Document:

EXHIBIT 10.1 - DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.1

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

This Distribution Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and executed as of January 20, 2006 by and between DNP INTERNATIONAL, INC. (“DNP”), and SWISS RESEARCH, INC. (“SRI”).

A.

SRI manufactures and sells sweetener products known as ShugrTM Natural Sweetener and Shugr SweetTM (collectively, “Shugr”).

B.

DNP and SRI desire to establish a non-exclusive distribution relationship regarding the commercial sale of Shugr.

NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the adequacy of which hereby is acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

As used in this Agreement, each of the following terms has the meaning set forth thereafter, such meaning to be equally applicable both to the singular and plural forms of the terms herein defined:

“Agreement” means this agreement, together with all schedules hereto now or hereafter signed by DNP and SRI (all of which are herein incorporated by reference), as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented from time to time.

“Authorized Sales Market” means any established flavor, nutritional, nutraceutical, food, confection and pharmaceutical companies.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of (i) an acquisition after the date hereof by an individual or legal entity or group of effective control (whether through legal or beneficial ownership of capital stock, by contract or otherwise) of in excess of 50% of the voting securities of an entity, (ii) the merger of that entity with or into another entity, (iii) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of an entity, or (iv) the execution by the entity of an agreement to which the entity is a party or by which it is bound, providing for any of the events set forth above in (i) or (iii).

“Large Account Customer” means any customer account that would purchase in excess of 5,000 kilograms of Products per month.

“Products” means ShugrTM Natural Sweetener (a natural sweetener) and/or and Shugr SweetTM (a non-nutritive sweetener).

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LA-91802 v2 1004800-0101

The terms "sale" and "resale" and any grammatical variant thereof shall include, without limitation, sales, contracts for sale, conditional sales, installment sales, rentals or leases, and any other arrangement whereby Products are placed at the disposal of the ultimate user.

"Territory" means the United States of America and Canada.

ARTICLE II

APPOINTMENT AS DISTRIBUTOR

SECTION 2.01  SRI hereby appoints DNP as a non-exclusive authorized distributor in the Territory for the sale of Products, and DNP hereby accepts this appointment.  SRI shall sell the Products to DNP at any price equal to or greater than the price it pays to SRI for such Product.

SECTION 2.02  SRI expressly reserves the right to sell and deliver Products to any Large Account in the Territory (and nothing in this Agreement shall obligate SRI to impose any restriction upon the use or resale of Products by any such Large Account); the use or resale of Products in any area by a Large Account shall not constitute breach of any provision of this Agreement by SRI, and SRI shall be under no obligation to procure the termination of such use or resale.

SECTION 2.03  DNP shall conduct its business in the purchase and resale of Products as a principal for its own account and at its own expense and risk. This Agreement does not in any way create the relationship of principal and agent, or any similar relationship, between SRI and DNP. DNP covenants and warrants that it will not act or represent itself directly or by implication as agent for SRI and will not attempt to create any obligation, or make any representation, on behalf of or in the name of SRI. 

SECTION 2.04  DNP shall limit the distribution of Products to the Authorized Sales Market.  In addition, DNP shall not sell and deliver Products to any Large Account Customers without the prior written consent of SRI.

ARTICLE III

SALES

SECTION 3.01  DNP shall use its best efforts to sell and promote the sale of Products within the Territory, which best efforts shall include but not be limited to prompt performance of all of its obligations under this Agreement. DNP will maintain such annual minimum purchases of Products from SRI in accordance with the requirements set forth in Schedule 3.01.

SECTION 3.02  DNP shall warehouse Products at its sole expense in accordance with SRI recommended storage and handling instructions. DNP’s storage facilities shall be sufficient to enable DNP to satisfy properly its sales responsibilities under this Agreement and shall be consistent with promoting the reputation of, and public confidence in, the Products and SRI. 

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ARTICLE IV

INVENTORY, MARKETING AND RELATED OBLIGATIONS

SECTION 4.01  DNP will maintain in the Territory at all times a stock of new Products as shall be mutually agreed upon as reasonably necessary or desirable in order to meet the sales requirements in the Territory.  DNP will carry on its business transactions with its customers by selling Products from DNP’s stock and agrees not to order Products from SRI for direct shipment to DNP’s customers except in non-repetitive emergency circumstances which orders shall be satisfied by SRI, in its sole discretion. 

SECTION 4.02  SRI will furnish DNP with a reasonable supply of price lists, sales literature, catalogues, information on Products, and recommendations as to stocking of Products. 

SECTION 4.03  DNP shall not make any advertisement or any public statements regarding Shugr or its product ingredients without SRI’s prior written approval; DNP hereby agrees to indemnify SRI for any claims or damages arising from any non-approved advertising or statements by DNP.

SECTION 4.04  All uses by DNP in its advertising or elsewhere of SRI’s name or any trademark or trade name (or any mark or name closely resembling the same) now or hereafter owned or licensed by SRI or any of its affiliates shall be subject to the prior written approval of SRI. DNP is not authorized to use any such trademark or trade name outside DNP's Territory nor as a part of DNP's trade style or corporate name; however, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit DNP from placing a “Distributed by DNP” label on each box, bag, drum or other package distributed by DNP.  

SECTION 4.05  DNP will keep detailed records of its business relating to Products, including without limitation, the quantity and price for each sale of Products to customers of DNP. From time to time during regular business hours, SRI or its authorized representatives may examine such records and DNP's accounts relating to the sale of Products. 

ARTICLE V

CONDITIONS OF SALE

SECTION 5.01  The sale by SRI to DNP of Products shall be subject to the provisions of this Agreement. Any provision of any purchase order placed by DNP which is inconsistent with any term of this Agreement shall be null and void unless expressly accepted by SRI in writing.

SECTION 5.02  The prices of Products sold to DNP by SRI shall be as set forth on Schedule 5.02, which is subject to change from to time by SRI in its sole discretion (provided, however, that SRI agrees that it shall not change Schedule 5.02 prior to January 1, 2007), plus such sums as are in reimbursement for any taxes paid (or equivalent to any taxes payable) by SRI to any taxing authority upon the transportation, use or sale of such Products, except to the extent that DNP may provide proper exemption certificates. After January 1, 2007, SRI shall have the right to modify the pricing of Products, provided SRI delivers fifteen (15) days prior written notice to DNP. DNP agrees to pay 

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when due all indebtedness now or hereafter owed by DNP to SRI. SRI may from time to time apply all or part of any outstanding credits to DNP against any indebtedness (whether due or to become due) owed by DNP to SRI as the same shall become due.

SECTION 5.03  No purchase order shall be binding on SRI until accepted in writing by a duly authorized officer or employee of SRI. SRI may refuse to accept any purchase order for any reason. DNP's order shall be subject to such reasonable allocation as, in the sole judgment of SRI, may be necessary or equitable in the event of any shortages of Products or parts at any time. Within thirty (30) business days following SRI’s delivery of the ordered Product to DNP or its designee,  DNP shall pay SRI 100% due under such purchase order (e.g. for the Product ordered plus taxes or similar charges (where applicable) as described in Section 5.02 above). 

SECTION 5.04  Delivery to DNP shall be at any facility or warehouse of DNP located in Los Angeles or Irvine, California as DNP shall designate. Claims for damage or defectiveness of Products must be made within ten (10) days (the “Inspection Period”) after arrival of shipment at the specified destination and, if requested by SRI, promptly returned to SRI who shall determine, in good faith, whether the claim has merit. In the event DNP claims that any container from a common lot contains defective Products, then DNP shall (i) promptly send the claim in writing to SRI during the Inspection Period to permit SRI to determine whether the entire common lot is damaged or defective and (ii) open no further containers from the common lot unless and until SRI determines whether the entire lot shipment has been damaged or is defective.  If such Products are determined by SRI to be damaged or defective, SRI shall bear the shipping expense of the return; however, if SRI determines that the Products are not damaged or defective, DNP (or its customer) shall bear such expense. Shipping dates are estimated, and SRI shall not be liable for loss or damage due to delay in manufacture or delivery resulting from any cause beyond its reasonable control including, but not limited to, compliance with regulations, orders or instructions of any federal, state or municipal government or any department or agent thereof, acts of God, acts or omissions of DNP, acts of civil or military authority, fires, strikes, facilities shutdowns or alterations, embargoes, war, riot, delays in transportation, or inability to obtain necessary labor, manufacturing facilities or materials from usual sources, and any delays resulting from any such cause shall extend the time for delivery correspondingly. In no event shall SRI be liable for consequential or special damages due to any cause. All expenses and charges caused by DNP, including, but not limited to, its failure to accept delivery of or pay for such Products, shall be paid by DNP to SRI on demand.

SECTION 5.05  SRI expects normally to give advance notice to DNP regarding changes in design. SRI shall have the right, however, to change design of Products without notice to DNP, without incurring any liability whatever, including any obligation to modify the same on Products previously ordered from SRI. DNP agrees not to alter or modify Products purchased hereunder in any way which will impair or lessen the validity of the trademarks under which these Products are made or sold. 

