EXHIBIT 10.1
ADVISORY AGREEMENT
THIS ADVISORY AGREEMENT ( the "Agreement") is made this 5th day of
January 2000, by and between Trade-Wins Inc., a Florida corporation, with an
address at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xx., Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 (the "Advisor") and
Bentley Communications Corp., a Florida corporation with its offices located at
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxx xxx Xxx, XX 00000 (the "Company").
WHEREAS, Advisor and Advisor's Personnel (as defined below) have
experience in developing corporate profile and marketing awareness programs, and
advising corporate management for publicly-held companies and development stage
investment ventures; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain Advisor to advise and assist the
Company in its development on the terms and conditions set forth below.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and
agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and Advisor
agree as follows:
1. ENGAGEMENT
The Company hereby retains Advisor, effective as of the date hereof
(the "Effective Date") and continuing until termination, as provided
herein, to assist the Company in developing and implementing a
corporate profile and marketing awareness program (the "Services"). The
Services are to be provided on a "best efforts" basis directly and
through Advisor's officers or others employed or retained and under the
direction of Advisor ("Advisor's Personnel"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
the Services shall expressly exclude all legal advice, accounting
services or other services which require licenses or certification
which Advisor may not have.
2. TERM
This Agreement shall have an initial term of twelve (12) months (the
"Primary Term"), commencing with the Effective Date. At the conclusion
of the Primary Term this Agreement will automatically be extended for
the same term ( the "Extension Period") unless Advisor or the Company
shall serve written notice on the other party terminating the
Agreement. Any notice to terminate given hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be delivered at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of
the Primary Term or any subsequent Extension Period.
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3. TIME AND EFFORT OF ADVISOR
Advisor shall allocate time and Advisor's Personnel as it deems
necessary to provide the Services. The particular amount of time may
vary from day to day or week to week. Except as otherwise agreed,
Advisor's monthly statement identifying, in general, tasks performed
for the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Services have
been performed. Additionally, in the absence of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard for the obligations or
duties hereunder by Advisor, neither Advisor nor Advisor's Personnel
shall be liable to the Company or any of its shareholders for any act
or omission in the course of or connected with rendering the Services,
including but not limited to losses that may be sustained in any
corporate act in any subsequent Business Opportunity (as defined
herein) undertaken by the Company as a result of advice provided by
Advisor or Advisor's Personnel.
4. COMPENSATION
The Company agrees to pay Advisor a fee for the Services ("Advisory
Fee") by way of the delivery by the company of One Hundred Thousand
(100,000) shares of the Company's common stock as an initial fee,
issued under Rule 701 with any required restriction, these shares shall
be delivered within seven (7) days of the execution hereof. All shares
transferred are considered fully earned and non-assessable as of the
date hereof.
5. REGISTRATION OF SHARES
Company agrees that any shares issued to satisfy a Transaction Fee may
be registered by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under any subsequent applicable registration statement filed
by the Company at the Company's discretion. Such issuance or
reservation of shares shall be in reliance on representations and
warranties of Advisor set forth herein.
6. PLACE OF SERVICES
The Services provided by Advisor or Advisor's Personnel hereunder will
be performed at Advisor's offices except as otherwise mutually agreed
by Advisor and the Company.
7. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
Advisor and Advisor's Personnel will act as an independent contractor
in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. Accordingly,
Advisor will be responsible for payment of all federal, state, and
local taxes on compensation paid under this Agreement, including income
and social security taxes, unemployment insurance, and any other taxes
due relative to Advisor's Personnel, and any and all business license
fees as may be required. This Agreement neither expressly NOR impliedly
creates a relationship of principal and agent, or employee and
employer, between Advisor's Personnel and the Company. Neither Advisor
nor Advisor's Personnel are authorized to enter into any agreements on
behalf of the Company.
8. NO AGENCY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
This Agreement neither expressly nor impliedly creates a relationship
of principal and agent between the Company and Advisor, or employee and
employer as between Advisor's Personnel and the Company.
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9. TERMINATION
The Company and Advisor may terminate this Agreement prior to the
expiration of the Primary Term upon thirty (30) days written notice
with mutual written consent. Failing to have mutual consent, without
prejudice to any other remedy to which the terminating party may be
entitled, if any, either party may terminate this Agreement with thirty
(30) days written notice under the following conditions:
(A) BY THE COMPANY.
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(i) If during the Primary Term of this Agreement or any
Extension Period, Advisor is unable to provide the
Services as set forth herein for thirty (30)
consecutive business days because of illness,
accident, or other incapacity of Advisor's Personnel;
(ii) If Advisor willfully breaches or neglects the duties
required to be performed hereunder; or
(iii) At Company's option without cause upon 30 days
written notice to Advisor.
