Exhibit 10.41
CONSULTING AGREEMENT
--------------------
Agreement made as of this 1st day of June, 2001(the "Effective Date") by
and between Constellation 3D, Inc. 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx - 00/xx/ Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX
00000 ("C3D") and Focus Partners LLC 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx 0000 Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000 ("Consultant"). C3D and Consultant shall be referred to in this
Agreement jointly as the "Parties".
Whereas, C3D is a publicly traded (Nasdaq Symbol: CDDD) research and
development company and has developed technology and acquired patents relating
to ultra high capacity Fluorescent Multilayer Discs and Cards ("FMD/C");
Whereas, Consultant is in the business of providing advisory and consulting
services for companies with respect to their investor relations, including their
interaction with and participation in the public financial community and
securities industries;
Whereas, C3D and Consultant previously entered into a consulting
relationship as defined in a December 4, 2000 letter agreement (the "Services
Agreement"), however the Parties desire to better define their relationship in
that C3D desires to engage the Consultant as an independent contractor, and the
Consultant desires to be engaged by C3D as an independent contractor in
connection with providing investor relations and financial and securities
consulting services.
NOW THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows:
1. Engagement. The Consultant shall provide such services as herein
----------
provided during the term of this Agreement, which shall commence the date hereof
and shall expire six (6) months thereafter (the "Term"), unless extended by the
parties on the same terms or earlier terminated.
A. The Consultant shall provide advisory and consulting services to
C3D with respect to C3D's relationships and interaction with the public
financial community, including interfacing with outside professionals regarding
the public securities of C3D, the public financial markets and the financial
community, including broker/dealers, auditors, underwriters, regulators and
underwriter syndicate members. In addition to direct interface with the
financial community, Consultant shall provide investor relations and continuing
assistance and consultation to C3D in executing plans developed for maintaining
a successful NASDAQ market for its securities.
B. It is the intention of the parties to create the business
relationship of a client (C3D) and independent contractor (Consultant). This
Agreement shall not be deemed to create any agreement or control, giving rise to
joint and several liability as between the Parties for any purpose, acts or
omissions by the other. No ownership or other interest is acquired by either
party in the other party. Further, no agency relationship between the Parties is
formed. Nothing in this Agreement shall grant (or be construed to grant) either
party a license to the other party's proprietary intellectual property,
including without limitation patents, copyrights, trademarks and/or trade
secrets.
C. The Consultant shall provide its own office space, utilities, and
secretary and other supplies and office services at his expense.
1
D. Nothing herein shall oblige C3D to enter into any strategic
alliance, joint venture, financing arrangement or other contract or agreement.
2. Compensation. For all of its services hereunder, C3D shall pay
------------
Consultant Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) per month ("Monthly Compensation").
X. Xxxxx: In addition, C3D shall make available the issuance of
warrants to purchase One Hundred and Twenty Thousand (120,000) shares of C3D's
common stock @ $10.15313 per share expiring on December 1, 2005 (the "Grant").
Consultant's right to exercise this Grant shall vest as follows: (i) 50% of the
Warrants (representing 60,000 shares) granted pursuant to the Grant shall vest
immediately; (ii) 25% of the Warrants (representing 30,000 shares) shall vest on
the three (3) month anniversary of the Effective Date of this Agreement; (iii)
25% of the Warrants (representing 30,000 shares) shall vest on the six (6) month
anniversary of the Effective Date of this Agreement. In the event this Agreement
is terminated (by either Party) for any reason during the term of this
Agreement, all Warrants granted to Consultant hereunder which have not vested
prior to Consultant's termination date shall be forfeited and shall not vest
and/or be exercisable under any circumstance.
The Parties specifically acknowledge and agree that any and all
Warrants and/or Options granted to Consultant in the Services Agreement or
otherwise, are hereby deemed null and void, ab initio -- the only Options and/or
Warrants granted to Consultant by C3D are pursuant to this Agreement.
B. Expenses: C3D shall reimburse Consultant for all reasonable
expenses incurred in connection with the performance of Consultant's duties
under this Agreement, provided that the Consultant properly accounts for such
expenses in accordance with C3D's practices. Expenses equal to or in excess of
Five Hundred Dollars ($500) require the prior written approval of C3D's: (i)
Chief Financial Officer; or (ii) Vice-President of Finance or (iii) Treasurer.
3. Work Product. The Consultant shall have no proprietary interest in the
------------
work product created, produced or developed by the Consultant during the course
of his engagement, but the work product shall be owned solely and exclusively by
C3D. Upon request, Consultant shall execute and deliver all documents requested
by C3D to effectuate the foregoing and this Agreement.
