EXHIBIT 10.2
CONSULTING AGREEMENT
THIS CONSULTING AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into
as of February 10th, 2005 by and between Xxxxxx Xxxx'x Gourmet Coffees Corp., an
Illinois corporation ("GJGC"), and Xxxxxx Xxxx'x Gourmet Coffees Franchising
Corp, an Illinois corporation ("GJGCFC," and together with GJGC, the
"Consultants"), on the one hand, and Xxxxxx Xxxx'x Coffees International Pty
Ltd., a company organized under the laws of Australia ("GJCI"), Xxxxxx Xxxx'x
Coffees Holdings Pty. Ltd., a company organized under the laws of Australia
("GJCH"), Jireh International Pty. Ltd., a company organized under the laws of
Australia ("Jireh"), and Jireh Group Pty. Ltd., a company organized under the
laws of Australia ("Jireh Group," and together with Jireh, GJCI and GJCH, the
"Companies"), on the other hand.
WHEREAS, the Companies and the Consultants have entered into that
certain Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of December 5, 2004 (the "Asset
Purchase Agreement"), pursuant to which GJCI and GJCH have agreed to purchase
certain assets, and to assume certain liabilities, of GJGC and GJGCFC; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement is being entered into pursuant to Article V of
the Asset Purchase Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Services. During the term of this Agreement, the Consultants shall
make themselves and their representatives available, at reasonable times and on
reasonable notice, to provide the Companies with such reasonable consulting and
transition services that the Companies, or any of them, may reasonably request.
In consideration for the foregoing, the Companies shall be jointly and severally
responsible for the payment of the fees in the amounts and on the dates set
forth on Exhibit A attached hereto (the "Guaranteed Consulting Fees") to the
Consultants. In addition, in connection with the provision of such consulting
and transition services, the Companies agree that they will reimburse the
Consultants for the fees of and expenses incurred by the Consultants in
connection with the provision of such services, including, but not limited to,
fees for time spent on consulting matters, travel and lodging expenses,
disbursements, and similar expenses. The parties agree that, upon receiving a
request to provide services hereunder, the Consultants and the Companies will
seek to mutually agree upon the fees and expenses to be paid by the Companies
for the services to be rendered by the Consultants. Upon reaching such mutual
agreement, the Consultants will provide the Companies with the agreed upon
services on the agreed upon terms.
2. Security for Payments. As security for the payment of the Guaranteed
Consulting Fees due to the Consultants under this Agreement, and for the
payments due under the Trademark License Agreement and the Roasting License
Agreement (together with this Agreement, the "Post-Closing Payment Agreements"),
the Companies shall provide the following for the benefit of the Consultants:
(a)(i) Concurrent with the execution of this Agreement, the
Companies shall obtain and deliver to the Consultants two irrevocable
documentary letters of credit (each, a "Letter of Credit") from National
Australia Bank Ltd. (the "Bank") in favor of the Consultants, each in the amount
of US$500,000 and expiring no earlier than August 30, 2005 and February 28,
2006, respectively, and otherwise on the terms and substantially in the form of
Exhibit B attached hereto. Notwithstanding the fact that, pursuant to Exhibit A
attached hereto, the Guaranteed Consulting Fees due to the Consultants under
this Agreement are due on January 31 of each year hereafter (with January 31,
2011 being the date of the last payment), the parties acknowledge that it is the
intent of the parties that the Consultants will receive US$500,000 of the amount
due approximately six (6) months prior to the date it is due under this
Agreement via a documentary letter of credit issued by the Bank. Furthermore,
notwithstanding the fact that the payment of the Guaranteed Consulting Fees is
currently contemplated to be made to the Consultants using the Letter of Credit
mechanism, the Companies' obligation to pay a total of US$120,000 on January 31
each year (until January 31, 2011) is an absolute obligation, regardless of
whether there are Letters of Credit in place to make such payments.
(ii) The Companies shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to renew each Letter of Credit as soon as practicable after it is fully
drawn upon to effect the intent of the parties as described above until such
time as all amounts due pursuant to the Post-Closing Payment Agreements have
been paid in full.
(b) GJCH and GJCI hereby grant to GJGC and GJGCFC a security
interest in the Acquired Assets, which security interest shall be subject and
subordinate only to the lien of the Bank in the Acquired Assets. Concurrent with
the execution of this Agreement, GJCH, GJCI and Jireh shall execute and deliver
to GJGC and GJGCFC: (i) a Deed of Charge in the form of Exhibit C attached
hereto to evidence the security interest granted thereby; and (ii) a Guarantee
and Indemnity Deed in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto.
(c) GJCH, GJCI and Jireh authorize GJGC and GJGCFC to file a
Form UCC-1 with the Secretary of State of the State of California with respect
to the Acquired Assets, and agree to file the Australian counterpart to such
form in Australia promptly after the execution and delivery of the Deed of
Charge.
3. Term of Agreement. Unless terminated earlier by the Consultants in
accordance with Section 4 hereof, this Agreement shall commence on the date
hereof and shall continue until the Marks are transferred to the Companies in
accordance with Section 1.8 of the Brand Management Agreement of even date
herewith.