SECTION 5.06  Any customer of DNP either wishing to sample or purchase Shugr must sign the SRI nondisclosure agreement (“NDA”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.  Any customer of DNP wishing to purchase any quantity of Shugr must sign the SRI end user agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, which requires identifying “ShugrTM” or “Shugr SweetTM” (as applicable) as the source for sweetening in addition to legal ingredient listing requirements.

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SECTION 5.07  DNP shall pay all license fees, sales, use, occupation, retailer's occupation, personal property, and excise taxes and any other fees, assessments or taxes which may be assessed or levied by any national, state or local government and any departments and subdivisions thereof, against any of the Products ordered by DNP and under DNP’s direct or indirect control.

SECTION 5.08  DNP shall not sell any sweetener product that SRI, in good faith, determines may compete with Shugr as a result of exact or similar ingredients being used.  

SECTION 5.09  DNP shall not contact or sell to any Large Account Customers unless DNP first obtains the prior written approval of SRI.  If DNP contacts a Large Account Customer without such prior written approval, SRI shall have the right to reject such account as a DNP account, and sell directly to such Large Account Customer.

ARTICLE VI

WARRANTIES, INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

SECTION 6.01  DNP EXPRESSLY WAIVES  AND SRI DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR OF FITNESS. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, SRI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES REGARDING THE LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE PRODUCTS AND DNP AGREES TO CONDUCTS ITS OWN INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPER LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE PRODUCTS.

SECTION 6.02  SRI assumes no liability on product ingredient and product function claims.  All commercial users of Shugr must obtain independent legal counsel on product ingredient and product function claims.

SECTION 6.03.  DNP represents and warrants that DNP and any customers of DNP shall comply with all GRAS regulations and any other applicable laws or regulations with respect to the use of the Products. DNP shall indemnify and hold SRI harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses (including reasonable attorney’s expenses) and any other liability arising out of the breach of its representations, warranties or obligations under this Agreement.

SECTION 6.04  DNP shall indemnify and hold harmless SRI and its affiliates and their respective equityholders, managers, directors, officers, agents, employees and representatives for, and will pay to such persons the amount of, any loss, liability, claim, damage (including incidental and consequential damages), expense (including costs of investigation and defense and reasonable attorneys’ fees) or diminution of value, whether or not involving a third-party claim, arising, directly or indirectly, from or in connection with DNP’s use of, or operations or activities with respect to, the Products, excluding claims arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of SRI.

SECTION 6.05  Promptly after receipt by SRI of any claim or notice of the commencement of any action, administrative or legal proceeding, or investigation as to which the indemnity provided for in Section 9.01 hereof may apply, SRI shall notify DNP of such fact. DNP shall assume the defense thereof; provided, 

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however, that if the defendants in any such action include both SRI and DNP and SRI shall reasonably conclude that there may be legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to, or inconsistent with, those available to DNP, the SRI shall have the right to select separate counsel (reasonably acceptable to DNP) to participate in the defense of such action on behalf of SRI, at DNP’s expense.

SECTION 6.06  DNP shall at its own cost, cause SRI and its respective agents, employees, officers, and representatives to be added as additional insureds on all policies of general commercial liability insurance and product liability insurance covering such party, which coverage shall have limits of liability which are commercially reasonable but shall not be less than $100,000 per loss occurrence. Each policy shall contain an endorsement which provides that any amendments or cancellation of any such policy shall not be effective unless SRI shall have been given thirty (30) days prior written notice of any such intended amendment or cancellations. Within five (5) days of the beginning of each policy period, DNP shall deliver to SRI a certificate evidencing the coverage required hereby and the amount thereof. Such coverage shall be maintained for not less than five (5) years following termination of this Agreement.

ARTICLE VII

TERMINATION

SECTION 7.01  This Agreement shall be for an indefinite period until it is terminated as hereinafter provided. 

SECTION 7.02  Either DNP or SRI may terminate this Agreement by written notice of termination delivered to the other party, such termination to be effective not less than ninety (90) days after receipt by the other party of such notice.

SECTION 7.03  Notwithstanding Section 7.02, SRI may terminate this Agreement, effective immediately, by delivering to DNP or its representative written notice of such termination in the event of the happening of any of the following, each such termination a termination for “Cause”:

(a) Failure of DNP to function in the ordinary course of business.

(b) Any breach by DNP of the terms of this Agreement.

(c) Any Change of Control of DNP.

(d) Any attempted transfer or assignment of this Agreement or any right or obligation hereunder by DNP without the prior written consent of SRI.

(e) Any dispute, disagreement, or controversy between or among principals, partners, managers, officers or stockholders of DNP which, in the opinion of SRI, may adversely affect the ownership, operation, management, business or interest of DNP or SRI.

(f) The execution by DNP of an assignment for the benefit of creditors; the conviction of DNP or any principal officer or manager of DNP of any crimes which in the opinion of SRI may adversely affect the ownership, operation, management, business or interest of DNP or SRI.

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(g) Failure of DNP to pay when due any indebtedness owing by DNP to SRI, unless expressly waived in writing by SRI.

(h) The insolvency of DNP or if DNP shall ask its creditors for a moratorium, or shall file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, or shall be adjudicated as a bankrupt pursuant to an involuntary petition, or shall suffer appointment of a temporary or permanent receiver, trustee, or custodian for all or a substantial part of its assets who shall not be discharged within thirty (30) days.

(i) Failure of DNP to develop the sales quantity and service of Products in the Territory in accordance with the requirements set forth in this Agreement.

ARTICLE VIII

TRANSACTIONS AFTER TERMINATION

SECTION 8.01  Any termination of this Agreement shall not release DNP from paying any amount which may then be owing to SRI or from any obligation to pay for any Products or parts which may have been ordered by DNP and not shipped prior to such termination. In the event of any termination of this Agreement, all obligations owed by DNP to SRI and to its affiliates shall become immediately due and payable on the effective date of termination whether otherwise then due or not (without presentation, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by DNP); and SRI may offset and deduct from any or all amounts owed to DNP, any or all amounts owed by DNP to SRI, rendering to DNP the excess, if any.

SECTION 8.02  In the event of termination of this Agreement by SRI for “Cause” pursuant to Section 7.03, SRI is relieved from any obligation to make any further shipments hereunder, and may cancel all of DNP's orders for Products, which are proved to SRI's satisfaction to be existing at the time of the receipt by DNP of notice of termination.  Further, if SRI terminates this Agreement for “Cause,” SRI may, but is under no obligation to, continue post-termination sales of Products to DNP for a period time as SRI shall determine in its sole discretion.  In the event SRI terminates this Agreement for any reason other than for “Cause,” SRI shall fill all of DNP's orders for Products, which are proved to SRI’s satisfaction to be existing at the time of the receipt by DNP of notice of termination and continue post-termination sales of Products for a post-termination period as mutually agreed upon by SRI and DNP, (the “Post Termination Period”).

SECTION 8.03  Except as provided in this Section 8.03, DNP shall be entitled to the pricing for Products established in accordance with this Agreement to fulfill sales of Product to DNP customers for the Post Termination Period.  DNP shall not be entitled to the pricing for Products established in accordance with this Agreement  if SRI terminates this Agreement for “Cause” pursuant to Section 7.03, or if DNP terminates this Agreement.

SECTION 8.04  DNP shall be solely responsible for all commitments incurred or assumed by it during the term of this Agreement or thereafter, and SRI shall not be held responsible in any manner therefor, irrespective of any suggestion or recommendation with respect thereto by SRI or any of its employees or representatives unless SRI has expressly agreed in writing to assume the responsibility.

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ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 9.01  This Agreement supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements, representations, warranties and understandings and contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto. No amendment, modification, termination, or waiver of any provision of this Agreement nor consent to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by duly authorized representatives of each party hereto and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No failure or delay on the part of either party in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder.

SECTION 9.02  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, except that neither party shall have the right to assign or otherwise transfer its rights hereunder or any interest therein without the prior written consent of the other party.

SECTION 9.03  Except as otherwise set forth in Article VIII, neither SRI nor DNP shall by reason of the termination of this Agreement be liable to the other for compensation, reimbursement or damages on account of the loss of prospective profits, or anticipated sales in connection with the business or good will of SRI or DNP.

SECTION 9.04  All notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be sufficient (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) if delivered in person, by courier service, by cable, by telecopier, by telegram, by telex or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the attention of the party intended as the recipient thereof at the address of such party set forth on the first page hereof, or at such other address or to the attention of such other person as such party shall have designated for such purpose in a written notice complying as to delivery with the terms of this Article.

SECTION 9.05  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, excluding its conflict of laws rules. In the event of any dispute between the parties, the non-prevailing party in any action shall reimburse to the prevailing party all of the prevailing party’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with such dispute (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, expert witness fees and other similar fees and expenses).  The failure of a party to require performance of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect such party’s right at a later time to enforce any provision of this Agreement. A waiver of the breach of any term or condition of this Agreement by a party shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other term or condition hereof. This Agreement shall be binding upon the party’s permitted successors and assigns. Any rule of law, including but not limited to, California Civil Code Section 1654 or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any ambiguities in this Agreement against the party that drafted it, is of no application and is hereby expressly waived. This Agreement may be executed in counterpart and by facsimile. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such 

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jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 9.06  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Headings in this Agreement are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.

