BLOCKCHAIN INDUSTRIES, INC. CONSULTING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.4
This
Consulting Agreement (this “Agreement”)
is made and entered into as of March 12th
2018
(the “Effective
Date”)
by and between Blockchain Industries, Inc., a Nevada corporation
with its principal place of business at 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx
000, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 (the “Company”),
and Xxxxx Xx (“Consultant”)
(each herein referred to individually as a
“Party,”
or collectively as the “Parties”).
WHEREAS, The Company desires to retain Consultant as an independent
contractor to perform the services of Director of Asset Allocation
for the Company, and Consultant is willing to perform such
services, on the terms described below.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained
herein, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Services
and Compensation
Consultant
shall perform the services described in
Exhibit A (the
“Services”)
for the Company (or its designee), and the Company agrees to pay
Consultant the compensation described in
Exhibit A, and
no other compensation, for Consultant’s performance of the
Services.
2. Applicability
to Past Activities
Consultant
agrees that if and to the extent that Consultant provided any
services or made efforts on behalf of or for the benefit of
Company, or related to the current or prospective business of
Company in anticipation of Consultant’s involvement with the
Company, that would have been “Services” if performed
during the term of this Agreement (the “Prior
Consulting Period”)
and to the extent that during the Prior Consulting Period:
(i) Consultant received access to any information from or on
behalf of Company that would have been “Confidential
Information” (as defined below) if Consultant received access
to such information during the term of this Agreement; or
(ii) Consultant conceived, created, authored, invented,
developed or reduced to practice any item (including any
intellectual property rights with respect thereto) on behalf of or
for the benefit of Company, or related to the current or
prospective business of Company in anticipation of
Consultant’s involvement with Company, that would have been
an “Invention” (as defined below) if conceived,
created, authored, invented, developed or reduced to practice
during the term of this Agreement; then any such information shall
be deemed “Confidential Information” hereunder and any
such item shall be deemed an “Invention” hereunder, and
this Agreement shall apply to such activities, information or item
as if disclosed, conceived, created, authored, invented, developed
or reduced to practice during the term of this Agreement.
Consultant further acknowledges that Consultant has been fully
compensated for all services provided during any such Prior
Consulting Period.
A. Definition
of Confidential Information.
“Confidential
Information”
means any non-public information that relates to the actual or
anticipated business and/or products, research or development of
the Company, its
affiliates or subsidiaries, or to the Company’s, its
affiliates’ or subsidiaries’ technical data, trade
secrets, or know-how, including, but not limited to, research,
product plans, or other information regarding the Company’s,
its affiliates’ or subsidiaries’ products or services
and markets therefor, customer lists and customers (including, but
not limited to, customers of the Company on whom Consultant called
or with whom Consultant became acquainted during the term of this
Agreement), software, developments, inventions, processes,
methodologies, know-how, procedures, formulas, technology, designs,
drawings, engineering, hardware configuration information,
marketing, finances, and other business information disclosed by
the Company, its affiliates or subsidiaries, either directly or
indirectly, in writing, orally or by drawings or inspection of
premises, parts, equipment, or other property of Company, its
affiliates or subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Confidential Information shall not include any such information
which Consultant can establish (i) was publicly known or made
generally available prior to the time of disclosure to Consultant;
(ii) becomes publicly known or made generally available after
disclosure to Consultant through no wrongful action or inaction of
Consultant; or (iii) is in the rightful possession of Consultant,
without confidentiality obligations, at the time of disclosure as
shown by Consultant’s then-contemporaneous written
records.
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B. Nonuse
and Nondisclosure.
During
and after the term of this Agreement, Consultant will hold in the
strictest confidence, and take all reasonable and necessary
precautions to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of
Confidential Information, and Consultant will not (i) use the
Confidential Information for any purpose whatsoever other than as
necessary for the performance of the Services on behalf of the
Company, or (ii) disclose the Confidential Information to any
third party without the prior written consent of an authorized
representative of Company. Consultant may disclose Confidential
Information to the extent compelled by applicable law;
provided however,
prior to such disclosure, Consultant shall provide prior written
notice to Company and seek a protective order or such similar
confidential protection as may be available under applicable law.