4. Termination.
(a) The Companies' obligation to pay the Consultants all of
the Guaranteed Consulting Fees is an absolute, irrevocable commitment on the
part of the Companies. Without limiting the foregoing, no cancellation or
termination of this Agreement, breach of this Agreement by the Consultants, or
any of them, or action or inaction on the part of the Consultants (regardless of
whether such actions or inactions are intentional, negligent or otherwise), or
any of them, shall relieve the Companies from their obligation to pay the
Guaranteed Consulting Fees to the Consultants. Furthermore, this Agreement may
not be terminated by the Companies, or any of them; provided, however, that if
the Consultants, or any
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of them, breach this Agreement, and such breach is not remedied within fifteen
(15) days of the Consultants receiving notice of such breach, the Companies may
seek damages for such breach; provided further that, while any such action may
be pending, the Companies shall continue to make all payments due the
Consultants hereunder.
(b) This Agreement may be terminated by the Consultants in the
event that: (i) the Companies, or any of them, breach this Agreement and such
breach is not remedied by the Companies within fifteen (15) days of the
Companies receiving notice of such breach; or (ii) the Companies, or any of
them, breach the Trademark License Agreement, the Roasting License Agreement,
the Brand Management Agreement, or any financing agreement with the Bank that
pertains to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement and such breach is not cured within
the time period set forth in the applicable document, if any.
5. Acceleration. Upon the occurrence of any event referred to in
Section 4(b)(i) or (ii) above, in addition to, and not in limitation of, the
other remedies that the Consultants may have, the Consultants shall have the
option to cause the Companies to immediately pay the Consultants a sum certain
amount equal to the sum of all amounts remaining to be paid under this
Agreement. In addition, the amount of any late payments under this Agreement
shall accrue interest at a simple rate per annum equal to the lesser of 9% or
the maximum rate permitted by applicable law.
6. Nature of Relationship. At all times during the performance of any
services under this Agreement, the Consultants shall act and discharge their
duties as independent contractors with respect to the Companies. The Consultants
and their respective representatives shall not be deemed agents or employees of
the Companies for the purposes of any employee benefit program, income tax
withholding, FICA taxes, unemployment benefits or otherwise. The Consultants
shall not enter into any agreement or incur any obligations on the Companies'
behalf, or commit the Companies in any manner, without the Companies' prior
written consent.
7. Confidentiality.
(a) The Consultants agrees that they shall not use, except for
the Companies' benefit, or divulge to any person, firm or corporation, either
during the term of this Agreement or thereafter, any of the Companies' trade
secrets or other proprietary data or information of any kind whatsoever acquired
by the Consultants; provided that, the Consultants' non-use and confidentiality
obligations shall not apply:
(i) to information that, at the time it is disclosed
by the Companies to the Consultants, is in the public domain or is otherwise
lawfully known to or in the Consultants' possession;
(ii) if, after the Companies disclose information to
the Consultants, the information becomes a part of the public domain, other than
disclosure by the Consultants or their Affiliates, or otherwise becomes lawfully
known to the Consultants or their Affiliates; or
(iii) to information that the Consultants are
required to disclose by law or other governmental authority; provided that the
Consultants shall provide the Companies a
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reasonable opportunity to seek confidential treatment for such information prior
to any disclosure thereof.
(b) The Consultants agree that, upon completion or termination
of this Agreement, the Consultants will turn over to the Companies any
notebooks, data, information or other material acquired or compiled by the
Consultants in carrying out the terms of this Agreement.
(c) The Consultants represent that their performance of the
terms of this Agreement does not and will not conflict with the terms of any
agreement to which the Consultants are a party that require the Consultants to
keep in confidence proprietary information and trade secrets acquired in
confidence or in trust. The Consultants will not disclose to the Companies, or
induce the Companies to use, any confidential or proprietary information or
material belonging to any third party.
8. Further Assurances. Each party hereto shall execute such additional
documents and instruments and take such further action as reasonably may be
required or desirable to carry out the provisions hereof.
9. Amendment and Modification. Subject to applicable law, this
Agreement may be amended, modified, or supplemented only by written agreement of
the parties hereto.
10. Waiver of Compliance; Consents. Any failure of the Companies on the
one hand, or the Consultants on the other hand, to comply with any obligation,
covenant, agreement, or condition herein may be waived by the Companies or the
Consultants, or any of them, only by a written instrument signed by an officer
of the party granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist upon
strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall
not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other
failure. Whenever this Agreement requires or permits consent by or on behalf of
any party hereto, such consent shall be given in writing.
11. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder must be in
writing and will be deemed given when delivered by hand, by commercial courier
or overnight delivery service or by facsimile to the parties at the following
addresses (or at such other address for a party as may be specified by like
notice):
If to the Consultants, to:
Xxxxxxxx Coffee, Inc.
Xxxxxx Xxxx'x Gourmet Coffees, Inc.