(B) BY ADVISOR.
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(i) If the Company fails to make any payments required
hereunder;
(ii) If the Company subsequent to the execution hereof
institutes, makes a general assignment for the
benefit of creditors, has instituted against it any
bankruptcy proceeding for reorganization for
rearrangement of its financial affairs, files a
petition in a court of bankruptcy, or is adjudicated
a bankrupt; or,
(iii) If any of the disclosures made herein or subsequent
hereto by the Company to Consultant are determined to
be materially false or misleading.
10. INDEMNIFICATION
Subject to the provisions herein, the Company and Advisor agree to
indemnify, defend and hold each other harmless from and against all
demands, claims, actions, losses, damages, liabilities, costs and
expenses, including without limitation, interest, penalties and
attorneys' fees and expenses asserted against or imposed or incurred by
either party by reason of or resulting from any action or a breach of
any representation, warranty, covenant, condition, or agreement of the
other party to this Agreement.
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11. REMEDIES
Advisor and the Company acknowledge that in the event of a breach of
this Agreement by either party, money damages would be inadequate and
the non-breaching party would have no adequate remedy at law.
Accordingly, in the event of any controversy concerning the rights or
obligations under this Agreement, such rights or obligations shall be
enforceable in a court of equity by a decree of specific performance.
Such remedy, however, shall be cumulative and nonexclusive and shall be
in addition to any other remedy to which the parties may be entitled.
12. MISCELLANEOUS
(A) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS. Advisor and the Company each agree to
notify the other party if, subsequent to the date of this
Agreement, either party incurs obligations which could
compromise its efforts and obligations under this Agreement.
(B) AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended or modified at any
time and in any manner only by an instrument in writing
executed by the parties hereto.
(C) FURTHER ACTIONS AND ASSURANCES. At any time and from time to
time, each party agrees, at its or their expense, to take
actions and to execute and deliver documents as may be
reasonably necessary to effectuate the purposes of this
Agreement.
(D) WAIVER. Any failure of any party to this Agreement to comply
with any of its obligations, agreements, or conditions
hereunder may be waived in writing by the party to whom such
compliance is owed. The failure of any party to this Agreement
to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Agreement
shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of any such
provision or a waiver of the right of such party thereafter to
enforce each and every such provision. No waiver of any breach
of or noncompliance with this Agreement shall be held to be a
waiver of any other or subsequent breach or noncompliance.
(E) ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any right created by it
shall be assignable by either party without the prior written
consent of the other.
(F) NOTICES. Any notice or other communication required or
permitted by this Agreement must be in writing and shall be
deemed to be properly given when delivered in person to an
officer of the other party, when deposited in the United
States mails for transmittal by certified or registered mail,
postage prepaid, or when deposited with a public telegraph
company for transmittal, or when sent by facsimile
transmission charges prepared, provided that the communication
is addressed:
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(i) In the case of the Bentley Communications Corp.
Company: 0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxx xxx Xxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telefax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxx, President
(ii) In the case of Trade-Wins Inc.
Advisor: 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xx.
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telefax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxx, President
or to such other person or address designated in writing by
the Company or Advisor to receive notice.
(G) HEADINGS. The section and subsection headings in this
Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
(H) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement was negotiated and is being
contracted for in California, and shall be governed by the
laws of the State of California, and the United States of
America, notwithstanding any conflict-of-law provision to the
contrary.
(I) BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
parties hereto and inure to the benefit of the parties, their
respective heirs, administrators, executors, successors, and
assigns.
(J) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains the entire agreement
between the parties hereto and supersedes any and all prior
agreements, arrangements, or understandings between the
parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. No
oral understandings, statements, promises, or inducements
contrary to the terms of this Agreement exist. No
representations, warranties, covenants, or conditions, express
or implied, other than as set forth herein, have been made by
any party.
(K) SEVERABILITY. If any part of this Agreement is deemed to be
unenforceable the balance of the Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect.
(L) COUNTERPARTS. A facsimile, telecopy, or other reproduction of
this Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but
all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument, by one or more parties hereto and such executed
copy may be delivered by facsimile or similar instantaneous
electronic transmission device pursuant to which the signature
of or on behalf of such party can be seen. In this event, such
execution and delivery shall be considered valid, binding and
effective for all purposes. At the request of any party
hereto, all parties agree to execute an original of this
Agreement as well as any facsimile, telecopy or other
reproduction hereof.
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(M) TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. Time is of the essence of this
Agreement and of each and every provision hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the
date above written.
The "Company" "Advisor"
Bentley Communications Corp. Trade-Wins Inc.
A Florida Corporation A Florida Corporation
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxx By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxx
--- ----------------- --- ----------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxx Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Title: President Title: President
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