Consultant agrees that no ownership of Confidential Information is
conveyed to the Consultant. Without limiting the foregoing,
Consultant shall not use or disclose any Company property,
intellectual property rights, trade secrets or other proprietary
know-how of the Company to invent, author, make, develop, design,
or otherwise enable others to invent, author, make, develop, or
design identical or substantially similar designs, processes,
formulas, or software, as those developed under this Agreement for
any third party. Consultant agrees that Consultant’s
obligations under this Section 3.B shall
continue after the termination of this
Agreement.
C. Other
Client Confidential Information.
Consultant
agrees that Consultant will not improperly use, disclose, or induce
the Company to use any proprietary information or trade secrets of
any former or concurrent employer of Consultant or other person or
entity with which Consultant has an obligation to keep in
confidence. Consultant also agrees that Consultant will not bring
onto the Company’s premises or transfer onto the
Company’s technology systems any unpublished document,
proprietary information, or trade secrets belonging to any third
party unless disclosure to, and use by, the Company has been
consented to in writing by such third
party.
D. Third
Party Confidential Information.
Consultant
recognizes that the Company has received and in the future will
receive from third parties their confidential or proprietary
information subject to a duty on the Company’s part to
maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only
for certain limited purposes. Consultant agrees that at all times
during the term of this Agreement and thereafter, Consultant owes
the Company and such third parties a duty to hold all such
confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence
and not to use it or to disclose it to any person, firm,
corporation, or other third party except as necessary in carrying
out the Services for the Company consistent with the
Company’s agreement with such third
party.
4. Ownership
A. Assignment
of Inventions.
Consultant
agrees that all right, title, and interest in and to any
copyrightable material, notes, records, drawings, designs, charts,
graphs, data compilations, inventions, improvements, developments,
discoveries and trade secrets conceived, discovered, authored,
invented, developed or reduced to practice by Consultant, solely or
in collaboration with others, during the term of this Agreement and
arising out of, or in connection with, performing the Services
under this Agreement and any copyrights, patents, trade secrets,
mask work rights or other intellectual property rights relating to
the foregoing (collectively, “Inventions”),
are the sole property of the Company. Consultant also agrees to
promptly make full written disclosure to the Company of any
Inventions and to deliver and assign (or cause to be assigned) and
hereby irrevocably assigns fully to the Company all right, title
and interest in and to the Inventions without any compensation
therefor.
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B. Pre-Existing
Materials.
Subject
to Section 4.A, Consultant agrees that if, in the course of
performing the Services, Consultant incorporates into any Invention
or utilizes in the performance of the Services any pre-existing
invention, discovery, original works of authorship, development,
improvements, trade secret, concept, or other proprietary
information or intellectual property right owned by Consultant or
in which Consultant has an interest (“Prior
Inventions”),
(i) Consultant will provide the Company with prior written
notice and (ii) the Company is hereby granted a nonexclusive,
royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, transferable, worldwide
license (with the right to grant and authorize sublicenses) to
make, have made, use, import, offer for sale, sell,
reproduce, distribute, modify, adapt, prepare derivative works of,
display, perform, and otherwise exploit such Prior Inventions,
without restriction, including, without limitation, as part of or
in connection with such Invention, and to practice any method
related thereto. Consultant will not incorporate any invention,
improvement, development, concept, discovery, work of authorship or
other proprietary information owned by any third party into any
Invention.
C. Moral
Rights. Any
assignment to the Company of Inventions includes all rights of
attribution, paternity, integrity, modification, disclosure and
withdrawal, and any other rights throughout the world that may be
known as or referred to as “moral rights,”
“artist’s rights,” “droit moral,” or
the like (collectively, “Moral
Rights”).
To the extent that Moral Rights cannot
be assigned under applicable law, Consultant
hereby waives and agrees not to enforce any and all Moral Rights,
including, without limitation, any limitation on subsequent
modification, to the extent permitted under applicable
law.
D. Maintenance
of Records.
Consultant
agrees to keep and maintain adequate, current, accurate, and
authentic written records of all Inventions made by Consultant
(solely or jointly with others) during the term of this Agreement,
and for a period of three (3) years thereafter. The records will be
in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, electronic files,
reports, or any other format that is customary in the industry
and/or otherwise specified by the Company. Such records are and
remain the sole property of the Company at all times and upon
Company’s request, Consultant shall deliver (or cause to be
delivered) the same.
E. Further
Assurances.
