Exhibit 10.9
CONSULTING AGREEMENT
This Agreement is entered into and is effective this second day of
October, 2000 by and between Alloy Steel International, Inc, a Delaware
corporation, having its principal place of business at 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxx,
X.X. Xxx 0000, Xxxxxx X X 0000, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx (the "Company"), and Ragstar
Investments, Ltd., an Australian company.
WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain Consultant to provide services to
the Company.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto do covenant and agree, as
follows:
1. Retention. The Company hereby retains Consultant to render certain
advisory services (the "Services") with regard to corporate development and such
other related activities as the Board of Directors of the Company may from time
to time direct, and consulting with the Board of Directors from time to time as
requested by the Company. Consultant agrees to use its best efforts to supply
the Services in a professional and diligent manner.
2. Term. The Term of this Agreement shall be twelve (12) months from the
date hereof, but within the 12-month period, the Company may, without cause,
elect to terminate the Agreement by giving thirty (30) days' written notice.
Upon such termination, Consultant shall be relieved of any further obligation of
performance to the Company; provided, however, that all obligations of
confidentiality, non-disclosure and non-competition will continue in full force
and effect for one (1) year from the effective date of any termination. If this
agreement shall be terminated prior to the end of the Term, the Consultant shall
not, in any event, be liable to return any pre-payment. The parties hereby agree
that any pre-payment made to Consultant shall be fully earned by Consultant at
the time such pre-payment is made and shall be in consideration of Consultant's
agreement to expend time, effort and energy on behalf of Company to the
exclusion of other clients.
3. Compensation. The Company acknowledges that it does not currently have
the financial ability to pay for Consultant's Services in cash. Therefore, the
Company shall, in consideration of Services to be performed, and for other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged by the Company, concurrently with the execution hereof, pay to the
Consultant a total of Ninety Thousand (90,000) shares of the common stock (the
"Shares") of the Company.
4. Consultant's Non-Disclosure of Information/Non-Competition.
a. The Consultant acknowledges that in the course of its engagement
it may become familiar with trade secrets and other confidential information
(collectively, "Confidential Information" ) concerning the Company and
Consultant shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the
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benefit of the Company all secret, confidential proprietary information,
knowledge or data relating to the Company that shall have been obtained by the
Consultant during its engagement by the Company and that shall have not been or
now or hereafter have become public knowledge (other than by acts by the
Consultant or its representatives in violation of this Agreement). Consultant
agrees that it shall not disclose to any third party any Confidential
Information for any purpose other than the performance of its duties under this
Agreement. During the Term and at all times thereafter, regardless of the reason
for the termination of this Agreement, Consultant shall not, without the prior
written consent of the Company or as otherwise may be required by law or legal
process, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to
anyone other than the Company and those designated by the Company.
b. Upon completion of the Term or earlier termination of this
Agreement for any reason, Consultant will return to the Company any confidential
materials or information which the Company may have supplied to the Consultant.
Consultant may retain a copy of such materials or information for Consultant's
own due diligence file. However, Consultant hereby agrees not to distribute or
release such confidential materials or information without giving the Company at
least five (5) days' written notice so that Company shall have the opportunity,
at Company's sole cost and expense, to move to prevent Consultant's distribution
or release of the confidential material or information.
c. Subject to the limitations set forth herein, Consultant agrees
that during the Term and for a period of one year thereafter it shall not
directly or indirectly, own, manage, control, participate in, consult with,
render services for, or in any manner engage in any business competing with the
business of the Company as such business exists within any geographical area in
which the Company conducts its business. In addition, Consultant shall not
solicit, interfere with or conduct business with any vendors, customers or
employees of the Company during the term of this Agreement or for a period of
one year after the termination hereof. In the event the Company breaches any of
its duties or obligations under this Agreement, the Company agrees that
Consultant shall not be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, except for
the provisions concerning Confidential Information.