SWISS RESEARCH , INC.

By: 

/s/ Fred E. Tannous

Title:  Director

DNP INTERNATIONAL, INC.

By:

/s/ David Ji

Title:

President

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 SCHEDULE 3.01

ANNUAL MINIMUM PURCHASE REQUIREMENTS

DNP shall maintain the following minimum annual purchases of Product from SRI (such amounts are in U.S. Dollars):

2006

$1,000,000 

2007

$4,000,000 

2008

$5,500,000

2009*

$6,000,000

* and each calendar year thereafter

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SCHEDULE 5.02

PRICES FOR PRODUCT

	Annual Purchase Volume (Kg) by calendar year

	$ Per Kg

	 	1x

	10x

	Up to 6,000

	 	 $   XX.XX 

	 $ XX.XX

	6,0001 to 12,000

	 	 $   XX.XX

	 $ XX.XX

	12,0001 to 24,000

	 	 $   XX.XX

	 $ XX.XX

	24,001 to 36,000

	 	 $   XX.XX

	 $ XX.XX

	More than 36,000

	 	 $   XX.XX

	 $ XX.XX

Above prices are based on cumulative purchases made during calendar year (i.e., payment for ordered Products), but are not retroactive pricing adjustments. Once DNP purchases have qualified it for lower pricing, such lower pricing shall apply for all purchases going-forward (but not retroactively for all purchases during such year).

Terms and Conditions:

FOB point of shipment

Minimum shipment 100kg

Payment terms are 1%/10;net 30 days

SRI’s price is subject to a 5% discount for direct buying customer back-haul shipment.

Use of Shugr in product formulations must be GRAS compliant.

Use of Shugr requires signed and approved NDA and license agreement.

Pricing subject to change without notice.

Shipped in 50 kilo containers

Above pricing is effective for January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006. 

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EXHIBIT A

NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

This Nondisclosure Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into as of _______________, 200__, by and between DNP INTERNATIONAL, INC. (“DNP”) and ____________________________________________________________________, located at ____________________________________________________________________ (including its affiliates and subsidiaries, "Recipient") with respect to the following:

A.  Recipient has requested that the Company furnish Recipient with a product sample of Shugr, a new sweetener product developed and owned by SWISS RESEARCH, INC. (“SRI”) so that Recipient can evaluate Shugr and determine if Recipient would like to purchase and use Shugr for its manufacturing needs. 

B.  DNP and SRI desire to provide such sample, but require that Recipient first enter into this Agreement and agrees as follows:   

NOW, THEREFORE, The therefore agree as follows:

1.

Confidential Information.  Recipient understands that Shugr is based on a proprietary formula. The sample is being to Recipient strictly for its evaluation of Shugr as a sweetener product for possible purchase and use by Recipient. Recipient will not distribute the sample in whole or in part to any third party, and will maintain the sample under appropriate safeguards (and limit access to its employees that reasonably need access to such sample in connection with Recipient’s evaluation of Shugr). 

2.

Non-Use & Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information.  Recipient agrees that it will use the sample strictly for its evaluation of Shugr as a sweetener product for possible purchase and use by Recipient, and Recipient will not directly or indirectly use the sample in any way detrimental to the SRI (including, without limitation, seeking to reverse-engineer or otherwise analyze, reproduce or duplicate Shugr). Recipient agrees to immediately notify DNP in writing of any known misuse or misappropriation of any portion of the sample (by any of Recipient’s employees or any third party).

3.

Return of Materials.  If Recipient determines that it is not interested in purchasing and using Shugr, it will immediately notify DNP of such fact and either return the unused portion of the sample to DNP or dispose of it by pouring it down the sink or wash basin. Notwithstanding the return or disposal of the sample, Recipient and its employees will continue to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.

4.

Remedies.  Recipient agrees that its obligations hereunder are necessary and reasonable in order to protect SRI (and that SRI is a third party beneficiary hereunder), and expressly agrees that monetary damages would be inadequate to compensate SRI for any breach of this Agreement by Recipient.  Accordingly, Recipient agrees and acknowledges that any such violation or 

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threatened violation will cause irreparable injury to SRI and that, in addition to any other remedies that may be available, in law, in equity or otherwise, SRI shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief against the threatened breach of this Agreement or the continuation of any such breach, without the necessity of proving actual damages. Recipient waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedies (or if any bond is required, it shall be of a nominal amount).  No failure or delay by SRI in exercising any right, power or privilege shall operate as a waiver thereof.

5.

No License, Obligation or Warranty.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as a grant of any license to Recipient. Additionally, nothing in this Agreement shall obligate either of the parties to proceed with any transaction between them or enter into a business relationship regarding Shugr.  DNP makes no warranties, express, implied or otherwise, whatsoever regarding Shugr.

6. 

Governing Law; Dispute Resolution.  This Agreement shall be construed (both as to validity and performance) and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of California applicable to agreements made and to be performed wholly within such jurisdiction, notwithstanding any choice of law principles, statutes or rules to the contrary. The parties agree that all actions or proceedings arising in connection with this Agreement shall be litigated only in the state and federal courts located in the City of Los Angeles, State of California (and Recipient waives any right it may have to object to venue based on inconvenience or otherwise, and agrees that such courts shall have personal jurisdiction and venue over it for any such cause of action). The non-prevailing party in any proceeding shall reimburse to the prevailing party such party’s costs and expenses in connection therewith (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ and experts’ fees & expenses). Recipient acknowledges that this Agreement is for the purpose of protecting SRI, a third party beneficiary hereunder, and that SRI may initiate direct action against Recipient hereunder in the event of Recipient’s actual or threatened breach.

7.

Miscellaneous.  This Agreement may be waived, amended or modified only by an instrument in writing signed by Recipient, DNP and SRI.  This Agreement shall be binding upon Recipient's successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Company's successors and assigns. Any rule of law or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any ambiguities in this Agreement against the party that drafted it, is of no application and is hereby expressly waived. The provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in a reasonable manner. In the event that any of the provisions hereof are held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, then the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. 

Please indicate your agreement with the foregoing by executing this letter in the space provide below and faxing it us at __________________ (attention: Mr. ____________), whereupon it shall constitute a binding agreement as of the date first above written.  We will thereafter immediately provide you with your sample of Shugr.

Very truly yours,

__________, Vice President 

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______________________________________________________________________

AGREED AND ACCEPTED:

________________________, Inc

By: _________________________________

      Name: ____________________________

      Title: _____________________________

 

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EXHIBIT B

END USER AGREEMENT

This End User Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and executed as of _________, 2006 by and between  ________________ (“End User”), and SWISS RESEARCH, INC. (“SRI”).

A.

SRI manufactures and sells sweetener products known as ShugrTM Natural Sweetener and Shugr SweetTM (collectively, referred to as “Shugr”).

B.

End User desires to purchase Shugr for incorporation into End User’s own products in accordance with this Agreement.

NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the adequacy of which hereby is acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS

As used in this Agreement, each of the following terms has the meaning set forth thereafter, such meaning to be equally applicable both to the singular and plural forms of the terms herein defined:

“Agreement” means this agreement, together with all schedules hereto now or hereafter signed by End User and SRI (all of which are herein incorporated by reference), as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented from time to time.

“Governmental Body” means any: (i) nation, state, commonwealth, province, territory, county, municipality, district or other jurisdiction of any nature; (ii) federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other government; or (iii) governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any governmental division, department, agency, commission, instrumentality, official, ministry, fund, foundation, center, organization, unit, body or entity and any court or other tribunal).

“Intellectual Property” shall mean all patents, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, service names, trade names, internet domain names, e-mail addresses, applications or registrations for any of the foregoing, or extensions, renewals, continuations or re-issues thereof, or amendments or modifications thereto, brandmarks, brand names, trade dress, labels, logos, know-how (including, without limitation, the Know-How), show-how, technical and non-technical information, trade secrets, formulae, techniques, sketches, drawings, models, inventions, designs, specifications, processes, apparatus, equipment, databases, research, experimental work, development, pharmacology and clinical data, software programs and applications, software source documents, and any similar type of proprietary intellectual property right vesting in the owner pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations of any relevant jurisdiction or under any applicable license or contract, whether now existing or hereafter created, together with all modifications, enhancements and improvements thereto.

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“Products” or “the Product” means ShugrTM Natural Sweetener (a natural sweetener) and Shugr Sweet (a non-nutritive sweetener).

The terms "sale" and "resale" and any grammatical variant thereof shall include, without limitation, sales, contracts for sale, conditional sales, installment sales, rentals or leases, and any other arrangement whereby Products are placed at the disposal of the End User.

ARTICLE II - RIGHTS GRANTED AND CONDITIONS OF USE

SECTION 2.01  SRI hereby grants End User a non-exclusive, perpetual, non-transferable license to use Products solely for inclusion or incorporation into End User’s own products.  End User hereby represents and warrants that End User is an ultimate user of Products and will not engage in the sale, resale or distribution of Products. 

SECTION 2.02  If End User uses, incorporates or includes Shugr in any of its own products, End User shall identify “ShugrTM” as the source for sweetening in such products in addition to compliance with legal ingredient listing requirements.  End User shall include SRI’s logo on any of its packaged products which use, incorporate or include Shugr.  

