180 days of employment, however, after relocation
to Florida the executive will have the option to access the Company’s health,
life and medical benefit plan if required.
The
Company has agreed that it will pay all necessary and reasonable interim housing
and transportation expenses for the first 180 days of employment including
business expenses as approved by the Company’s CEO which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld.
After the
first 180 days of employment it is agreed that the Executive will then be
responsible for expenses which are actually and properly incurred by the
Executive in furtherance of or in connection with the Business. These expenses
including without limitation, all business related travel and parking expenses,
public relations expenses and all business related entertainment expenses
(whether incurred at the Executive's residence, while traveling or
otherwise). If any such expenses are paid in the first instance by
the Executive, the Company shall reimburse him therefore, subject to the receipt
by the Company of statements and vouchers in a form reasonably satisfactory to
the Company.
VACATION
8. The
Executive shall be entitled to four weeks paid vacation in each year of the Term
of the Agreement. In the event of termination of this Agreement and
the Executive's employment, the Executive shall be entitled to payment for any
vacation time accrued up to the date of termination but unused.
TERM
9. (a) The
initial term of this Agreement (the "Initial Term"), and the
Executive's employment hereunder, shall be for a period of three years
commencing as of July 6, 2009, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the
provisions of section 10; provided that upon the expiration of the Initial Term,
this Agreement shall be automatically renewed for successive periods of one year
each (each a “Renewal Term”), unless at least 90 days prior to the expiration of
the Initial Term or any Renewal Term, as the case may be, either the Executive
or the Company gives written notice to the other of its intention to terminate
this Agreement upon the expiration of the Initial Term or the Renewal Term, as
the case may be.
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For
the purposes of this Agreement, if such notice is not given at least 90 days
prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or Renewal Term, as the case may be,
the employment of the Executive hereunder shall be deemed to be automatically
renewed for a one-year period following the date of such expiration upon the
same terms as the preceding year. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary set forth herein, there shall not be any more than four (4) Renewal
Terms. The Initial Term, as it may be extended by one or more Renewal
Terms is referred to herein as the Term.
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(b)
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In
the event of the delivery by the Executive of a notice pursuant to section
9(a), the Executive shall be deemed to have voluntarily resigned from his
employment hereunder effective on the expiration of the Initial Term or
Renewal Term, as the case may be. In the event of termination
by the Executive under this section 9, the Executive shall be entitled to
Salary and benefits (including, without limitation, Executive’s Bonus)
earned up until termination and shall be entitled to reimbursement of
business expenses recoverable under section 7, above, incurred up until
termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing and notwithstanding the
provisions of Article 10 hereof, in the event the Executive delivers a
notice pursuant to subsection 9(a) and is thereby deemed to have
voluntarily resigned from his employment effective on the expiration of
the Initial Term or the Renewal Term, upon receipt of such notice, the
Company shall have the right to immediately terminate the employment of
the Executive hereunder and in such event the Executive shall only be
entitled to his Salary and benefits (including, without limitation,
Executive’s Bonus) earned up until termination and shall be entitled to
reimbursement of business expenses recoverable under section 7 above,
incurred up until termination.
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(c)
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In
the event of the delivery by the Company of a notice pursuant to section
10(a), Company shall pay Executive his Salary and benefits (including,
without limitation, Executive’s Bonus) earned or accrued through the date
of termination and shall reimburse Executive for business expenses
recoverable under section 7, above, incurred up until the date of
termination.
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TERMINATION
10.
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(a)
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Events
of Termination. The Term, the Executive’s Salary and any
and all other rights of the Executive under this Agreement or otherwise as
an executive of the Company will terminate (except as otherwise provided
in section 10):
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(i)
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upon
the death of the Executive;
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(ii)
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upon
the disability of the Executive (as defined in section 10(b)) immediately
upon notice from either party to the
other;
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(iii)
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For
Cause (as defined in section 10(c)), immediately upon notice from the
Company to the Executive or at such later time as such notice may
specify;
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(iv)
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Other
than For Cause, Disability or Death, immediately upon notice from the
Company to the Executive or at such later time as such notice may specify;
or
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(v)
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For
Good Reason (as defined in section 10(d)) upon not less than 10 days'
prior notice from the Executive to the
Company.
