Consulting Agreement - Netgateway Inc. and Glashow Associates
CONSULTING AGREEMENT, dated as of July 1, 1999, between NETGATEWAY, INC., a Nevada corporation with executive offices located at 300 Oceangate, Floor 5, Long Beach, California 90802 (the "Company"), GLASHOW ASSOCIATES, with executive offices located at 1224 West 61st Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64113 (the "Consultant"). WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, the Consultant, through its affiliates and principals, has extensive experience in their respective areas of expertise, including, without limitation, marketing and public relations and other business matters; and WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the services of the Consultant to render strategic advice with respect to the development of the Company, and the Consultant wishes to render such services to the Company, on the terms and conditions, and subject to the qualifications, set forth in this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises and covenants hereinafter set forth, and subject to the conditions contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows: I. Terms of Service. Section 1.01 Duties. The Consultant will advise the Company's management, employees, and agents with respect to the Company's field of interest and business, and strategic and commercial matters related to the Consultant's areas of expertise. Upon reasonable notice to the Consultant, the Company will have access to the Consultant at reasonable times in order to discuss matters related to the Company's business. The services to be provided by the Consultant pursuant to the terms hereof, whether such services are performed verbally or in writing, shall be reasonable in terms of hours per month and shall not, in any case, exceed in the aggregate ten hours per month. If no such services are requested, the consulting fees provided for herein shall nevertheless be paid. Section 1.02 Term; Termination. The term (the "Term") of this Agreement shall be 24 months, commencing on the date hereof. In the event this Agreement shall be terminated by the Company for any reason, the parties hereto agree that the Consultants shall be entitled to the amounts otherwise due hereunder notwithstanding such termination. Section 1.03 Consulting Fee. In consideration of the services to be performed hereunder, the Consultant shall receive the fee of $5,000 per month, net of taxes, excises, and other governmental and other charges, payable monthly on the first of each month in advance commencing on July 1, 1999. The Consultant may offset such fee against amount otherwise owned by Consultant or affiliates thereof to the Company. <PAGE> Section 1.04 Expenses. If the Company requests the Consultant to provide any specific services hereunder that cause the Consultant to incur expenses, the Company shall reimburse the Consultant for all reasonable expenses upon presentation of expense vouchers or statements or such other supporting information as the Company may require. II. Confidentiality. Section 2.01 Acknowledgements. The Consultant acknowledges that, during the course of performing services hereunder, the Company may be disclosing information to the Consultant related to the Company's business, projects, and plans, as well as other information (collectively, "Confidential Information"). The Consultant acknowledges that the Company's business is extremely competitive, dependent in part upon the maintenance of secrecy, and that any disclosure of the Confidential Information would result in serious harm to the Company. Section 2.02 Use of Confidential Information. The Consultant agrees that the Confidential Information will be used by the Consultant only in connection with consulting activities hereunder and will not be used in any way that is detrimental to the Company. Section 2.03 Non-Disclosure. The Consultant agrees not to disclose, directly or indirectly, the Confidential Information to any third person or entity, other than representatives or agents of the Company or legal advisors, expert consultants, and other advisors utilized by the Consultant in connection with consulting activities hereunder; provided, however, that each such advisor agrees to keep such information confidential and to use it only in connection with such consulting activities. The Consultant will treat all such Confidential Information as confidential and proprietary property of the Company. Section 2.04 Confidential Information. The term "Confidential Information" does not include information that (a) is or becomes generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement, (b) becomes available to the Consultant on a non-confidential basis (it being understood that information that the Consultant obtained as a result of any officer, director, or employer thereof being previously employed by, or otherwise serving, the Company, shall be deemed to be Confidential Information, unless otherwise exempt under this Section 2.04, or (c) was independently developed by the Consultant after the date hereof without reference to the information provided by the Company. Section 2.05 Permitted Disclosure. The Consultant may disclose any Confidential Information that is required to be disclosed by law, government regulation, or court or administrative order or process. If disclosure is required, the Consultant will give the Company advance notice so that the Company may seek a protective order or take other action reasonable under of the circumstances. Section 2.06 Return of Confidential Information. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Consultant will promptly return to the Company all materials containing Confidential Information, including, but not limited to, data, records, reports, and other property furnished by -2- <PAGE> the Company to the Consultant or produced by the Consultant in connection with services rendered hereunder. Notwithstanding such return, the Consultant shall continue to be bound by the terms of the confidentiality provisions contained in this Article II for a period of one year after the termination of this Agreement. III. Miscellaneous. Section 3.01 No Violation of Other Agreements. Each of the parties hereto represents and warrants that execution, delivery, or performance of this Agreement does not conflict with, or violate the terms of, any other agreement to which it is a party or by which it is bound. Section 3.02 Independent Contractor; Limitation of Liability. (a) The Consultant is an independent contractor to the Company, and nothing herein shall be deemed to constitute the Consultant or its agents as an employee or agent of the Company. (b) The Company acknowledges that it remains solely responsible for the conduct and operation of its business and that the Consultant makes no representation or warranty and assumes no liability with respect to the outcome or result of any particular course of action or operation of the Company's business. Section 3.03 Notices. Any notice provided under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been effectively given when delivered personally, sent by private express mail service (such as Federal Express), or sent by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to the address set forth in the introductory paragraph hereof (or to such other address as any party has furnished in writing to the other parties in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.03). Section 3.04 Assignment. None of the parties may assign its interest in this Agreement or delegate its responsibilities hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party. Section 3.05 Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular provision of this Agreement or portion thereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision thereof or portion thereof. If any provision of this Agreement is adjudicated to be so broad as to be unenforceable, it shall be interpreted to be only as broad as is enforceable. Section 3.06 Counterparts; Governing Law. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws. -3- <PAGE> Section 3.07 Headings. The article and section headings in this Agreement are solely for convenience of reference and shall be given no effect in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. Section 3.08 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. -4- <PAGE> IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written. NETGATEWAY, INC. By: /s/ [ILLEGIBLE] ---------------------------- Name: [ILLEGIBLE] Title: CEO GLASHOW ASSOCIATES By: /s/ Andrew Glashow ---------------------------- Name: Andrew Glashow Title: DIRECTOR -5-