SECTION 2.03  End User shall comply with all laws and regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and any other Governmental Body, which are applicable to End User’s activities relating to its use of Products.

SECTION 2.04   End User shall warehouse Products at its sole expense in accordance with SRI recommended storage and handling instructions. End User’s storage facilities shall be consistent with promoting the reputation of, and public confidence in, the Products and SRI. 

SECTION 2.05  This Agreement does not in any way create the relationship of principal and agent, or any similar relationship, between SRI and End User. End User covenants and warrants that it will not act or represent itself directly or by implication as agent for SRI and will not attempt to create any obligation, or make any representation, on behalf of or in the name of SRI. 

SECTION 2.06  Claims for damage or defectiveness of Products must be made within seven (7) days after arrival of shipment at the specified destination and promptly returned to SRI who shall determine, in good faith, whether the claim has merit. In the event End User claims that any container from a common lot contains defective Products, the End User shall (i) promptly send the claim in writing to SRI during the Inspection Period to permit SRI to determine whether the common lot is damaged or defective and (ii) open no further containers from the common lot unless and until SRI determines whether the entire common lot shipment has been damaged or is defective.  If such Products are determined by SRI to be damaged or defective, SRI shall bear the shipping expense of the return; however, if SRI determines that the Products are not damaged or defective, End User shall bear such expense. Shipping dates are estimated, and SRI shall not be liable for loss or damage due to delay in manufacture or delivery resulting from any cause beyond its reasonable control including, but not limited to, compliance with regulations, orders or instructions of any Governmental Body, acts of God, acts or omissions of End User, acts of civil or military authority, fires, strikes, facilities shutdowns or alterations, embargoes, war, riot, delays in transportation, or inability to obtain 

16

necessary labor, manufacturing facilities or materials from usual sources, and any delays resulting from any such cause shall extend the time for delivery correspondingly. In no event shall SRI be liable for consequential or special damages due to any cause.

SECTION 2.07  End User's order shall be subject to such reasonable allocation as, in the sole judgment of SRI, may be necessary or equitable in the event of any shortages of Products at any time.

SECTION 2.08  SRI expects normally to give advance notice to End User regarding changes in design. SRI shall have the right, however, to change design of Products without notice to End User, without incurring any liability whatever, including any obligation to modify the same on Products previously ordered from SRI. End User agrees not to alter or modify Products purchased hereunder in any way which will (1) impair or lessen the validity of the trademarks under which these Products are made or sold, or (2) damage or impair the reputation of, or public confidence in, the Products.

SECTION 2.09  End User must sign the SRI nondisclosure agreement (“NDA”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A as of the date of this Agreement.  End User shall take all reasonable precautions against unauthorized disclosure or copying of Product and further exercise commercially reasonable efforts to ensure the security of the Product.  

SECTION 2.10  End User shall pay all license fees, sales, use, occupation, retailer's occupation, personal property, and excise taxes and any other fees, assessments or taxes which may be assessed or levied by any Governmental Body against any of the Products ordered by End User and under End User’s direct or indirect control.

SECTION 2.11.  End User shall use the Shugr trademark on all products sold by End User which  include the Products as an ingredient.

ARTICLE III - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

SECTION 3.01  End User hereby acknowledges that all Intellectual Property related to Shugr is owned solely by SRI.  End User further agrees and acknowledges that SRI shall have sole and exclusive ownership, proprietary, license, Intellectual Property or other rights in any inventions, improvements, enhancements or modifications of Shugr made by End User, arising from End User’s use of, or activities with respect to, the Products.  

SECTION 3.02  End User shall not engage in, or cause any other person to engage in, or permit, any effort or attempt to reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble the Products.

SECTION 3.03   All uses by End User in its advertising or elsewhere of SRI’s name or any logo, trademark or trade name (or any mark or name closely resembling the same) now or hereafter owned or licensed by SRI or any of its affiliates shall be subject to the prior written approval of SRI. End User is not authorized to use any such logo, trademark or trade name as a part of End User's trade style or corporate name. SRI hereby grants a non-exclusive license to End User to use, display or promote SRI’s logo on End User’s package products pursuant to Section 2.02.  

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ARTICLE IV -MARKETING AND RELATED OBLIGATIONS

SECTION 4.01   SRI will furnish End User with a reasonable supply of price lists, sales literature, catalogues, information on Products, and recommendations as to stocking of Products. 

SECTION 4.02  End User shall not make any advertisement or any public statements regarding Shugr or its product ingredients without SRI’s prior written approval; End User hereby agrees to indemnify SRI for any claims or damages arising from any non-approved advertising or statements by End User.

ARTICLE V - WARRANTIES

SECTION 5.01  END USER EXPRESSLY WAIVES  AND SRI DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR OF FITNESS.  WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, SRI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES REGARDING THE LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE PRODUCTS AND END USER AGREES TO CONDUCT ITS OWN INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPER LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE PRODUCTS.

SECTION 5.02  SRI assumes no liability on product ingredient claims.  All commercial users of Shugr must obtain independent legal counsel on ingredient claims.

SECTION 5.03.  End User represents and warrants that End User shall comply with all GRAS regulations and any other applicable laws or regulations with respect to the use of the Products. End User shall indemnify and hold SRI harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses (including reasonable attorney’s expenses) and any other liability arising out of the breach of its representations, warranties or obligations under this Agreement

ARTICLE VI - INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

SECTION 6.01  End User shall indemnify and hold harmless SRI and its affiliates and their respective equityholders, managers, directors, officers, agents, employees and representatives for, and will pay to such persons the amount of, any loss, liability, claim, damage (including incidental and consequential damages), expense (including costs of investigation and defense and reasonable attorneys’ fees) or diminution of value, whether or not involving a third-party claim, arising, directly or indirectly, from or in connection with End User’s use of, or operations or activities with respect to, the Products, excluding claims arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of SRI.

SECTION 6.02  Promptly after receipt by SRI of any claim or notice of the commencement of any action, administrative or legal proceeding, or investigation as to which the indemnity provided for in Section 9.01 hereof may apply, SRI shall notify End User of such fact. End User shall assume the defense thereof; provided, however, that if the defendants in any such action include both SRI and End User and SRI shall reasonably conclude that there may be legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to, or inconsistent with, those available to End User, the SRI shall have 

18

the right to select separate counsel (reasonably acceptable to End User) to participate in the defense of such action on behalf of SRI, at End User’s expense.

ARTICLE VII - TERMINATION

SECTION 7.01  This Agreement shall be for an indefinite period until it is terminated as hereinafter provided. 

SECTION 7.02  Either End User or SRI may terminate this Agreement by written notice of termination delivered to the other party, such termination to be effective not less than thirty (30) days after receipt by the other party of such notice.  Termination of this Agreement shall not affect in any manner whatsoever (1) End User’s obligations and responsibilities under this Agreement, which shall apply to any post-termination use of Products, or (2) the terms and restrictions imposed on End User under Article III, Sections 2.09, 4.02, 6.01 and 6.03 of this Agreement.  

SECTION 7.04  Notwithstanding Section 7.02, SRI may terminate this Agreement, effective immediately, by delivering to End User or its representative written notice of such termination in the event of the happening of any of the following, each such termination a termination for “Cause”:

(a) Failure of End User to function in the ordinary course of business.

(b) Any breach by End User of the terms of this Agreement.

(c) Any attempted transfer or assignment of this Agreement or any right or obligation hereunder by End User without the prior written consent of SRI.

(d) The execution by End User of an assignment for the benefit of creditors; the conviction of End User or any principal officer or manager of End User of any crimes which in the opinion of SRI may adversely affect the ownership, operation, management, business or interest of End User or SRI.

(e) The insolvency of End User or if End User shall ask its creditors for a moratorium, or shall file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, or shall be adjudicated as a bankrupt pursuant to an involuntary petition, or shall suffer appointment of a temporary or permanent receiver, trustee, or custodian for all or a substantial part of its assets who shall not be discharged within thirty (30) days.

ARTICLE VIII - MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 8.01  This Agreement supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements, representations, warranties and understandings and contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto. No amendment, modification, termination, or waiver of any provision of this Agreement nor consent to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by duly authorized representatives of each party hereto and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No failure or delay on the part of either party in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder.

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SECTION 8.02  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, except that End User shall not have the right to assign or otherwise transfer its rights hereunder or any interest therein without the prior written consent of SRI.

SECTION 8.03  All notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be sufficient (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) if delivered in person, by courier service, by cable, by telecopier, by telegram, by telex or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the attention of the party intended as the recipient thereof at the address of such party set forth on the first page hereof, or at such other address or to the attention of such other person as such party shall have designated for such purpose in a written notice complying as to delivery with the terms of this Article.

SECTION 8.04  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, excluding its conflict of laws rules. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 8.05  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Headings in this Agreement are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.

SWISS RESEARCH, INC.