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(b)
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Definition
of Disability. For the purposes of section 10(a),
the Executive will be deemed to have a "disability" if, for
physical or mental reasons, the Executive is unable to perform the
Executive's duties for a period of 120 days out of 180 days, under this
Agreement as determined in accordance with this
section 10(b). The disability of the Executive will be
determined by a medical doctor selected by written agreement of the
Company and the Executive upon the request of either party by notice to
the other. If the Company and the Executive cannot agree on the
selection of a medical doctor, each of them will select a medical doctor
and the two medical doctors will select a third medical doctor who will
determine whether the Executive has a disability. The
determination of the medical doctor selected under this section 10.2(b)
will be binding on both parties.
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(c)
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Definition
of "For Cause". For the purposes of section 10(a), the
phrase "For Cause"
means: (i) the Executive's material breach of this Agreement; (ii)
the Executive’s failure to substantially perform the duties of Chief
Financial Officer (or such other position with the Company as Executive
may hold) as contemplated hereunder; (iii) the Executive's failure to
substantially adhere to any reasonable written Company policy if the
Executive has been given a reasonable opportunity to comply with such
policy or cure his failure to comply; (iv) the misappropriation by
the Executive of a material business opportunity of the Company, including
securing any undisclosed personal profit in connection with any
transaction entered into on behalf of the Company; (v) the
misappropriation of any of the Company's funds, property or Confidential
Information; (vi) the commission of material acts of dishonesty, willfully
fraudulent or criminal acts or misconduct, or other willfully wrongful
acts or omissions materially adversely affecting the Company;
(vii) the conviction of, the indictment for or its procedural
equivalent or the entering of a guilty plea or plea of no contest with
respect to any felony.
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(d)
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Definition
of "For Good Reason." For the
purposes of section 10(a), the phrase "For Good Reason"
means the Company's material breach of this
Agreement.
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(e)
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Termination
Pay. Effective upon the termination of this Agreement
for any of the reasons set forth in section10(a), the Company shall be
obligated to pay the Executive (or in the event of his death, his
designated beneficiary as defined below) the compensation provided in this
section 10(e), as well as all business expenses recoverable under Section
7. For purposes of this section 10(e), the Executive's designated
beneficiary will be such individual beneficiary or trust, located at such
address, as the Executive may designate by notice to the Company from time
to time or if the Executive fails to give notice to the Company of such a
beneficiary, the Executive's estate. Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence the Company will have no duty, in any circumstances, to attempt
to open an estate on behalf of the Executive, to determine whether any
beneficiary designated by the Executive is alive or to ascertain the
address of any such beneficiary, to determine the existence of any trust,
to determine whether any person or entity purporting to act as the
Executive's personal representative (or the trustee of a trust established
by the Executive) is duly authorized to act in that capacity or to locate
or attempt to locate any beneficiary, personal representative, or
trustee.
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(i)
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Termination
by the Executive For Good Reason. If the Executive terminates this
Agreement For Good Reason, the Company shall (A) pay the Executive his
Salary and other benefits earned or accrued through the date of
termination.
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(ii)
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Termination
by the Company For Cause. If
the Company terminates this Agreement For Cause, the Company shall pay
Executive his Salary and other benefits earned or accrued through the date
of termination.
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(iii)
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Termination
upon Disability. If this Agreement is terminated by
either party as a result of the Executive's disability, as determined
under section 10(a)(ii), the Company shall (A) pay the Executive his
Salary and other benefits earned or accrued through the remainder of the
calendar month during which such termination is
effective.
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(iv)
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Termination
upon Death. If
this Agreement is terminated because of the Executive's death, the Company
shall (A) pay Executive’s estate or designated beneficiary the Executive’s
Salary, Bonus and other benefits earned or accrued through the date of
death.
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(v)
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Termination
by Company Other than For Cause, Disability or Death. If the Company
terminates this Agreement other than For Cause or for death or disability,
the Company shall (A) pay Executive his Salary, Bonus and other benefits
earned or accrued through
termination.
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CONFIDENTIALITY
11.
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(a)
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All
confidential records, material, information and all trade secrets
concerning the business or affairs of the Company obtained by the
Executive in the course of his employment with the Company shall remain
the exclusive property of the Company. During the Executive's
employment or at any time thereafter, the Executive shall not divulge the
contents of such confidential records, material, information or trade
secrets to any person, firm or corporation other than to the Company or
the Company’s qualified executives and following the termination of his
employment hereunder the Executive shall not, for any reason, use the
contents of such confidential records, material, information or trade
secrets for any purpose whatsoever. This section shall not
apply to any confidential records, material, information or trade secrets
which:
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(1)
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is
or becomes publicly known through the lawful action of any third
party;
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(2)
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is
disclosed without restriction to the Executive by a third
party;
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(3)
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is
known by the Executive prior to its disclosure by the
Company;
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(4)
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is
subsequently developed by the Executive, independently of records,
material, information and trade secrets supplied to the Executive by the
Company;
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(5)
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has
been made available by the Company directly or indirectly to a third party
without obligation of confidentiality;
or
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(6)
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the
Executive is obligated to produce as a result of a court order or pursuant
to governmental or other legal action, provided that the Company shall
have been given written notice of such court order or governmental or
other legal action and an opportunity to appear and
object.
