CONSULTING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), is made and entered into as of this 15th
day of May, 2000, by and between Xxx Xxxx, with offices at 00000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx,
#000, Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 ("Consultant") and AMERICAN ENERGY SERVICES, INC.,
with offices at 0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000 ("Company") (together the
"Parties").
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to formalize the terms and conditions under
which Consultant shall act as an independent marketing representative to the
Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
herein contained, and other valid consideration, receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Term of Agreement and Renewal.
The Agreement shall remain in effect from the date of execution hereof
through the expiration of a one year period, and may be renewed upon the mutual
consent of the Parties.
2. Nature of Services to be Rendered.
Consultant shall provide the Company with corporate consulting services,
including, but not limited to, using his best efforts to locate and identify
potential joint venture partners or other expansion opportunities primarily on
the Eastern Seaboard of the United States.
3. Compensation.
As compensation for his consulting services rendered hereunder, the
Company, simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, shall issue to the
Consultant an option to purchase four hundred thousand (400,000) shares of the
Company's restricted common stock, exercisable at $0.50 per share (the
"Option"); and
4. Warranties and Representations of the Consultant.
In order to induce the Company to enter into this Agreement, the Consultant
hereby makes the following unconditional warranties and representations:
(a) Consultant is not now a party to a consulting agreement with any other
corporation or entity involved in a business which is the same as or similar to
the Company's.
(b) Consultant is permitted to provide consulting services to any
corporation or entity engaged in a business identical or similar to the
Company's, provided, however, that the
Consultant shall keep confidential all information it receives from the Company
which is of a confidential or proprietary nature, without disclosure to or for
the benefit of any third parties.
5. Warranties and Representations of the Company.
In order to induce the Consultant to enter into this Agreement, the Company
hereby makes the following unconditional warranties and representations:
(a) The Company is not a party to any other contract or agreement with
terms identical to those contained herein.
(b) The Company acknowledges that Consultant does not guarantee its ability
to cause the consumption of any contract or merger or acquisition with any
corporate candidate.
6. Issuance of Option to Consultant.
The Company shall cause to be issued and delivered to Consultant the Option
bearing the signatures of its President and Secretary. The Company shall take
all corporate action necessary for the Option issuance to be legally valid and
irrevocable, including obtaining the prior unanimous written consent of its
Board of Directors.
7. Registration Obligations.
The Company expressly agrees to register, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the shares of common stock underlying the options issued herein in a
registration statement on Form S-8, if and when available (and all related
qualifications under the state securities laws.
8. Expense Reimbursement.
Consultant shall be entitled to receive cash reimbursement, and the Company
shall provide cash reimbursement, of all cash expenses paid by Consultant on
behalf of the Company in performance of his duties hereunder. Such expenses
shall include without limitation expenses for communications and travel. In no
event, however, will Consultant incur on behalf of the Company an expense in
excess of $500 without the prior written consent of the Company.
9. Indemnification of Consultant by the Company.
The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Consultant from and against
any and all liabilities and damages in connection with the Company's ownership
and operation and, without limiting the foregoing, shall pay the Consultant's
legal fees and expenses if Consultant is named as a defendant in any proceedings
brought in connection with the services provided hereunder.
10. Indemnification of the Company by the Consultant.
Consultant shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its principals
from and against any and all liabilities and damages arising out of actions
taken by Consultant in connection with his services as consultant, which actions
were not authorized by the Company.
11. Arbitration.
Any and all conflicts, disputes and disagreements arising out of or in
connection with any aspect of the Agreement shall be subject to arbitration in
accordance with the rules of The American Arbitration Association then in
effect. Written Notice of Dispute shall be served by either Party upon the other
Party at its address set forth herein or such other address as it shall have
provided in writing for that purpose, and the arbitration date shall be set no
later than two months from the date such Notice is served. The dispute shall be
submitted to The American Arbitration Association headquarters located in
Houston, Texas or the nearest office thereto. The Parties designate the state
court in Xxxxxx County as the court in which any arbitration award shall be
subject to confirmation, and will abide by such confirmation.
12. Entire Understanding/Incorporation of other Documents.
This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the Parties with regard
to the subject matter hereof, superseding any and all prior agreements or
understandings whether oral or written, and no further or additional agreements,
promises, representations or covenants may be inferred or construed to exist
between the Parties.
13. No Assignment or Delegation Without Prior Approval.
No portion of the Agreement or any of its provisions may be assigned, nor
obligations delegated, to any other person or party without the prior written
consent of the Parties except by operation of law or as otherwise set forth
herein.
14. Survival of Agreement.
The Agreement and all of its terms shall inure to the benefit of any
permitted assignees of or lawful successors to either Party.
15. No Amendment Except in Writing.
Neither the Agreement nor any of its provisions may be altered or amended
except in a dated writing signed by the Parties.
16. Waiver of Breach.
No waiver of any breach of any provision hereof shall be deemed to
constitute a continuing waiver or a waiver of any other portion of the
Agreement.
17. Severability of the Agreement.
Except as otherwise provided herein, if any provision hereof is deemed by
arbitration or a court of competent jurisdiction to be legally unenforceable or
void, such provision shall be stricken from the Agreement and the remainder
hereof shall remain in full force and effect.
18. Governing Law.
The Agreement and its provisions shall be construed in accordance with and
pursuant to, and governed by, the laws of the State of Texas, as applicable to
agreements to be performed solely within the State of Texas, without regard to
its conflict-of-laws provisions then in effect.
19. No Construction Against Drafter.
The Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or other
rule requiring construction against the Party causing the drafting hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed the Agreement as of the date
first above written.
By: /s/ Xxx Xxxx
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Xxx Xxxx, Consultant
AMERICAN ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, President