By: ______________________

Title:_____________________

__________________ [End User]

By: ______________________

Title: _____________________

20Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made by and between
Particle Drilling Technologies, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Company”), and Jim B. Terry (“Executive”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, Executive is to be employed
by Company; and

 

WHEREAS, Company is desirous of
employing Executive in an executive capacity on the terms and conditions, and
for the consideration, hereinafter set forth and Executive is desirous of
becoming employed by Company on such terms and conditions and for such
consideration;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in
consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and obligations contained
herein, Company and Executive agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1:  DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS

 

1.1                               Definitions.

 

(a)                                  “Annual Base Salary” shall mean, as of a
specified date, Executive’s annual base salary as of such date determined
pursuant to Section 4.1.

 

(b)                                 “Annual Bonus” shall mean the annual bonus
most recently paid by Company to Executive pursuant to Company’s annual
incentive plan prior to the date of his Involuntary Termination; provided,
however, that if Executive was employed by Company for only a portion of the
year with respect to which any such annual bonus was paid, then the annual
bonus for such year shall equal an amount determined by annualizing the bonus
received by Executive based on the ratio of the number of days Executive was
employed by Company during such year to 365 days.

 

(c)                                  “Annual Compensation” shall mean an amount
equal to Executive’s Annual Base Salary at the annual rate in effect at the
date of his Involuntary Termination. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Executive’s employment shall be
subject to an Involuntary Termination during a Change of Control Period, then
the amount determined pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be increased by
the amount that is, as of the date of Executive’s Involuntary Termination, the
average of the Annual Bonuses, if any, earned by Executive with respect to the
immediately preceding two fiscal years (or, if Executive has not been employed
with Company for the two preceding fiscal years, the Annual Bonus, if any,
earned by Executive with respect to the immediately preceding fiscal
year).  In the event that any such Annual
Bonus included in the computation of Executive’s Annual Compensation at the
time of his Involuntary Termination was paid to Executive in a form other than
cash, the amount of Executive’s Annual Bonus for purposes of determining his
Annual Compensation shall be determined in the discretion of the Board;
provided, however, that if such Annual Bonus was paid to Executive in

 

 

shares of Company’s common stock, the value of such Annual Bonus used
to calculate Executive’s Annual Compensation shall be the fair market value of
such Annual Bonus on the date of payment, determined in accordance with the
terms of the Company’s stock incentive plan approved by the Board.

 

(d)                                 “Board” means the Board of Directors of
Company.

 

(e)                                  “Cause” shall mean Executive (i) has
engaged in gross negligence, gross incompetence or willful misconduct in the
performance of his duties, (ii) has refused, without proper reason, to perform
his duties, (iii) has willfully engaged in conduct which is materially
injurious to Company or its subsidiaries (monetarily or otherwise),
(iv) has committed an act of fraud, embezzlement or willful breach of a
fiduciary duty to Company or an affiliate of the Company (including the
unauthorized disclosure of confidential or proprietary material information of
Company or an affiliate), or (v) has been convicted of (or pleaded no contest
to) a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude or any felony.

 

(f)                                    “Change in Duties” shall mean:

 

(i)                                                             The
occurrence, prior to the date that a Change of Control Period begins or after
the expiration of a Change of Control Period, of any one or more of the
following:

 

(1)                                  a
material reduction in the nature or scope of Executive’s authorities or duties
from those previously applicable to him;

 

(2)                                  a
reduction in Executive’s Annual Base Salary not in accordance with Section 4.1;
or

 

(3)                                  a
material diminution in employee benefits (including but not limited to medical,
dental, life insurance and long-term disability plans) and perquisites
applicable to Executive from those substantially similar to the employee
benefits and perquisites provided by Company (including its subsidiaries) to
executives with comparable duties; or

 

(ii)                                                          The
occurrence, within a Change of Control Period, of any one or more of the
following:

 

(1)                                  a
material reduction in the nature or scope of Executive’s authorities or duties
from those applicable to him immediately prior to the date on which a Change of
Control Period begins;

 

(2)                                  a
reduction in Executive’s Annual Base Salary, not in accordance with Section
4.1, from that provided to him immediately prior to the date on which a Change
of Control Period begins;

 

(3)                                  a
diminution in Executive’s eligibility to participate in bonus, stock option,
incentive award and other compensation plans which

 

2

 

provide
opportunities to receive compensation which are the greater of (A) the
opportunities provided by Company (including its subsidiaries) for executives
with comparable duties or (B) the opportunities under any such plans under
which he was participating immediately prior to the date on which a Change of
Control Period begins; or

 

(4)                                  a
material diminution in employee benefits (including but not limited to medical,
dental, life insurance and long-term disability plans) and perquisites
applicable to Executive from the greater of (A) the employee benefits and
perquisites provided by Company (including its subsidiaries) to executives with
comparable duties or (B) the employee benefits and perquisites to which he was
entitled immediately prior to the date on which a Change of Control Period
begins.

 

(g)                                 “Change of Control” shall mean:

 

(i)                                                             a
merger of Company with another entity, a consolidation involving Company, or
the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Company to another entity
if, in any such case, (A) the holders of equity securities of Company
immediately prior to such transaction or event do not beneficially own
immediately after such transaction or event equity securities of the resulting
entity entitled to 50% or more of the votes then eligible to be cast in the
election of directors generally (or comparable governing body) of the resulting
entity in substantially the same proportions that they owned the equity
securities of Company immediately prior to such transaction or event or (B) the
persons who were members of the Board immediately prior to such transaction or
event shall not constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the
resulting entity immediately after such transaction or event;

 

(ii)                                                          the
dissolution or liquidation of Company;

 

(iii)                                                       when
any person or entity, including a “group” as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, acquires or gains ownership or control
(including, without limitation, power to vote) of more than 50% of the combined
voting power of the outstanding securities of Company; or

 

(iv)                                                      as
a result of or in connection with a contested election of directors, the
persons who were members of the Board immediately before such election shall
cease to constitute a majority of the Board.

 

For purposes
of the preceding sentence, (1) “resulting entity” in the context of a
transaction or event that is a merger, consolidation or sale of all or
substantially all assets shall mean the surviving entity (or acquiring entity
in the case of an asset sale) unless the surviving entity (or acquiring entity
in the case of an asset sale) is a subsidiary of another entity and the holders
of common stock of Company receive capital stock of such other entity in such
transaction or event, in

 

3

 

which event
the resulting entity shall be such other entity, and (2) subsequent to the
consummation of a merger or consolidation that does not constitute a Change of
Control, the term “Company” shall refer to the resulting entity and the term “Board”
shall refer to the board of directors (or comparable governing body) of the
resulting entity.

 

(h)                                 “Change of Control Period” means, with
respect to a Change of Control, the period beginning 60 days prior to the date
that a definitive agreement concerning such Change of Control is executed and
ending on the date that is one year following the date upon which such Change
of Control occurs.

 

(i)                                     “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended.

 

(j)                                     “Compensation Committee” shall mean the
Compensation Committee of the Board.

 

(k)                                  “Disability” shall mean that, as a result
of Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness, he shall have been
absent from the full-time performance of his duties for six consecutive months
and he shall not have returned to full-time performance of his duties within 30
days after written notice of termination is given to Executive by Company
(provided, however, that such notice may not be given prior to 30 days before
the expiration of such six-month period).

 

(l)                                     “Effective Date” shall mean January 23,
2006.

 

(m)                               “Involuntary Termination” shall mean any
termination of Executive’s employment with Company which:

 

(i)                                                             does
not result from a resignation by Executive (other than a resignation pursuant
to clause (ii) of this Section 1.1(m)); or

 

(ii)                                                          results
from a resignation by Executive on or before the date which is 60 days after
the date upon which Executive receives notice of a Change in Duties;

 

provided,
however, the term “Involuntary Termination”
shall  not include a termination for
Cause or any termination as a result of death or Disability.

 

(n)                                 “Severance Amount” shall mean an amount
equal to two times Executive’s Annual Compensation.

 

(o)                                 “Severance Period” shall mean a period
commencing on the date of Executive’s Involuntary Termination and continuing
for 24 months.

 

1.2                               Interpretations.  In this Agreement, unless a clear contrary
intention appears, (a) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other
words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular Article, Section or other subdivision, (b) reference to any Article
or Section, means such Article or Section hereof, (c) the words

 

4

 

“including”
(and with correlative meaning “include”) means including, without limiting the
generality of any description preceding such term, and (d) where any provision
of this Agreement refers to action to be taken by either party, or which such
party is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be applicable whether
such action is taken directly or indirectly by such party.

 

ARTICLE 2:  EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES

 

2.1                               Employment.  Effective as of the Effective Date and
continuing for the period of time set forth in Section 3.1 of this
Agreement, Executive’s employment by Company shall be subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.

 

2.2                               Positions.  From and after the Effective Date, Company
shall employ Executive in the positions of Chief Executive Officer and
President of Company, or in such other positions as the parties mutually may
agree.

 

2.3                               Duties
and Services.  Executive agrees to
serve in the positions referred to in Section 2.2 and to perform diligently and
to the best of his abilities the duties and services appertaining to such
offices, as well as such additional duties and services appropriate to such
offices which the parties mutually may agree upon from time to time.  Executive’s employment shall also be subject
to the policies maintained and established by Company that are of general
applicability to Company’s executive employees, as such policies may be amended
from time to time.

