Exhibit 10.3

CONSULTING AGREEMENT

THIS CONSULTING AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) by and between ModusLink Global
Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Edward E. Lucente
(the “Consultant”) is made as of February 11, 2013.

WHEREAS, Consultant has been a member of the Company’s board of directors (the
“Board”) since 2006;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of that certain Settlement Agreement, dated
February 11, 2013, by and among the Company, Handy & Harman, Ltd and its
affiliates party thereto, (the “Settlement Agreement”), Consultant has
voluntarily agreed to resign from the Board effective upon and only in the event
that the Board accepts his resignation following the closing of the transactions
contemplated by that certain Investment Agreement, dated February 11, 2013, by
and between the Company and Steel Partners Holdings, L.P. The date such closing
occurs is referred to herein as the “Effective Date”); and

WHEREAS, Consultant and the Company mutually desire for Consultant to provide
consulting services to the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates
commencing on the Effective Date pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants set forth herein, the
Company and Consultant hereby agree as follows:

1. Consulting Period. the Company hereby engages Consultant to perform the
services described in Section 2 below during the period commencing on the
Effective Date and ending on the date that is 12 months after the Effective Date
(the “Consulting Period”).

2. Services. Consultant shall perform such services as may be requested by the
Company and/or its subsidiaries from time to time during the Consulting Period,
regarding the transition of his duties and responsibilities to a successor or
successor member of the Board or regarding the operational and strategic plans
for the Company, but not in excess of 5 hours per week. Such services will be
performed at mutually agreeable times and shall not interfere with Consultant’s
other businesses or endeavors.

3. Compensation. For his services under this Agreement, the Company shall pay
Consultant a fee of $175,000.00 on the Effective Date. Such fee shall be paid
regardless of whether or not the Company or any of its subsidiaries actually
requests services from Consultant under Section 2 above.

4. Non-Disclosure Agreement.

4.1 Consultant agrees that all information, whether or not in writing, of a
private, secret or confidential nature concerning the Company’s business,
business relationships or financial affairs (collectively, “Proprietary
Information”) is and shall be the exclusive property of the Company. By way of
illustration, but not limitation, Proprietary Information shall include
discoveries, inventions, products, product improvements, product enhancements,
processes, methods, techniques, formulas, compositions, negotiation strategies
and positions, projects, developments, plans (including business and marketing
plans), research data, financial data

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(including sales, costs, profits, pricing methods), personnel data, computer
programs (including software used pursuant to a license agreement), customer and
supplier lists, and contacts at or knowledge of customers or prospective
customers of the Company. Consultant shall not disclose any Proprietary
Information to any person or entity other than employees of the Company (or such
third parties as the Company may authorize) or use the same for any purposes
(other than in the performance of his duties as a consultant to the Company)
without written approval by an officer of the Company, either during or after
the Consulting Period, unless and until such Proprietary Information has become
public knowledge without fault by Consultant.

4.2 Consultant agrees that all files, documents, letters, memoranda, reports,
records, data, sketches, drawings, models, laboratory notebooks, program
listings, computer equipment or devices, computer programs or other written,
photographic, or other tangible material containing Proprietary Information,
whether created by Consultant or others, which have or shall come into his
custody or possession, shall be and are the exclusive property of the Company to
be used by Consultant only in the performance of his duties as a consultant to
the Company and shall not be copied or removed from the Company premises except
in the pursuit of the business of the Company. All such materials or copies
thereof and all tangible property of the Company in the custody or possession of
Consultant shall be delivered to the Company, upon the earlier of (i) a request
by the Company or (ii) termination of the Consulting Period. After such
delivery, Consultant shall not retain any such materials or copies thereof or
any such tangible property.

4.3 Consultant agrees that his obligation not to disclose or to use information
and materials of the types set forth in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 above, and his
obligation to return materials and tangible property, set forth in paragraph 4.2
above, also extends to confidential and proprietary information, materials and
tangible property of customers, suppliers and corporate affiliates of the
Company, including, without limitation, parents and subsidiaries (both direct
and indirect) of the Company, and other third parties who may have disclosed or
entrusted the same to the Company or to Consultant (“Third Party Information”).
Consultant agrees to treat Third Party Information in the same manner as
Consultant is required to treat Proprietary Information under paragraphs 4.1 and
4.2. Consultant acknowledges that the Company is now and may hereafter be
subject to non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements with third persons
pursuant to which the Company must protect or refrain from the use of
proprietary information which is the property of such third persons. Consultant
agrees upon the directive of the Company to be bound by the terms of such
agreements in the event Consultant has access to proprietary information
protected thereunder to the same extent as if Consultant was an original
individual signatory thereto.

5. Successors.

5.1 This Agreement is personal to Consultant and without the prior written
consent of the Company shall not be assignable by Consultant. However, this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Consultant’s heirs
and legal representatives.

5.2 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and are binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns, and may be assigned by the Company to
any subsidiary or to any successor in interest in connection with the sale of
the Company or all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

 

2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. Independent Contractor Status.

6.1 the Company and Consultant do hereby acknowledge that after the Effective
Date the relationship between the Company and Consultant shall be solely that of
an independent contractor and that Consultant shall not be treated as an
employee for any purpose. Accordingly, Consultant shall have no authority or
right to bind or enter into any agreements on behalf of and is not an agent of
the Company, or any subsidiary thereof.

6.2 Consultant shall be responsible for all taxes, including self-employment
taxes due on payments made under this Agreement.

7. Miscellaneous.

7.1 This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written
agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors or legal
representatives.

7.2 The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement.

7.3 Any party’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision
hereof shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or any other
provision hereof.

7.4 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.

7.5 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflicts of laws
principles.

7.6 This Agreement includes the entire agreement and understanding between the
parties and supersedes any prior agreements, written or oral, with respect to
the subject matter hereof.

7.7 All descriptive headings of sections and paragraphs in this Agreement are
for convenience of reference only, and they form no part of this Agreement and
shall not affect its interpretation.

 

 

3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Consulting Agreement as of
the date first above written.

 

  ModusLink Global Solutions, Inc.

By:

 

/s/ Peter L. Gray

 

Name:

  Peter L. Gray  

Title:

  Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and
Secretary  

/s/ Edward E Lucente

Edward E. Lucente

[Consulting Agreement – Lucente]