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(b)
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The
Executive agrees that all Confidential Information which the Executive
develops, prepares or works on either individually or on a team during the
Term with the Company shall belong exclusively to the Company and the
Executive hereby assigns to the Company all title and interest, including
copyright and patent rights, thereto and waives any moral rights which the
Executive may have therein. If the Executive develops, prepares
or works on the design or development of Confidential Information of any
kind during the Term, the Executive will keep notes and other written
records of such work, which records shall be kept on the premises of the
Company and made available to the Company at all times for the purpose of
evaluation and use in obtaining copyright protection or as a protective
procedure. The Executive will upon request of the Company, and at the
Company's expense, provide a reasonable level of assistance to the Company
with respect to applications for trade marks, copyrights, patents or other
forms of intellectual property protection for work on which the Executive
was involved during the Term. The Executive agrees to execute such
documents as are reasonable and necessary for the purpose of the Company
establishing its right of ownership to such
property.
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NON-SOLICITATION
12. The
Executive covenants and agrees with the Company that he shall not, during the
term of his employment hereunder and for a period ending ninety days following
the date of the termination (for any reason) of his employment:
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(a)
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directly
or indirectly solicit, interfere with or endeavor to direct or entice away
from the Company any person, firm or company who is or has within the
preceding year been a customer, client, affiliated agency or otherwise in
the habit of dealing with the Company;
or
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(b)
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Interfere
with, entice away or otherwise attempt to induce the termination of
employment of any employee of the
Company.
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NON-COMPETITION
13. The
Executive covenants and agrees with the Company that he will not (without the
prior written consent of the Company which consent will not be unreasonably
withheld) directly or indirectly, during the term of his employment hereunder
and for a period 30 days following the date of the termination of his
employment, carry on or be engaged in any business within North America which is
competitive with the Business (a "Competitive Business") where
such business involves “clients or accounts” that were introduced to the
Executive by the Company.
INJUNCTIVE
RELIEF
14. The
Executive acknowledges and agrees that the agreements and covenants in sections
11 to 13 are essential to protect the business and goodwill of the Company and that a breach by
the Executive of the covenants in sections 11 to 13 hereof could result in
irreparable loss to the Company which could not be adequately compensated for in
damages and that the Company may have no adequate remedy at law if the Executive
breaches such provisions. Consequently, if the Executive breaches any
of such provisions, the Company shall have in addition to and not in lieu of,
any other rights and remedies available to it under any law or in equity, the
right to obtain injunctive relief to restrain any breach or threatened breach
thereof and to have such provisions specifically enforced by any court of
competent jurisdiction.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
PROCEDURE
15.
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(a)
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The
parties shall be free to bring all differences of interpretation and
disputes arising under or related to this Agreement to the attention of
the other party at any time without prejudicing their harmonious
relationship and operations hereunder and the offices and facilities of
either party shall be available at all times for the prompt and effective
adjustment of any and all such differences, either by mail, telephone, or
personal meeting, under friendly and courteous
circumstances. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any controversy,
claim, or breach arising out of or relating to this Agreement which the
parties are unable to resolve to their mutual satisfaction shall be
resolved in accordance with subparagraph b
below.
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(b)
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As
a condition precedent to invoking any other dispute resolution procedure
including litigation, the parties shall attempt in good faith first to
mediate such dispute and use their best efforts to reach agreement on the
matters in dispute. Within five business days of the
request of either party, the requesting party shall attempt to employ the
services of a third person mutually acceptable to both parties to conduct
such mediation within five business days of the mediator's
appointment. Unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties
hereto, the parties shall share the cost of the mediator's fees and
expenses equally. If the parties are unable to agree on such
third person, then the requesting party may submit the matter to the
nearest office of the American Arbitration Association for mediation, only, in
accordance with the commercial mediation rules then
prevailing. If, on completion of such mediation, the parties
are still unable to agree upon and settle the dispute, then either party
may initiate litigation. This Agreement contains no arbitration
clause. Binding arbitration may only be used upon the mutual
agreement of the parties hereto.