 

2.4                               Other
Interests.  Executive agrees, during
the period of his employment by Company, to devote substantially all of his
business time, energy and best efforts to the business and affairs of Company
and its affiliates and not to engage, directly or indirectly, in any other
business or businesses, whether or not similar to that of Company, except with
the consent of the Board.  The foregoing
notwithstanding, the parties recognize and agree that Executive may engage in
passive personal investment and charitable activities that do not conflict with
the business and affairs of Company or interfere with Executive’s performance
of his duties hereunder, which shall be at the sole determination of the Board.

 

2.5                               Duty
of Loyalty.  Executive acknowledges
and agrees that Executive owes a fiduciary duty of loyalty to act at all times
in the best interests of Company.  In
keeping with such duty, Executive shall make full disclosure to Company of all
business opportunities pertaining to Company’s business and shall not
appropriate for Executive’s own benefit business opportunities concerning
Company’s business.

 

ARTICLE 3:  TERM AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

 

3.1                               Term.  Unless sooner terminated pursuant to other
provisions hereof, Company agrees to employ Executive for the period beginning
on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date
(the “Initial Expiration Date”);
provided, however, that beginning on the Initial Expiration Date, and on each
anniversary of the Initial Expiration Date thereafter, if this Agreement has
not been terminated pursuant to Section 3.2 or 3.3, then said term of
employment shall automatically be extended for an additional one-year period
unless on

 

5

 

or before the
date that is 90 days prior to the first day of any such extension period either
party shall give written notice to the other that no such automatic extension
shall occur.

 

3.2                               Company’s
Right to Terminate.  Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 3.1, Company shall have the right to terminate
Executive’s employment under this Agreement at any time for any of the
following reasons:

 

(a)                                  upon Executive’s
death;

 

(b)                                 upon Executive’s
Disability;

 

(c)                                  for Cause; or

 

(d)                                 at any time, for any
other reason whatsoever, in the sole discretion of the Board.

 

3.3                               Executive’s
Right to Terminate.  Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 3.1 Executive shall have the right to terminate
his employment under this Agreement for any of the following reasons:

 

(a)                                  as a result of a
Change in Duties; provided, however, that prior to Executive’s termination as a
result of a Change of Duties, Executive must give written notice to Company of
the specific occurrence that resulted in the Change in Duties and such
occurrence must remain uncorrected for 10 days following delivery of such
written notice; or

 

(b)                                 at any time for any
other reason whatsoever, in the sole discretion of Executive.

 

3.4                               Notice
of Termination.  If Company desires
to terminate Executive’s employment hereunder at any time prior to expiration
of the term of employment as provided in Section 3.1, it shall do so by giving
written notice to Executive that it has elected to terminate Executive’s
employment hereunder and stating the effective date and reason for such
termination, provided that no such action shall alter or amend any other
provisions hereof or rights arising hereunder. 
If Executive desires to terminate his employment hereunder at any time
prior to expiration of the term of employment as provided in Section 3.1, he
shall do so by giving a 30-day written notice to Company that he has elected to
terminate his employment hereunder and stating the effective date and reason
for such termination, provided that no such action shall alter or amend any
other provisions hereof or rights arising hereunder.

 

3.5                               Deemed
Resignations.  Any termination of
Executive’s employment shall constitute an automatic resignation of Executive
as an officer of Company and each affiliate of Company, and an automatic
resignation of Executive from the Board (if applicable) and from the board of
directors of any affiliate of Company and from the board of directors or
similar governing body of any corporation, limited liability company or other
entity in which Company or any affiliate holds an equity interest and with
respect to which board or similar governing body Executive serves as Company’s
or such affiliate’s designee or other representative.

 

6

 

ARTICLE 4:  COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

 

4.1                               Base
Salary.  During the period of this
Agreement, Executive shall receive a minimum Annual Base Salary of
$240,000.  Executive’s Annual Base Salary
shall be reviewed by the Compensation Committee on an annual basis, and, in the
sole discretion of the Compensation Committee, such Annual Base Salary may be
increased, but not decreased (except with the prior written consent of
Executive), effective as of any date determined by the Compensation
Committee.  Executive’s Annual Base
Salary shall be paid in equal installments in accordance with Company’s
standard policy regarding payment of compensation to executives but no less
frequently than monthly.

 

4.2                               Bonuses and
Long-Term Incentive

 

(a)                                  Annual Bonus - Executive shall be eligible
to participate in Company’s annual incentive plan as approved from time to time
by the Board or the Compensation Committee in amounts to be determined by the
Compensation Committee based upon criteria established by the Compensation
Committee.

 

(b)                                 Long-Term Incentive Plan - Subject to the
sole discretion of the Compensation Committee, Executive shall be eligible for
participation in any long-term incentive arrangement of Company as may from
time to time be made available to other executive officers (and such other
executives as may be selected for participation by the Compensation Committee) of
Company.

 

4.3                               Other
Perquisites.  During his employment
hereunder, Executive shall be afforded the following benefits as incidences of
his employment:

 

(a)                                  Business and Entertainment Expenses -
Subject to Company’s standard policies and procedures with respect to expense
reimbursement as applied to its executive employees generally, Company shall
reimburse Executive for, or pay on behalf of Executive, reasonable and
appropriate expenses incurred by Executive for business related purposes,
including dues and fees to industry and professional organizations and costs of
entertainment and business development.

 

(b)                                 Vacation - During his employment hereunder,
Executive shall be entitled to four weeks of paid vacation each calendar year
(or a pro rata portion of such four-week vacation period for any partial year)
and to all holidays provided to executives of Company generally.

 

(c)                                  Other Company Benefits - Executive and, to
the extent applicable, Executive’s spouse, dependents and beneficiaries, shall
be allowed to participate in all benefits, plans and programs, including
improvements or modifications of the same, which are now, or may hereafter be,
available to other executive employees of Company.  Such benefits, plans and programs shall
include, without limitation, any profit sharing plan, thrift plan, health
insurance or health care plan, life insurance, disability insurance, pension
plan, supplemental retirement plan, vacation and sick leave plan, and the like
which may be maintained by Company. Company shall not, however, by reason of
this paragraph be obligated to institute, maintain, or refrain from changing,
amending, or

 

7

 

discontinuing, any such benefit plan or program, so long as such
changes are similarly applicable to executive employees generally.  In addition to any other benefits provided
under this Section 4.3(c), consistent with its current practices, Company shall
use reasonable efforts to obtain life insurance for Executive in the amount of
$500,000, if and to the extent such insurance is available on reasonably
commercial terms, as determined by the Compensation Committee; provided,
however, that Executive shall be responsible for any income tax accrued due to
Company’s payment of any premiums for such life insurance.

 

ARTICLE 5:  EFFECT OF TERMINATION ON COMPENSATION;
ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS

 

5.1                               Termination
Other Than an Involuntary Termination. 
If Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon expiration of
the term provided in Section 3.1 hereof because either party has provided the
notice contemplated in such paragraph, or if Executive’s employment hereunder
shall terminate for any other reason except those described in Section 5.2,
then all compensation and all benefits to Executive hereunder shall continue to
be provided until the date of such termination of employment, and such
compensation and benefits shall terminate contemporaneously with such
termination of employment.

 

5.2                               Involuntary
Termination.  Subject to the
provisions of Sections 5.5 and 5.6 hereof, if Executive’s employment by
Company or any subsidiary thereof or successor thereto shall be subject to an
Involuntary Termination, then Company shall, as additional compensation for
services rendered to Company (including its subsidiaries), pay to Executive the
following amounts and take the following actions after the last day of
Executive’s employment with Company:

 

(a)                                  Pay Executive a lump
sum cash payment in an amount equal to the Severance Amount on or before the
30th day after the last day of Executive’s employment with Company.

 

(b)                                 If Executive’s
employment with Company is subject to an Involuntary Termination during a
Change of Control Period or to a termination due to Executive’s death or
Disability, cause any and all outstanding options to purchase common stock of
Company held by Executive to become immediately exercisable in full, cause any
and all restricted shares of the Company’s common stock held by Executive to
become immediately nonforfeitable, and cause Executive’s accrued benefits under
any and all nonqualified deferred compensation plans sponsored by Company to
become immediately nonforfeitable.

 

(c)                                  During the Severance
Period, Executive will be eligible to continue coverage for himself and his
eligible dependents under Company’s group health plans to the extent provided
under, and in accordance with, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
Act of 1985, as amended, and Sections 601 through 608 of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

8

 

5.3                               Interest
on Late Payments.  If any payment
provided for in Section 5.2 hereof is not made when due (applying the
deferred payment date provided for in Section 5.6 as the due date, if
applicable), then Company shall pay to Executive interest on the amount payable
from the date that such payment should have been made under such Section until
such payment is made, which interest shall be calculated at the prime or base
rate of interest announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank (or any successor thereto) at
its principal office in New York, and shall change when and as any such change
in such prime or base rate shall be announced by such bank.