Consultant
agrees to assist Company, or its designee, at the Company’s
expense, in every proper way to secure the Company’s rights
in Inventions in any and all countries, including the disclosure to
the Company of all pertinent information and data with respect
thereto, the execution of all applications, specifications, oaths,
assignments and all other instruments that the Company may deem
necessary in order to apply for, register, obtain, maintain,
defend, and enforce such rights, and in order to deliver, assign
and convey to the Company, its successors, assigns and nominees the
sole and exclusive right, title, and interest in and to all
Inventions and testifying in a suit or other proceeding relating to
such Inventions. Consultant further agrees that Consultant’s
obligations under this Section 4.E shall
continue after the termination of this
Agreement.
F. Attorney-in-Fact.
Consultant
hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly
authorized officers and agents as Consultant’s agent and
attorney-in-fact, to act for and on Consultant’s behalf to
execute and file any papers and oaths and to do all other lawfully
permitted acts with respect to such Inventions to further the
prosecution and issuance of patents, copyright and mask work
registrations with the same legal force and effect as if executed
by Consultant, effective if the Company is unable because of
Consultant’s unavailability, dissolution, mental or physical
incapacity, or for any other reason, to secure Consultant’s
signature with respect to any Inventions, including, without
limitation, for the purpose of applying for or pursuing any
application for any United States or foreign patents or mask work
or copyright registrations covering the Inventions assigned to the
Company in Section 4.A. This power of attorney shall be deemed
coupled with an interest, and shall be
irrevocable.
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5. Conflicting
Obligations
A. Consultant
represents and warrants that Consultant has no agreements,
relationships, or commitments to any other person or entity that
conflict with the provisions of this Agreement, Consultant’s
obligations to the Company under this Agreement, and/or
Consultant’s ability to perform the Services. Consultant will
not enter into any such conflicting agreement during the term of
this Agreement.
B. Consultant
shall require all Consultant’s employees, contractors, or
other third-parties performing Services under this Agreement to
execute a Confidential Information and Assignment Agreement in the
form provided by the Company, and promptly provide a copy of each
such executed agreement to the Company. Consultant’s
violation of this Article 5 will
be considered a material breach under
Section 8.B.
6. Return
of Company Materials
Upon
the termination of this Agreement, or upon Company’s earlier
request, Consultant will immediately deliver to the Company, and
will not keep in Consultant’s possession, recreate, or
deliver to anyone else, any and all Company property, including,
but not limited to, all records, drawings, notebooks, and other
documents pertaining to any Confidential Information, tangible
embodiments of the Inventions, all devices and equipment belonging
to the Company, all electronically-stored information and passwords
to access such property, those records maintained pursuant to
Section 4.D and
any reproductions of any of the foregoing items that Consultant may
have in Consultant’s possession or
control.
7. Reports
Consultant agrees that Consultant shall, no less than on a weekly
basis, keep the Company advised as to Consultant’s progress
in performing the Services under this Agreement. Consultant further
agrees that Consultant will, as requested by the Company, prepare
written reports with respect to such progress and any projects
being worked on or implemented. The Company and Consultant agree
that the reasonable time expended in preparing such written reports
will be considered time devoted to the performance of the
Services.
8. Term
and Termination
A. Term.
The
term of this Agreement will begin on the Effective Date of this
Agreement and will continue until the earlier of (i) the
period defined in Exhibit A or (ii) termination as provided in
Section 8.B.
B. Termination.
The
Company may terminate this Agreement upon giving Consultant five
(5) days prior written notice of such termination pursuant to
Section 14.G
of
this Agreement. The Company may terminate this Agreement
immediately and without prior notice if Consultant refuses to or is
unable to perform the Services or is in breach of any material
provision of this Agreement.
C. Survival.
Upon
any termination, all rights and duties of the Company and
Consultant toward each other shall cease
except:
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(1) The
Company will pay, within thirty (30) days after the effective date
of termination, all amounts owing to Consultant for Services
completed and accepted by the Company prior to the termination date
and related reimbursable expenses, if any, submitted in accordance
with the Company’s policies and in accordance with the
provisions of Article 1 of
this Agreement; and
(2) Article 3
(Confidentiality),
Article 4 (Ownership),
Section 5.B (Conflicting
Obligations), Article 6 (Return
of Company Materials), Article 8 (Term
and Termination), Article 9 (Independent
Contractor; Benefits), Article 10 (Indemnification),
Article 11 (Noninterference),
Article 12 (Limitation
of Liability), Article 13 (Arbitration
and Equitable Relief), and Article 14 (Miscellaneous)
will survive termination or expiration of this Agreement in
accordance with their terms.