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SEVERABILITY
16. The
parties acknowledge that the provisions of sections 11 to 13 hereof (the "Restrictive Covenants") are
reasonable and valid in geographic and temporal scope and all other
respects. If any court of competent jurisdiction determines that any
of the Restrictive Covenants or any part thereof, is or are invalid or
unenforceable, the remainder of the Restrictive Covenants shall not thereby be
affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to invalid
portions. If any court of competent jurisdiction determines that any
of the Restrictive Covenants or any part thereof is unenforceable because of the
duration or geographic scope of such provision, such court shall have the power
to reduce the duration or scope of such provision, as the case may be and, in
its reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable. The
Executive acknowledges that the Company's business extends throughout the
geographical area outlined above and that the geographic scope of the covenants
contained herein is reasonable.
INDEMNITY
17. Except
for acts of dishonesty, willfully fraudulent or criminal acts or other willfully
wrongful acts or omissions on the part of Executive, the Company agrees to
indemnify and save the Executive harmless from and against any and all damages,
liabilities, claims, costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, charges and
expenses, including any amount paid to settle any action or satisfy any
judgment, incurred by him in connection with his employment or incurred by him
in respect of any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to
which the Executive is made a party by reason of having been an officer or
employee of the Company.
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WHOLE
AGREEMENT
18. This
Agreement constitutes and expresses the whole agreement of the parties hereto
with respect to the employment of the Executive by the Company and with respect
to any matters or things herein provided for or hereinbefore discussed or
mentioned with reference to such employment. All promises,
representations, collateral agreements and understandings relative thereto not
incorporated herein are hereby superseded by this Agreement.
GENERAL
19. All
notices, request, demands or other communications by the terms hereof required
or permitted to be given by one party to the other shall be given in writing by
personal delivery or by facsimile, addressed to the other party as
follows:
(a)
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to
the Company at:
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Next
One Interactive
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0000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, xxx 000
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Xxxxxx
XX 00000
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Attention:
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Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx
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Facsimile
No:
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(000)
000-0000
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(b)
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to
the Executive at:
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Next
One Interactive
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0000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, xxx 000
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Xxxxxx
XX 00000
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Attention:
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Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
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Facsimile
No:
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(000)
000-0000
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or such
other addresses as may be given by either of them to the other in writing from
time to time.
20. This
Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted under the laws of the State of
Florida without regard to principals of conflicts of law.
21. All
dollar amounts referred to in this Agreement are expressed in U.S.
funds.
22.
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(a)
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This
Agreement is personal to the Executive and may not be assigned by
him.
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(b)
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Upon
notice to the Executive, this Agreement may be assigned to an affiliate of
the Company, provided that notwithstanding such assignment, the Company
continues to guarantee the performance by such assignee of its obligations
hereunder. This Agreement shall not otherwise be assigned by Company and
such restriction shall include any assignment by operation of
law.
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(c)
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Except
as aforesaid, this Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns,
including, in the case of the Executive, his heirs, executors,
administrators and legal personnel
representatives.
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23. Time
shall be of the essence of this Agreement and of every part hereof.
24. The
parties acknowledge and agree that, except to the extent the context clearly
requires otherwise, the representations, warranties and covenants set forth
herein shall survive the termination or expiration of this
Agreement.
25. The
parties acknowledge that each of them has read and understood this Agreement,
and that each of them has been given the opportunity to obtain independent legal
advice in connection with this Agreement and its terms.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties
hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above
written.
Next
One Interactive, Inc.
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By:
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/s/Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
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Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx
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/s/Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
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Witness
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Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
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12
EXHIBIT
A
To
the Employment Agreement Dated the 6th day of
July 2009
by
and between
Next
One Interactive, Inc.
And
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
The
Executive’s initial responsibilities are as follows:
Duties:
Responsible
for overseeing all financial aspects of the day to day operations of
Company.
Responsible
for overseeing and ensuring completion of the Filings, Reporting, Sarbanes Oxley
aspects of the company on a timely and accurate basis.
Work with
the CEO and COO to assist in setting of the direction of the
corporation
Implementation
of proper accounting systems, reporting systems.
Responsible
for the prudent management of the company’s financial
affairs.
Setting
up Structure and staff roles, responsibilities, goals and objectives for the
finance and accounting department.
Helping
to coordinate the media and travel divisions operations to ensure they act in an
efficient and profitable manner.
Review of
existing staff and assessing capabilities including position changes, hiring and
firing as required
Working
with the CEO, COO and other department heads to review expenditures,
develop budgets, complete ongoing review with senior management of these budgets
to ensure efficiencies, cost control systems and best practices are implemented
and practiced
Such
other duties as may be assigned by the CEO/ COO from Time to
Time