 

5.4                               Parachute
Payments.  Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is a “disqualified individual”
(as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code), and the benefits provided for in
this Article, together with any other payments and benefits which Executive has
the right to receive from Company and its affiliates, would constitute a “parachute
payment” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), then the benefits
provided hereunder (beginning with any benefit to be paid in cash hereunder)
shall be either (1) reduced (but not below zero) so that the present value of
such total amounts and benefits received by Executive from Company will be one
dollar ($1.00) less than three times Executive’s “base amount” (as defined in
Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) and so that no portion of such amounts and benefits
received by Executive shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section
4999 of the Code or (2) paid in full, whichever produces the better net
after-tax position to Executive (taking into account any applicable excise tax
under Section 4999 of the Code and any other applicable taxes).  The determination as to whether any such
reduction in the amount of the benefits provided hereunder is necessary shall
be made by the Compensation Committee in good faith.  If a reduced cash payment is made and through
error or otherwise that payment, when aggregated with other payments and
benefits from Company (or its affiliates) used in determining if a “parachute
payment” exists, exceeds one dollar ($1.00) less than three times Executive’s
base amount, then Executive shall immediately repay such excess to Company upon
notification that an overpayment has been made. 
Nothing in this Section 5.4 shall require Company to be responsible
for, or have any liability or obligation with respect to, Executive’s excise
tax liabilities under Section 4999 of the Code.

 

5.5                               Release
and Full Settlement.  As
a condition to the receipt of any severance compensation and benefits under
this Agreement, Executive must first execute a release and agreement, in a form
reasonably satisfactory to Company, which shall release and discharge Company
and its affiliates, and their officers, directors, employees and agents from
any and all claims or causes of action of any kind or character, including but
not limited to all claims or causes of action arising out of Executive’s
employment with Company or its affiliates or the termination of such
employment.  If Executive is entitled to
and receives the benefits provided hereunder, performance of the obligations of
Company hereunder will constitute full settlement of all claims that Executive
might otherwise assert against Company on account of his termination of
employment.

 

5.6                               Payments
Subject to Section 409A of the Code.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Article 5, if the payment of any severance
compensation or severance benefits under this Agreement would be subject to
additional taxes and interest under Section 409A of the Code, then any such
payments that Executive would otherwise be entitled to during the first six
months following the date of Executive’s termination shall be accumulated and
paid on the first

 

9

 

day of the seventh
month following the date of Executive’s termination (or if such payment date
does not fall on a business day of the Company, the next following business day
of the Company), or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid under
Section 409A of the Code without being subject to such additional taxes and
interest.

 

5.7                               Liquidated
Damages.  In light of the
difficulties in estimating the damages for an early termination of Executive’s
employment under this Agreement, Company and Executive hereby agree that the
payments, if any, to be received by Executive pursuant to this Article 5 shall
be received by Executive as liquidated damages.

 

5.8                               Other
Benefits.  This Agreement governs the
rights and obligations of Executive and Company with respect to Executive’s
base salary and certain perquisites of employment.  Except as expressly provided herein, Executive’s
rights and obligations both during the term of his employment and thereafter
with respect to stock options, restricted stock, incentive and deferred
compensation, life insurance policies insuring the life of Executive, and other
benefits under the plans and programs maintained by Company shall be governed
by the separate agreements, plans and other documents and instruments governing
such matters.

 

ARTICLE 6:  PROTECTION OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

 

6.1                               Disclosure
to and Property of Company.  All information,
designs, ideas, concepts, improvements, product developments, discoveries and
inventions, whether patentable or not, that are conceived, made, developed or
acquired by Executive, individually or in conjunction with others, during the
period of Executive’s employment by Company (whether during business hours or
otherwise and whether on Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to
Company’s (or any of its affiliates’) business, trade secrets, products or
services (including, without limitation, all such information relating to
corporate opportunities, product specification, compositions, manufacturing and
distribution methods and processes, research, financial and sales data, pricing
terms, evaluations, opinions, interpretations, acquisitions prospects, the
identity of customers or their requirements, the identity of key contacts
within the customer’s organizations or within the organization of acquisition
prospects, marketing and merchandising techniques, business plans, computer
software or programs, computer software and database technologies, prospective
names and marks) (collectively, “Confidential
Information”) shall be disclosed to Company and are and shall be the
sole and exclusive property of Company (or its affiliates).  Moreover, all documents, videotapes, written
presentations, brochures, drawings, memoranda, notes, records, files,
correspondence, manuals, models, specifications, computer programs, E-mail,
voice mail, electronic databases, maps, drawings, architectural renditions,
models and all other writings or materials of any type embodying any of such
information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other
similar forms of expression (collectively, “Work
Product”) are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of
Company (or its affiliates).  Upon
Executive’s termination of employment with Company, for any reason, Executive
promptly shall deliver such Confidential Information and Work Product, and all
copies thereof, to Company.

 

6.2                               Disclosure
to Executive.  Company will disclose
to Executive, or place Executive in a position to have access to or develop,
Confidential Information and Work Product of Company (or its affiliates);
and/or will entrust Executive with business opportunities of

 

10

 

Company (or
its affiliates); and/or will place Executive in a position to develop business
good will on behalf of Company (or its affiliates).  Executive agrees to preserve and protect the
confidentiality of all Confidential Information or Work Product of Company (or
its affiliates).

 

6.3                               No
Unauthorized Use or Disclosure.  Executive
agrees that he will not, at any time during or after Executive’s employment by
Company, make any unauthorized disclosure of, and will prevent the removal from
Company premises of, Confidential Information or Work Product of Company (or
its affiliates), or make any use thereof, except in the carrying out of
Executive’s responsibilities during the course of Executive’s employment with
Company.  Executive shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause all persons or entities to whom any
Confidential Information shall be disclosed by him hereunder to observe the
terms and conditions set forth herein as though each such person or entity was
bound hereby.  Executive shall have no
obligation hereunder to keep confidential any Confidential Information if and
to the extent disclosure thereof is specifically required by law; provided,
however, that in the event disclosure is required by applicable law, Executive
shall provide Company with prompt notice of such requirement prior to making
any such disclosure, so that Company may seek an appropriate protective
order.  At the request of Company at any
time, Executive agrees to deliver to Company all Confidential Information that
he may possess or control.  Executive
agrees that all Confidential Information of Company (whether now or hereafter
existing) conceived, discovered or made by him during the period of Executive’s
employment by Company exclusively belongs to Company (and not to Executive),
and Executive will promptly disclose such Confidential Information to Company
and perform all actions reasonably requested by Company to establish and
confirm such exclusive ownership. 
Affiliates of Company shall be third party beneficiaries of Executive’s
obligations under this Article 6.  As a
result of Executive’s employment by Company, Executive may also from time to
time have access to, or knowledge of, Confidential Information or Work Product
of third parties, such as customers, suppliers, partners, joint venturers, and
the like, of Company and its affiliates. 
Executive also agrees to preserve and protect the confidentiality of
such third party Confidential Information and Work Product to the same extent,
and on the same basis, as Company’s Confidential Information and Work Product.

 

6.4                               Ownership
by Company.  If, during Executive’s
employment by Company, Executive creates any work of authorship fixed in any
tangible medium of expression that is the subject matter of copyright (such as
videotapes, written presentations, or acquisitions, computer programs, E-mail,
voice mail, electronic databases, drawings, maps, architectural renditions,
models, manuals, brochures, or the like) relating to Company’s business,
products, or services, whether such work is created solely by Executive or
jointly with others (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on
Company’s premises or otherwise), including any Work Product, Company shall be
deemed the author of such work if the work is prepared by Executive in the
scope of Executive’s employment; or, if the work is not prepared by Executive
within the scope of Executive’s employment but is specially ordered by Company
as a contribution to a collective work, as a part of a motion picture or other
audiovisual work, as a translation, as a supplementary work, as a compilation,
or as an instructional text, then the work shall be considered to be work made
for hire and Company shall be the author of the work.  If such work is neither prepared by Executive
within the scope of Executive’s employment nor a work specially ordered that is
deemed to be a work made for hire, then Executive hereby agrees to assign, and
by these presents does assign, to Company all of Executive’s worldwide right,
title, and interest in and to such work and all rights of copyright therein.

 

11

 

6.5                               Assistance
by Executive.  During the period of
Executive’s employment by Company and thereafter, Executive shall assist
Company and its nominee, at any time, in the protection of Company’s (or its
affiliates’) worldwide right, title and interest in and to Work Product and the
execution of all formal assignment documents requested by Company or its
nominee and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and
registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries.

 

6.6                               Remedies.  Executive acknowledges that money damages
would not be sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article 6 by Executive,
and Company or its affiliates shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of
this Article 6 by terminating payments then owing to Executive under this
Agreement or otherwise and to specific performance and injunctive relief as
remedies for such breach or any threatened breach.  Such remedies shall not be deemed the
exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article 6 but shall be in addition
to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of
damages from Executive and his agents.