9. Independent
Contractor; Benefits
A. Independent
Contractor. It
is the express intention of the Company and Consultant that
Consultant perform the Services as an independent contractor to the
Company. Nothing in this Agreement shall in any way be construed to
constitute Consultant as an agent, employee, partner, co-venturer,
or representative of the Company. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, Consultant is not authorized to bind the Company
to any liability or obligation or to represent that Consultant has
any such authority. Consultant agrees to furnish (or reimburse the
Company for) all tools and materials necessary to accomplish this
Agreement and shall incur all expenses associated with performance,
except as expressly provided in
Exhibit A.
B. Tax
Matters. Consultant
acknowledges that the exercise, transfer or other disposition of
the Options more fully described in Schedule A may give rise to
significant U.S. income tax consequences. Consultant is urged to
consult with her own tax advisor to determine the effect of U.S.
federal income tax laws, as well as applicable treaties, if any,
with regard to the Options. The following outlines certain U.S.
federal income tax consequences applicable to nonqualified stock
options. This discussion is general in nature and is not a
substitute for an individual analysis of the tax consequences
relating to the Options. The Company makes no representation or
warranties with respect to the tax consequences of the compensation
provided to Consultant under the terms of this
Agreement.
(1) U.S.
Persons:
Nonqualified stock options refer to options that are not required
to meet specified criteria set forth in Section 422 of the Internal
Revenue Code (“Code”). With respect to U.S. citizens or
residents (“U.S. Persons”), the taxation of
nonqualified stock options generally is governed by Section 83 of
the Code. Nonqualified stock options generally are not taxable upon
grant, because they do not have a “readily ascertainable fair
market value” within the meaning Treasury Regulations Section
1.83-7(b). As such, nonqualified stock options generally will be
taxed on exercise in amount equal the spread between the fair
market value of the underlying stock and the exercise price on the
date the options are exercised. The taxable amount is treated as
ordinary income, and not eligible for the preferential long-term
capital gains tax rate. An exception will apply with respect to
stock received on exercise of an option that is subject to a
“substantial risk of forfeiture” (meaning, the stock is
not vested). The taxable event with respect options involving a
substantial risk of forfeiture will occur at the time of vesting of
the underlying stock, and the associated tax will be based on the
spread between the fair market value of the underlying stock on the
vesting date and the option exercise price. The taxable spread upon
the exercise of an option by service providers other than employees
(including an independent contractor) is reported on IRS Form
1099-MISC, and withholding of employment tax typically is not
required in such case.
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(2) Non-U.S.
Persons.
Individuals who are not considered to be U.S. citizens or residents
are only subject to U.S. federal income tax on income that is
“effectively connected” (“ECI”) with a U.S.
trade or business. Performing services in the U.S. as an
independent contractor, even for a single day, may constitute being
engaged in a U.S. trade or business for this purpose, and as such,
may give rise to taxable ECI. That being the case, though, it is
clear that the exercise of a nonqualified stock option will not
result in U.S. income taxation with respect to an independent
contractor who does not perform any personal services in the U.S.
within the taxable year. In addition, many bilateral income tax
treaties between the U.S. and other countries, in dealing with the
taxation of income from personal services, distinguish between
“independent” (including an independent contractor) and
“dependent” (employment) personal services. Many tax
treaties provide an exemption from U.S. income taxation for
compensation earned by an independent contractor provided that
he/she is not present in the U.S. for more than a certain number of
(generally, 183) days in the taxable
year.
(3) Consultant
agrees and understands that he/she is responsible for payment, if
any, of local, state, and/or federal taxes on the payments and any
other consideration provided hereunder by the Company and any
penalties or assessments thereon. Consultant agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company and its affiliates and their
directors, officers and employees from and against all taxes,
losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses, including
attorneys’ fees and other legal expenses, arising from or in
connection with (i) any obligation imposed on the Company to pay
withholding taxes or similar items, (ii) any determination by a
court or agency that the Consultant is not an independent
contractor. The parties will comply with all federal, state, and
local tax laws applicable to transactions occurring under this
Agreement. Consultant will provide Company with a completed Form
W-9, applicable Form W-8 series form, or Form 8233, as appropriate,
for federal income tax reporting purposes.
C. No
Benefits.