4. Proprietary Information. Consultant's engagement as an independent
-----------------------
contractor with C3D is being done upon the understanding that there is a mutual
relationship of confidence and trust between C3D and Consultant with respect to
any information applicable to the business of C3D and/or applicable to the
business of any client or customer of C3D, and/or learned by Consultant in such
context during the period of his engagement. All of such information has
commercial value in the business in which C3D is engaged and is hereinafter
called "Proprietary Information." By way of illustration, but not limitation,
Proprietary Information includes any and all technical and non-technical
information including patent, copyright, trade secret, and proprietary
information, techniques, sketches, drawings, models, inventions, know-how,
processes, apparatus, equipment, algorithms, software programs, software source
documents, and formulae related to the current, future and proposed products and
services of C3D, and includes, without limitation, its respective information
concerning research, experimental work, development, design details and
specifications, engineering and financial information, procurement requirements,
purchasing, manufacturing, customer lists, business forecasts, sales and
merchandising and marketing lanes and information. "Proprietary Information"
also includes proprietary or confidential information of any third party who may
disclose such information to
2
C3D or Consultant in the course of C3D's business. At all times, both during
Consultant's engagement by C3D and after its termination, Consultant agrees to
keep in confidence and trust all Proprietary Information, and Consultant agrees
that he will not use or disclose any Proprietary Information or anything
directly relating to it without the written consent of C3D, except as may be
necessary in the ordinary course of performing the Consultant's duties as set
forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood that,
at all such times, Consultant is free to use information, which is generally
known in the trade or industry not as a result of a breach of this Agreement.
Consultant acknowledges and agrees that all Proprietary Information (including
all copies) is the sole and exclusive property of C3D and upon termination of
Consultant's engagement or at the request of C3D before termination, Consultant
shall immediately deliver to C3D all written and tangible material in his
possession incorporating the Proprietary Information or otherwise relating to
C3D's business.
5. No Solicitation. As a condition of its engagement with C3D, and as a
---------------
material inducement to C3D to engage Consultant hereunder, Consultant agrees
that during the term of Consultant's engagement by C3D and for a period of 1
year thereafter, Consultant will not solicit, encourage, or cause other to
solicit or encourage any employees, independent contractors or consultants of
C3D to terminate their employment or relationship with C3D. This paragraph of
the Agreement: (a) shall survive Consultant's engagement by C3D, (b) does not in
any way restrict Consultant's right or the right of C3D to terminate his
engagement at any time, for any reason or for no reason, (c) inures to the
benefit of successors and assigns of C3D, and (d) is binding upon Consultant's
heirs and legal representatives.
6. Termination. Either Party may terminate this Agreement without
-----------
further obligation, except as set forth herein, upon fourteen (14) days written
notice sent to the other party by designated overnight courier to the address
indicated hereinabove. In the event of termination, C3D shall be obligated only
to pay Monthly Compensation due as of the date of termination. In the event this
Agreement is terminated (by either Party) for any reason during the term of this
Agreement, all Warrants granted to Consultant hereunder which have not vested
prior to Consultant's termination date shall be forfeited and shall not vest
and/or be exercisable under any circumstance.
A. Responsibilities on Termination: Upon expiration or termination
of this Agreement, the Parties shall immediately cease using and return the
other Party's intellectual property and/or confidential material. All licenses
to the other Party's intellectual property (including without limitation,
patents, copyrights and trademarks) expressly granted and/or implied shall
immediately terminate. In addition, the Parties shall immediately return all
documents (originals and all copies) and all other property belonging to and/or
received from the other Party in their possession, custody or control.
B. Renewal: This Agreement shall not renew unless both Parties agree
in writing.
7. Indemnification. C3D shall indemnify and hold Consultant harmless with
---------------
respect to claims or actions instituted by third parties to the extent such
claims or actions result from the use by Consultant of material furnished by C3D
to Consultant which is untrue or materially inaccurate. For the purposes of this
paragraph, "material furnished by C3D" shall include without limitation
information or data obtained by Consultant from C3D to substantiate claims or
statements released by Consultant on C3D's behalf. C3D shall also indemnify and
hold Consultant harmless for claims or actions instituted by third parties which
arise out of the use of
3
C3D's products unless such claims are the result of Consultant's gross
negligence or willful misconduct.
8. Assignment. The Consultant may not assign this Agreement or any of
----------
its rights or obligations herein without C3D's prior written consent.
9. Governing Law. This Agreement and performance under it, and all
-------------
proceedings that may ensue from its breach, shall be construed in accordance
with and under the laws of the State of New York and in New York, United States
of America. The Parties consent and agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the
Federal and State courts located in New York, New York, United States of
America.
10. Modification; Amendment; Waiver. No modification, amendment or waiver
-------------------------------
of any provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless approved in
writing by both parties. The failure at any time to enforce any of the
provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such
provisions and shall not affect the right of either party thereafter to enforce
each and every provision hereof in accordance with its terms.
11. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
------------
shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be
prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be
ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without
invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this
Agreement. For purposes of interpreting this Agreement, neither party shall be
deemed the author of the Agreement.
12. Complete Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
------------------
between the parties, and cancels and supersedes all other agreements between the
Parties that may have related to the subject matter contained in this Agreement,
including without limitation the Service Agreement. The Parties expressly agree
and acknowledge that the Services Agreement is hereby terminated and that there
are no obligations owed to either party by the other arising out of or in any
way relating to the Services Agreement. Any and all warrants/options granted to
Consultant heretofore (pursuant to the Services Agreement or otherwise) are
hereby rendered null and void. The Parties mutually grant each other and their
respective affiliates, officers and directors a full release from any and all
claims, which have arisen, and/or which may arise from or are in any way related
to the Services Agreement.
13. Sections and Headings. The sections and headings throughout this
---------------------
Agreement are for convenience of reference and shall in no way be held or deemed
to be a part of or affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
14. Execution. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of
---------
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective as
of the day and year indicated above.
CONSTELLATION 3D, INC. FOCUS PARTNERS LLC
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
---------------------- --------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Vice-President Finance President
5