 

ARTICLE 7:  NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION
OBLIGATIONS

 

7.1                               General.  As part of the consideration for Company’s
employment of Executive and the compensation and benefits that may be paid to
Executive hereunder; to protect the trade secrets and Confidential Information
of Company or its affiliates that have been and will in the future be disclosed
or entrusted to Executive, the business good will of Company or its affiliates
that has been and will in the future be developed in Executive, or the business
opportunities that have been and will in the future be disclosed or entrusted
to Executive by Company or its affiliates; and as an additional incentive for
Company to enter into this Agreement, Company and Executive agree to the
provisions of this Article 7. 
Executive agrees that during his employment with Company and for a
period of two (2) years following the termination of Executive’s employment
with Company for any reason (the “Non-Compete
Period”), Executive shall not:

 

(a)                                  directly or
indirectly, either as principal, agent, independent contractor, consultant,
director, officer, employee, employer, advisor, stockholder, partner or in any
other individual or representative capacity whatsoever, either for his own
benefit or for the benefit of any other person or entity either (i) hire,
contract or solicit, or attempt any of the foregoing with respect to hiring any
employee of Company or its affiliates, or (ii) induce or otherwise counsel,
advise, or encourage any employee of Company or its affiliates to leave the
employment of Company or its affiliates; and

 

(b)                                 within any geographic
area or market where Company or any of its affiliates are conducting any
business or have, during the twelve months preceding the termination of
Executive, conducted such business, as applicable:

 

(i)                                                             directly
or indirectly participate in the ownership, management, operation or control
of, or be connected as an officer, employee, partner, director, contractor or
otherwise with, or have any financial interest in or aid or assist anyone else
in the conduct of, any business in any of the business territories in which
Company is presently or from time-to-time conducting business that either
conducts a business similar to that conducted by Company or its affiliates or

 

12

 

provides or sells a service or product that is the same, substantially
similar to or otherwise competitive with the products and services provided or
sold by Company or its affiliates (a “Competitive
Operation”); provided, however, that this provision shall not
preclude Executive after the termination of his employment with Company from
owning less than 2% of the equity securities of any publicly held Competitive
Operation so long as Executive does not serve as an employee, officer, director
or consultant to such business;

 

(ii)                                                          directly
or indirectly, either as principal, agent, independent contractor, consultant,
director, officer, employee, employer, advisor, stockholder, partner or in any
other individual or representative capacity whatsoever, either for his own
benefit or for the benefit of any other person or entity call upon, solicit,
divert or take away, any customer or vendor of Company or its affiliates with
whom Executive dealt, directly or indirectly, during his engagement with
Company or its affiliates, in connection with a Competitive Operation; or

 

(iii)                                                       call
upon any prospective acquisition candidate on Executive’s own behalf or on
behalf of any Competitive Operation, which candidate is a Competitive Operation
or which candidate was, to Executive’s knowledge after due inquiry, either
called upon by Company or for which Company or any of its affiliates made an
acquisition analysis, for the purpose of acquiring such entity.

 

7.2                               Non-Disparagement.  During Executive’s employment with
Company and following any termination of employment with Company, Executive
agrees not to disparage, either orally or in writing, Company, any of its
business, products, services or practices, or any of their directors, officers,
agents, representatives, stockholders, employees or affiliates.

 

7.3                               New
Employer.  Executive agrees that
prior to accepting any new employment during the Non-Compete Period, Executive
shall advise Company of the identity of the potential new employer.  Company may serve such new employer with
notice of the non-competition restrictions set forth in this Article 7 and may
furnish such employer with a copy of this Agreement or the relevant portions
thereof.

 

7.4                               Remedies.  Executive acknowledges that money damages
would not be sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article 7 by
Executive, and Company or its affiliates shall be entitled to enforce the
provisions of this Article 7 by terminating payments then owing to
Executive under this Agreement or otherwise and to specific performance and
injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach.  Such remedies shall not be deemed the
exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article 7 but shall be in addition
to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of
damages from Executive and his agents.

 

7.5                               Reformation.  Company and Executive agree that the
foregoing restrictions are reasonable under the circumstances and that any
breach of the covenants contained in this Article 7 would cause
irreparable injury to Company.  Executive
understands that the foregoing restrictions may limit Executive’s ability to
engage in certain businesses anywhere in the United States, Canada, or such
other geographic areas or markets in which the Company or any of its affiliates
are conducting business or have, during the twelve months preceding the
termination of

 

13

 

Executive,
conducted such business, as applicable, during the Non-Compete Period, but
acknowledges that Executive will receive sufficiently high remuneration and
other benefits from Company to justify such restriction.  Further, Executive acknowledges that his
skills are such that he can be gainfully employed in non-competitive employment,
and that the agreement not to compete will in no way prevent him from earning a
living.  Nevertheless, if any of the
aforesaid restrictions are found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
unreasonable, or overly broad as to geographic area or time, or otherwise
unenforceable, the parties intend for the restrictions therein set forth to be
modified by the court making such determination so as to be reasonable and
enforceable and, as so modified, to be fully enforced.  By agreeing to this contractual modification
prospectively at this time, Company and Executive intend to make this provision
enforceable under the law or laws of all applicable States so that the entire
agreement not to compete and this Agreement as prospectively modified shall
remain in full force and effect and shall not be rendered void or illegal.  Such modification shall not affect the
payments made to Executive under this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 8:  MISCELLANEOUS

 

8.1                               Indemnification.  Company agrees that, in the event Executive’s
employment by Company or any subsidiary thereof or successor thereto shall be
subject to an Involuntary Termination, Company shall continue to indemnify
Executive following such Involuntary Termination to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law consistent with the Articles of Incorporation and
By-Laws of Company in effect as of the date of the Involuntary Termination with
respect to Executive’s sole, joint or concurrent negligence and any acts of or
omissions he may have committed during the period during which he was an
officer, director and/or employee of (a) Company, (b) any subsidiary thereof
for which he served as an officer, director or employee at the request of
Company, or (c) any successor thereto.

 

8.2                               Payment Obligations Absolute.  Except as specifically
provided in Sections 6.6 and 7.4, Company’s obligation to pay (or cause one of
its subsidiaries to pay) Executive the amounts and to make the arrangements
provided herein shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected
by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other right which Company (including its subsidiaries)
may have against him or anyone else.  All
amounts payable by Company (including its subsidiaries hereunder) shall be paid
without notice or demand.  Executive
shall not be obligated to seek other employment in mitigation of the amounts
payable or arrangements made under any provision of this Agreement, and the
obtaining of any such other employment shall in no event effect any reduction
of Company’s obligations to make (or cause to be made) the payments and
arrangements required to be made under this Agreement.

 

8.3                               Notices.  For purposes of this Agreement, notices and
all other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered or when mailed by
United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

14

 

	
  If to Company to:

  	
   

  	
  Particle
  Drilling Technologies, Inc.

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  1021 Main
  Street, Suite 2650

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Houston,
  Texas 77002

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Attention: Chairman of the
  Board of Directors

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  If to Executive to:

  	
   

  	
  Jim Terry

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  13427 Sweet
  Surrender Court

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Houston, TX 77041

  

 

or to such other address as
either party may furnish to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except
that notices or changes of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

8.4                               Applicable
Law.  This Agreement is entered into
under, and shall be governed for all purposes by, the laws of the State of
Texas.

 

8.5                               No
Waiver.  No failure by either party
hereto at any time to give notice of any breach by the other party of, or to
require compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement shall be
deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same
or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

8.6                               Severability.  Any provision in this Agreement which is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction by reason of applicable law
shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such
prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating or affecting the remaining
provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction.

 

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

 

8.8                               Withholding
of Taxes and Other Employee Deductions. 
Company may withhold from any benefits and payments made pursuant to
this Agreement all federal, state, city and other taxes as may be required
pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling and all other normal
employee deductions made with respect to Company’s employees generally.

 

8.9                               Headings.  The paragraph headings have been inserted for
purposes of convenience and shall not be used for interpretive purposes.

 

8.10                        Gender and
Plurals.  Wherever the context so
requires, the masculine gender includes the feminine or neuter, and the
singular number includes the plural and conversely.

 

8.11                        Assignment.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of Company and any successor of Company, by merger or
otherwise.  This Agreement shall also be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of Executive and his estate.  If Executive shall die prior to full payment
of amounts due pursuant to this Agreement, such amounts shall be payable
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to his estate.  Executive shall not have any right to pledge,
hypothecate, anticipate or assign this Agreement or the rights hereunder,
except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

15

 

8.12                        Term.  This Agreement has a term co-extensive with
the term of employment provided in Section 3.1. 
Termination shall not affect any right or obligation of any party which
is accrued or vested prior to such termination.

 

8.13                        Entire
Agreement.  This Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with regard to the subject
matter hereof, and contains all the covenants, promises, representations,
warranties and agreements between the parties with respect to such subject
matter.  Without limiting the scope of
the preceding sentence, all understandings and agreements preceding the date of
execution of this Agreement and relating to the subject matter hereof are
hereby null and void and of no further force and effect, including, without
limitation, all prior employment and severance agreements, if any, by and
between Company and Executive.  Any
modification of this Agreement will be effective only if it is in writing and
signed by the party to be charged.

 

16

 

IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement on the 20th day of January, 2006, to be effective as of the Effective
Date.

 

	
   

  	
  Particle Drilling Technologies, Inc

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
   

  	
  /s/ KEN R.
  LESUER

  
	
   

  	
  Name:

  	
  Ken R.
  LeSuer

  
	
   

  	
  Title:

  	
  Chairman,
  Board of Directors

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  COMPANY

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Jim B. Terry

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  /s/ JIM B.
  TERRY

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  EXECUTIVE

  

 

 

17

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