The
Company and Consultant agree that Consultant will receive no
Company-sponsored benefits from the Company where benefits include,
but are not limited to, paid vacation, sick leave, health and
medical insurance and 401k participation or other fringe benefit
plans. If Consultant is reclassified by a state or federal agency
or court as the Company’s employee, Consultant will become a
reclassified employee and will receive no benefits from the
Company, except those mandated by state or federal law, even if by
the terms of the Company’s benefit plans or programs of the
Company in effect at the time of such reclassification, Consultant
would otherwise be eligible for such
benefits.
10. Indemnification
Consultant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and
its affiliates and their directors, officers and employees from and
against all taxes, losses, damages, liabilities, costs and
expenses, including attorneys’ fees and other legal expenses,
arising directly or indirectly from or in connection with
(i) any negligent, reckless or intentionally wrongful act of
Consultant or Consultant’s assistants, employees, contractors
or agents, (ii) a determination by a court or agency that the
Consultant is not an independent contractor, (iii) any breach
by the Consultant or Consultant’s assistants, employees,
contractors or agents of any of the covenants contained in this
Agreement and corresponding Confidential Information and Invention
Assignment Agreement, (iv) any failure of Consultant to
perform the Services in accordance with all applicable laws, rules
and regulations, or (v) any violation or claimed violation of
a third party’s rights resulting in whole or in part from the
Company’s use of the Inventions or other deliverables of
Consultant under this Agreement.
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Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Consultant from
and against all taxes, losses, damages, liabilities, costs and
expenses, including attorneys’ fees and other legal expenses,
arising directly or indirectly from or in connection with (i) any
negligent, reckless or intentionally wrongful act of Company or
Company’s employees, contractors or
agents.
11. Nonsolicitation
To the
fullest extent permitted under applicable law, from the date of
this Agreement until twelve (12) months after the termination of
this Agreement for any reason (the “Restricted
Period”),
Consultant will not, without the Company’s prior written
consent, directly or indirectly, solicit any of the Company’s
employees to leave their employment, or attempt to solicit
employees of the Company, either for Consultant or for any other
person or entity. Consultant agrees that nothing in this
Article 11 shall
affect Consultant’s continuing obligations under this
Agreement during and after this twelve (12) month period,
including, without limitation, Consultant’s obligations under
Article 3.
12. Limitation
of Liability
IN NO EVENT SHALL COMPANY BE LIABLE TO CONSULTANT OR TO ANY OTHER
PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR DAMAGES FOR LOST PROFITS OR LOSS OF
BUSINESS, HOWEVER CAUSED AND UNDER ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER
BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHER THEORY OF
LIABILITY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER COMPANY WAS ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES AND NOTWITHSTANDING THE FAILURE OF
ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ANY LIMITED REMEDY. IN NO EVENT SHALL
COMPANY’S LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
AGREEMENT EXCEED THE AMOUNTS PAID BY COMPANY TO CONSULTANT UNDER
THIS AGREEMENT FOR THE SERVICES, DELIVERABLES OR INVENTION GIVING
RISE TO SUCH LIABILITY.
13. Arbitration
and Equitable Relief
A. Arbitration.
IN
CONSIDERATION OF CONSULTANT’S CONSULTING RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE COMPANY, ITS PROMISE TO ARBITRATE ALL DISPUTES RELATED TO
CONSULTANT’S CONSULTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMPANY AND
CONSULTANT’S RECEIPT OF THE COMPENSATION PAID TO CONSULTANT
BY COMPANY, AT PRESENT AND IN THE FUTURE, CONSULTANT AGREES THAT
ANY AND ALL CONTROVERSIES, CLAIMS, OR DISPUTES WITH ANYONE
(INCLUDING COMPANY AND ANY EMPLOYEE, OFFICER, DIRECTOR, SHAREHOLDER
OR BENEFIT PLAN OF THE COMPANY IN THEIR CAPACITY AS SUCH OR
OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF, RELATING TO, OR RESULTING FROM
CONSULTANT’S CONSULTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMPANY OR THE
TERMINATION OF CONSULTANT’S CONSULTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
COMPANY, INCLUDING ANY BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT, SHALL BE SUBJECT
TO BINDING ARBITRATION UNDER THE ARBITRATION RULES SET FORTH IN
N.Y. CIV. PRAC. LAW § 7501 ET SEQ. (THE
“RULES”)
AND PURSUANT TO NEW YORK LAW. CONSULTANT FURTHER UNDERSTANDS THAT
THIS AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE ALSO APPLIES TO ANY DISPUTES THAT THE
COMPANY MAY HAVE WITH CONSULTANT.