5. Restrictions on Transfer
The Consultant understands and agrees that the Securities purchased
pursuant to this Agreement are being offered pursuant to Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Securities Act"), and that such shares
and any interests therein, may not be offered, sold, transferred, pledged or
otherwise disposed of except pursuant to (i) an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws or (ii) an
exemption from registration under such act and such laws which, in the opinion
of counsel for the holder of the Securities, which counsel and opinion are
reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Company, is available. The Consultant
represents that he is an "accredited investor" as such term is defined in Rule
501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. The Consultant also
understands and agrees that the following legend shall appear on Securities and
that the Company may give appropriate
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instructions to the transfer agent for the Securities to enforce such
restrictions:
THESE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE
HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933 OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN ACQUIRED WITH A
VIEW TO DISTRIBUTION OR RESALE, AND MAY NOT BE
SOLD, MORTGAGED, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR SUCH SHARES UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS, OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL
SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT REGISTRATION IS
NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR
UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
6. Arbitration. Any dispute, controversy or claim between the Company and
the Consultant arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be conducted
solely in a proceeding held in accordance with the rules of the American
Arbitration Association then in effect. This Agreement, or breach thereof, shall
be settled by arbitration, and any award shall be binding and conclusive for all
purposes thereof, may include injunctive relief (but only as ordered by a Court
of competent jurisdiction), as well as orders for specific performance and may
be entered as a final judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction. No
arbitration arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall include, by
consolidation or joinder or in any other manner, parties other than the Company
and the Consultant and other persons substantially involved in common question
of fact or law whose presence is required if complete relief is to be afforded
in arbitration. The cost and expenses of such arbitration shall be borne in
accordance with the determination of the arbitrator and may include reasonable
attorney's fees, provided, however, that if either party shall commence any
action or proceeding against the other in order to enforce the provisions
hereof, or to recover damages resulting from the alleged breach of any of the
provisions hereof, the prevailing party therein shall be entitled to recover all
reasonable costs incurred in connection therewith, including, but not limited
to, reasonable attorneys' fees. Each party hereby further agrees that service of
process may be made upon it by registered or certified mail, express delivery or
personal service at the address provided for herein.
7. Remedies. In the event of the actual or threatened breach of the
provisions of this Agreement by a party, the other party shall have the right to
obtain injunctive relief and/or specific performance and to seek any other
remedy available to it.
8. Law, Venue, Jurisdiction. This agreement and all matters and issued
collateral thereto shall be governed by the laws and the courts of the State of
New York without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws.
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9. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement becomes or is found to
be illegal or unenforceable for any reason, such clause or provision must first
be modified to the extent necessary to make this Agreement legal and enforceable
and then if necessary, second, severed from the remainder of the Agreement to
allow the remainder of the Agreement to remain in full force and effect.
10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts,
and all of such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to be one Agreement.
11. Attorneys' Fees. If either party shall commence any action or
proceeding against the other in order to enforce the provisions hereof, or to
recover damages resulting from the alleged breach of any of the provisions
hereof, the prevailing party therein shall be entitled to recover all reasonable
costs incurred in connection therewith, including, but not limited to,
reasonable attorneys' fees.
12. Waiver of Breach.. The waiver by any party of a breach of any
provision of this Agreement shall not operate be construed as a waiver of any
subsequent breach by any party.
13. Notices. Each notice, demand, request, approval or communication
("Notice") which is or may be required to be given by any party to any other
party in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby, shall be in writing, and given by personal delivery, certified mail,
return receipt requested, prepaid, or by overnight express mail delivery and
properly addressed to the party to be served at such address as set forth above.
Notices shall be effective on the date delivered personally, the next day if
delivered by overnight express mail or three days after the date mailed by
certified mail.
14. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between
Consultant and Company, and correctly sets forth the rights and duties of each
of the parties to each other concerning such matter as of this date. Any
agreement or representation concerning the subject matter of this Agreement or
the duties of Consultant in relation to Company not set forth in this Agreement
is null and void.
15. Binding Effect. The rights created by this Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of, and the obligations created hereby shall be binding upon the
parties, their heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement the
day and year first hereinabove written.
ALLOY STEEL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: ____________________________________
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Name:
Title:
RAGSTAR INVESTMENTS, LTD.
By: __________________________________
Name:
Title:
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