00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
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With a copy to:
Xxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
0 Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to the Companies, to:
Xxxxxx Xxxx'x Coffees International
Pty. Ltd.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XXX 0000
Xxxxxxxxx
Attn: Nabi Saleh
Facsimile: x00 0 0000 0000
With a copy to:
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx XX
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
12. Assignment. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof will be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns, but neither this Agreement nor any of the
rights, interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned by any of the parties
hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties, nor is this
Agreement intended to confer upon any other person except the parties hereto any
rights or remedies hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Consultants
shall have the right to assign the payment of the Guaranteed Consulting Fees
without the consent of the Companies, or any of them.
13. Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by, construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard
to conflicts of laws doctrines.
14. Fees, Costs and Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided in
this Agreement, all legal, accounting and other fees, costs and expenses
incurred in connection with this Agreement will be paid by the party incurring
such fees, costs and expenses. If any party to this Agreement brings any action,
suit, counterclaim, appeal, arbitration, mediation or other proceeding, in
equity or at law (an "Action"), to enforce this Agreement or to declare rights
under this Agreement, in addition to any damages and costs which the prevailing
party or parties otherwise would be entitled, the losing party or parties in any
such Action shall pay to the prevailing party or parties reasonable attorneys'
fees and costs incurred in connection with such Action and/or enforcing any
judgment, order, ruling or award (collectively, a "Decision") granted by a
court, arbitrator or mediator, all of which must be paid whether or not such
Action is prosecuted to a Decision. "Prevailing party" means, without
limitation, any party who agrees to dismiss an action on the other party's
payment of the sum allegedly due or performance of the covenants allegedly
breached, or who obtains substantially the relief sought by it. If there are
multiple claims, the prevailing party is to be determined with respect to each
claim separately. The prevailing party is the party that has obtained the
greater relief in connection with any
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particular claim, although, with respect to any claim, it may be determined by
the court, arbitrator or mediator that there is no prevailing party.
15. Construction. The captions and titles of the articles, sections and
subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not
to be considered in construing this Agreement. This Agreement has been jointly
prepared by the Companies and the Consultants and shall be construed without
regard to any presumption or other rule requiring the resolution of any
ambiguity regarding the interpretation or construction hereof against the party
causing this Agreement to be drafted.
16. Submission to Jurisdiction. All actions or proceedings arising in
connection with this Agreement shall be tried and litigated in the state or
federal courts located in the County of Orange, State of California. The
foregoing choice of venue is intended by the parties to be mandatory and not
permissive in nature, thereby precluding the possibility of litigation between
the parties with respect to or arising out of this Agreement in any jurisdiction
other than that specified in this Section 16. Each party hereby waives any right
it may have to assert the doctrine of forum non conveniens or similar doctrine
or to object to venue with respect to any proceeding brought in accordance with
this Section 16, and stipulates that the state and federal courts located in the
County of Orange, State of California shall have in personam jurisdiction over
each of them for the purpose of litigating any such dispute, controversy or
proceeding. Each party hereby authorizes and accepts service of process
sufficient for personal jurisdiction in any action against it as contemplated by
this Section 16 by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, to its address for the giving of notices as set forth in
Section 11. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any party to serve process
in any other manner permitted by law.
17. Taxes. The Companies hereby agree to indemnify the Consultants to
the fullest extent from any withholding taxes that may be imposed on the
payments made by the Companies to the Consultants hereunder.
18. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the exhibits attached
hereto and incorporated herein, embodies the entire agreement and understanding
of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and the understandings between the
parties with respect to such subject matter. No discussions regarding or
exchange of drafts or comments in connection with the transactions contemplated
herein will constitute an agreement among the parties hereto.
19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which
together will constitute one instrument. Signatures transmitted electronically
or by facsimile shall be deemed original signatures.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Consulting
Agreement as of the date first above written.
Consultants:
XXXXXX XXXX'X GOURMET COFFEES CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx
President
XXXXXX XXXX'X GOURMET COFFEES
FRANCHISING CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx
President
The Companies:
XXXXXX XXXX'X COFFEES INTERNATIONAL
PTY LTD.
By: /s/ Nabi Saleh
-----------------------------------
Nabi Saleh
Director
XXXXXX XXXX'X COFFEES HOLDING PTY LTD.
By: /s/ Nabi Saleh
-----------------------------------
Nabi Saleh
Director
JIREH INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD.
By: /s/ Nabi Saleh
-----------------------------------
Nabi Saleh
Director
JIREH GROUP PTY LTD.
By: /s/ Nabi Saleh
-----------------------------------
Nabi Saleh
Director
EXHIBIT A
GUARANTEED CONSULTING FEES
The Companies shall pay the following fees to the Consultants:
January 31, 2006 $120,000
January 31, 2007 $120,000
January 31, 2008 $120,000
January 31, 2009 $120,000
January 31, 2010 $120,000
January 31, 2011 $120,000
Exhibit B: Form Of Letter Of Credit
Exhibit C: Deed Of Charge
Exhibit D: Guarantee And Indemnity Deed