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B. Procedure.
CONSULTANT
AGREES THAT ANY ARBITRATION WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY JUDICIAL
ARBITRATION & MEDIATION SERVICES, INC.
(“JAMS”)
PURSUANT TO ITS EMPLOYMENT ARBITRATION RULES & PROCEDURES (THE
“JAMS
RULES”).
CONSULTANT AGREES THAT THE ARBITRATOR SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO
DECIDE ANY MOTIONS BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY TO THE ARBITRATION,
INCLUDING MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND/OR ADJUDICATION AND
MOTIONS TO DISMISS AND DEMURRERS, PRIOR TO ANY ARBITRATION HEARING.
CONSULTANT AGREES THAT THE ARBITRATOR SHALL ISSUE A WRITTEN
DECISION ON THE MERITS. CONSULTANT ALSO AGREES THAT THE ARBITRATOR
SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO AWARD ANY REMEDIES, INCLUDING ATTORNEYS'
FEES AND COSTS, AVAILABLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW. CONSULTANT AGREES
THAT THE ARBITRATOR SHALL ADMINISTER AND CONDUCT ANY ARBITRATION IN
A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE RULES, INCLUDING THE NEW YORK CIVIL
PRACTICE LAW AND RULES, AND THAT THE ARBITRATOR SHALL APPLY
SUBSTANTIVE AND PROCEDURAL NEW YORK LAW TO ANY DISPUTE OR CLAIM,
WITHOUT REFERENCE TO RULES OF CONFLICT OF LAW. TO THE EXTENT THAT
THE JAMS RULES CONFLICT WITH NEW YORK LAW, NEW YORK LAW SHALL TAKE
PRECEDENCE. CONSULTANT FURTHER AGREES THAT ANY ARBITRATION UNDER
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONDUCTED IN NEW YORK COUNTY, NEW
YORK.
C. Remedy.
EXCEPT
AS PROVIDED BY THE RULES, ARBITRATION SHALL BE THE SOLE, EXCLUSIVE
AND FINAL REMEDY FOR ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN CONSULTANT AND THE
COMPANY. ACCORDINGLY, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR BY THE RULES, NEITHER
CONSULTANT NOR THE COMPANY WILL BE PERMITTED TO PURSUE COURT ACTION
REGARDING CLAIMS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION. NOTWITHSTANDING,
THE ARBITRATOR WILL NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DISREGARD OR REFUSE
TO ENFORCE ANY LAWFUL COMPANY POLICY, AND THE ARBITRATOR SHALL NOT
ORDER OR REQUIRE THE COMPANY TO ADOPT A POLICY NOT OTHERWISE
REQUIRED BY LAW WHICH THE COMPANY HAS NOT
ADOPTED.
D. Availability
of Injunctive Relief.
EITHER
PARTY MAY ALSO PETITION THE COURT FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF WHERE
EITHER PARTY ALLEGES OR CLAIMS A VIOLATION OF ANY AGREEMENT
REGARDING TRADE SECRETS, OR CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, OR A BREACH
OF ANY DUTY NOT TO ENGAGE IN CONFLICTING BUSINESS ACTIVITY. IN THE
EVENT EITHER PARTY SEEKS INJUNCTIVE RELIEF, THE PREVAILING PARTY
SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER REASONABLE COSTS AND ATTORNEYS’
FEES.
E. Administrative
Relief. CONSULTANT
UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS AGREEMENT DOES NOT PROHIBIT CONSULTANT FROM
PURSUING AN ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIM WITH A LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATIVE BODY SUCH AS THE DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, THE EQUAL
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION, THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS
BOARD, OR THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BOARD. THIS AGREEMENT
DOES, HOWEVER, PRECLUDE CONSULTANT FROM PURSUING COURT ACTION
REGARDING ANY SUCH CLAIM, EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY
LAW.
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F. Voluntary
Nature of Agreement. CONSULTANT
ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT HE/SHE IS EXECUTING THIS AGREEMENT
VOLUNTARILY AND WITHOUT ANY DURESS OR UNDUE INFLUENCE BY THE
COMPANY OR ANYONE ELSE. CONSULTANT FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES
THAT HE/SHE HAS CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT CONSULTANT
HAS ASKED ANY QUESTIONS NEEDED FOR CONSULTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE
TERMS, CONSEQUENCES AND BINDING EFFECT OF THIS AGREEMENT AND FULLY
UNDERSTAND IT, INCLUDING THAT
CONSULTANT IS WAIVING HIS/HER RIGHT TO A JURY
TRIAL.
FINALLY, CONSULTANT AGREES THAT HE/SHE HAS BEEN PROVIDED AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF AN ATTORNEY OF CONSULTANT’S
CHOICE BEFORE SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT.
14. Miscellaneous
A. Governing
Law; Consent to Personal Jurisdiction.
This
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York,
without regard to the conflicts of law provisions of any
jurisdiction. To the extent that any lawsuit is permitted under
this Agreement, the Parties hereby expressly consent to the
personal and
exclusive jurisdiction
and
venue of the
state and federal courts located in New
York.
B. Assignability.
This
Agreement will be binding upon Consultant’s heirs, executors,
assigns, administrators, and other legal representatives, and will
be for the benefit of the Company, its successors, and its assigns.
There are no intended third-party beneficiaries to this Agreement,
except as expressly stated. Except as may otherwise be provided in
this Agreement, Consultant may not sell, assign or delegate any
rights or obligations under this Agreement. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, Company may assign this Agreement
and its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any
successor to all or substantially all of Company’s relevant
assets, whether by merger, consolidation, reorganization,
reincorporation, sale of assets or stock, or
otherwise.
C. Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding
between the Parties with respect to the subject matter herein and
supersedes all prior written and oral agreements, discussions, or
representations between the Parties. Consultant represents and
warrants that he/she is not relying on any statement or
representation not contained in this Agreement. To the extent any
terms set forth in any exhibit or schedule conflict with the terms
set forth in this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall
control unless otherwise expressly agreed by the Parties in such
exhibit or schedule.
D. Headings.
Headings
are used in this Agreement for reference only and shall not be
considered when interpreting this
Agreement.
E. Severability.
If a
court or other body of competent jurisdiction finds, or the Parties
mutually believe, any provision of this Agreement, or portion
thereof, to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be
enforced to the maximum extent permissible so as to effect the
intent of the Parties, and the remainder of this Agreement will
continue in full force and effect.
F. Modification,
Waiver. No
modification of or amendment to this Agreement, nor any waiver of
any rights under this Agreement, will be effective unless in a
writing signed by the Parties. Waiver by the Company of a breach of
any provision of this Agreement will not operate as a waiver of any
other or subsequent breach.
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G. Notices.
Any
notice or other communication required or permitted by this
Agreement to be given to a Party shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given (i) if delivered personally or by commercial
messenger or courier service, (ii) when sent by confirmed
facsimile, or (iii) if mailed by U.S. registered or certified
mail (return receipt requested), to the Party at the Party’s
address written below or at such other address as the Party may
have previously specified by like notice. If by mail, delivery
shall be deemed effective three business days after mailing in
accordance with this Section 14.G.
(1) If
to the Company, to:
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: President
(2) If
to Consultant, to the address for notice on the signature page to
this Agreement or, if no such address is provided, to the last
address of Consultant provided by Consultant to the
Company.
H. Attorneys’
Fees and Expenses.
In any
court action at law or equity that is brought by one of the Parties
to this Agreement to enforce or interpret the provisions of this
Agreement, the prevailing Party will be entitled to reasonable
attorneys’ fees and expenses, in addition to any other relief
to which that Party may be entitled.
I. Signatures. This
Agreement may be signed in two counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, with the same force and effectiveness as though
executed in a single document.
(signature
page follows)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this
Consulting Agreement as of the date first written
above.
CONSULTANT
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxx
Xx
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
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Name:
Xxxxx
Xx
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Name:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
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Title: CEO
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Address for Notice:
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EXHIBIT A
SERVICES AND COMPENSATION
1. Consultant.
Name: Xxxxx Xx
Title: Director of Asset Allocation
Email: xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Phone:
2. Services.
The Services will include, but will not be limited to, the
following:
●
Asset
allocation across entire company.
●
ICO
portfolio management.
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Risk mitigation & management.
●
Researching new investment opportunities and drafting detailed
analysis and research.
●
Researching and analyzing tokenization protocols, decentralized
applications and utility effectiveness.
●
Trading oversight and risk management.
●
Develop strategies for recurring revenue
streams.
●
Develop financial and economic models for potential investments in
ICO’s.
●
Financial management of initiatives in any of the Company’s
lines of business.
●
Reporting directly to the CEO
3. Term.
The term of this agreement shall be three (3) year from the
Effective Date (unless sooner terminated as provided in the
Agreement).
4. Compensation.
A. The
Company shall pay to Consultant Two Hundred Thousand Dollars
($200,000 USD) per year, billable monthly.
B. Subject
to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, the
Company will issue to Consultant an option to purchase 500,000
shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the
“Options”).
Subject to the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan, the Options
shall be eligible for cashless exercise. Subject to Consultant
remaining a service provider on all such dates, the Options will
vest according to the following
schedule:
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Strike Price
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Quantity Vested
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Vesting Date
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Expiration Date
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$2.50
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165,000
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7/10/2018
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7/10/2021
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$5.00
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165,000
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7/10/2019
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7/10/2022
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$7.50
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170,000
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7/10/2020
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7/10/2023
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Upon a Change in Control of the Company, all unvested option will
immediately vest. Change in Control shall mean:
(a)
the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any "person" or "group"
(as those terms are defined in Sections 3(a)(9), 13(d), and
14(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder) of "beneficial
ownership" (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act) of securities entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors ("voting securities") of the Company that
represent 25% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
then outstanding voting securities, other than
(i)
an acquisition by a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities
under any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any person controlled by the Company
or by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any person controlled by the
Company,
(ii)
an acquisition of voting securities by the Company or a corporation
owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the
Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of the stock of the Company, or
(iii)
an acquisition of voting securities pursuant to a transaction
described in subsection (b) below that would not be a
Change in Control under subsection (b);
provided, however,
that notwithstanding the foregoing, an acquisition of the Company's
securities by the Company which causes the Company's voting
securities beneficially owned by a person or group to represent 25%
or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding voting securities shall not be considered an
acquisition by any person or group for purposes of this
subsection (a); provided, however,
that if a person or group shall become the beneficial owner of 25%
or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding voting securities by reason of share acquisitions by
the Company as described above and shall, after such share
acquisitions by the Company, become the beneficial owner of any
additional voting securities of the Company, then such acquisition
shall constitute a Change in Control;
(b)
the consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the
Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more
intermediaries) of (i) a merger, consolidation,
reorganization, or business combination or (ii) a sale or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's
assets or (iii) the acquisition of assets or stock of
another entity, in each case, other than a
transaction
(A)
which results in the Company's voting securities outstanding
immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either
by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the
transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns,
directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company's
assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company
(the Company or such person, the "Successor Entity")) directly
or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the
Successor Entity's outstanding voting securities immediately after
the transaction,
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(B)
after which more than 50% of the members of the board of directors
of the Successor Entity were members of the Incumbent Board at the
time of the Board's approval of the agreement providing for the
transaction or other action of the Board approving the
transaction, and
(C)
after which no person or group beneficially owns voting
securities representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of
the Successor Entity; provided, however,
that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this
subsection (C) as beneficially owning 25% or more of
combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of
the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of
the transaction; or
(c)
stockholder approval of a liquidation or dissolution of the
Company.
For
purposes of subsection (a) above, the calculation of
voting power shall be made as if the date of the acquisition were a
record date for a vote of the Company's stockholders, and for
purposes of subsection (b) above,
the calculation of voting power shall be made as if the date of the
consummation of the transaction were a record date for a vote of
the Company's stockholders.
C. The
Company will reimburse Consultant, in accordance with Company
policy for all reasonable expenses incurred by Consultant in
performing the Services pursuant to this Agreement, if Consultant
receives written consent from an authorized agent of the Company
prior to incurring such expenses and submits receipts for such
expenses to the Company in accordance with Company standard expense
reimbursement policy.
On a monthly basis Consultant shall submit to the Company a written
invoice detailing the Services performed and expenses incurred
(with receipts attached), and such statement shall be subject to
the approval of the contact person listed above or other designated
agent of the Company.
The Company will reimburse Consultant for a one-time moving expense
not exceeding $20,000 USD net of tax if the consultant was to move
to a city of the CEO’s choosing. At the time of this
contract, The Consultant has agreed to move the greater Los Angeles
area.
5. Other
Arrangements
A.
The Company will, to the best of its ability, sponsor the
Consultant for a H1B visa. In the event that the visa process is
delayed, the Consultant will work remoted from either London or
Toronto with frequent trips to meet with the CEO or other relevant
parties.
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