CONSULTING AGREEMENT


 


This Consulting Agreement (the “Agreement”)
is made as of this 5th day of April, 2021 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Susan Kilkenny, (the “Consultant”),
and ZK International Group Co., Ltd. (the “Company”).


 


WHEREAS,
Consultant has substantial expertise that may be useful to the Company, which the Company desires to obtain;


 


WHEREAS,
the Company desires Consultant provide certain consulting services to the Company and Consultant is agreeable to performing such services
for the Company;


 


NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter stated, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:


 


		1.	APPOINTMENT.



 


The Company hereby
engages Consultant as “Senior Strategic Marketing Advisor”, and Consultant hereby agrees to render, the Services (as defined
herein) to the Company as a consultant upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.


 


		2.	TERM.



 


The term of this
Agreement shall be effective as of the Effective Date and shall be for one year in accordance with the provisions contained herein or
by a subsequent agreement between the parties hereto (the “Term”).


 


		3.	SERVICES.



 


During the Term
of this Agreement, Consultant shall assist the Company in certain international marketing and branding Services which shall include, but
not be limited to, the building of the xSigma Entertainment brand (collectively, the “Services”). Consultant shall report
directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.



 



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		4.	DUTIES OF THE COMPANY.



 


The Company shall
provide Consultant, on a regular and timely basis, with all approved data and information about it, its subsidiaries, its management,
its products and services and its operations as shall be reasonably requested by Consultant, and shall advise Consultant of any facts
which would affect the accuracy of any data and information previously supplied pursuant to this Section. The Company shall promptly supply
Consultant with full and complete copies of all financial reports; all filings with all federal and state securities agencies; all data
and information supplied by any financial analyst; and all business information relating to the Company’s operations that the Consultant
may request.


 


		5.	COMPENSATION.



 


As of the Effective
Date, the Company agrees to pay Consultant or its designee(s) the following as consideration for the Services rendered:


 


(a)           
The Consultant shall receive from the Company stock options or warrants (the “Options”) to purchase 50,000 shares of
the Company upon execution of this Agreement. The Options shall be exercisable at an exercise price of $10.00 per share for three years
from the date of issuance.


 


(b)           
The Consultant shall receive, from the Company, Options to purchase up to 200,000 shares exercisable at an exercise price of $10.00
for three years from the date of issuance. The Options shall vest in four equal installments on a quarterly basis (i.e. 50,000 shares
every three months). For the avoidance of doubt, the first such 50,000 Options shall be due and vested three months from the date hereof.


 


(c)           
As further described in Section 10(a) of this Agreement, the Company may decide to terminate this Agreement at any time for any
reason. In the event the Company decides to terminate this Agreement without Cause, all compensation due hereunder shall be paid on the
date of said termination.


 


		6.	COSTS AND EXPENSES.



 


Consultant, in
providing the Services, shall not be responsible for any reasonable out-of- pocket costs, including, without limitation, travel, lodging,
telephone, postage and overnight delivery charges; provided that Consultant obtains prior approval of the Company, which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld, prior to incurring such expenses. Consultant shall provide the Company with a detailed accounting of monthly
expenses incurred pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Payment for these expenses shall be made to Consultant in accordance with the
Company’s policy for reimbursements.


 


		7.	INDEMNIFICATION.



 


(a)           
The Company hereby agrees to indemnify, defend, and shall hold harmless Consultant, and defend any action brought against Consultant
with respect to any claim, demand, cause of action, debt or liability, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, to the extent that
such action is based upon a claim that (i) is true and (ii) (A) would constitute a breach of any of the Company's representations, warranties,
or agreements hereunder, (B) arises out of the negligence or willful misconduct of the Company, or (C) is based on any information provided
by the Company’s content that violates any rights of third parties, including, without limitation, rights of publicity, privacy,
patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and/or licenses. The Company agrees that it will not prosecute any action or proceeding
against Consultant except where such claim is materially and substantially based on the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Consultant.


 




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(b)           
Consultant hereby agrees to indemnify, defend, and shall hold harmless the Company, its affiliates and their respective directors,
officers, employees, consultants, representatives and agents, and defend any action brought against same, with respect to any claim, demand,
cause of action, or liability, including reasonable attorneys' fees, to the extent that such an action arises out of (i) the gross negligence
or willful misconduct of Consultant or (ii) unlawful conduct.


 


(c)           
In claiming indemnification hereunder, the indemnified party shall promptly provide the indemnifying party written notice of any
claim that the indemnified party reasonably believes falls within the scope of the foregoing paragraphs. The indemnified party may, at
its expense, assist in the defense if it so chooses, provided that the indemnifying party shall control such defense, and all negotiations
relative to the settlement of any such claim. Any settlement intended to bind the indemnified party shall not be final without the indemnified
party's written consent.


 


		8.	INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR STATUS AND OTHER BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.



 


It is understood
and agreed that Consultant will for all purposes hereof be deemed to be an independent contractor and will not, unless otherwise expressly
authorized by the Company, have any authority to act for or represent the Company in any way, execute any transaction or document on behalf
of the Company or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Company. No federal, state or local withholding deductions will be withheld from
any amounts owed by the Company to Consultant hereunder unless otherwise required by law.


 


Subject to Consultant’s
obligations and duties, Consultant may, without limitation, (i) engage in the same or similar activities or lines of business as the Company
or its subsidiaries or develop or market any products or services that compete, directly or indirectly, with those of the Company and
its subsidiaries; provided that Consultant does not use in any manner any Confidential Information (as defined herein) of the Company
in doing so, (ii) invest or own any interest publicly or privately in, or develop a business relationship with, any person engaged in
the same or similar activities or lines of business as, or otherwise in competition with, the Company or its subsidiaries; provided that
Consultant does not use in any manner any Confidential Information of the Company in doing so; or (iii) do business with any current or
former client or customer of the Company or its subsidiaries; provided that such activity does not encourage or influence such client
or customer to discontinue, reduce or decline any new business opportunity with the Company. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
shall have any right by virtue of this Agreement in or to, or to be offered, any opportunity to participate or invest in, any venture
engaged in by Consultant or any right by virtue of this Agreement in or to any income or profits derived therefrom.



 




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		9.	CONFIDENTIALITY.



 


Consultant acknowledges
that in providing the Services hereunder, Consultant will be privy to Confidential Information of the Company and its subsidiaries. As
used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” of the Company means all trade practices, business plans, price lists,
supplier lists, customer lists, marketing plans, financial information, software and all other information or compilations thereof which
relate to the business of the Company, or to any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, and which have not been disclosed by the Company to
the public, or which are not otherwise generally available to the public.


 


Consultant acknowledges
that the Confidential Information of the Company, as such may exist from time to time, are valuable, confidential, special and unique
assets of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, expensive to produce and maintain, and essential for the profitable operation
of their respective businesses. Consultant agrees that, during the Term, or at any time thereafter, it shall not, and shall cause his
employees, agents and representatives to not, directly or indirectly, communicate, disclose or divulge to any person or entity, or use
for its benefit or the benefit of any person or entity, in any manner, any Confidential Information of the Company or its subsidiaries
or affiliates acquired during the Term or any other confidential information concerning the conduct and details of the businesses of the
Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, except as required in the course of the performance of the Services hereunder or as otherwise
may be required by law.


 


The Company agrees
that it will not disclose, and will not include in any public announcement, the name of Consultant, unless expressly agreed to by Consultant
or unless and until such disclosure is required by law or applicable regulation, and then only to the extent of such requirement.


 


		10.	MISCELLANEOUS.



 


(a)            Termination.
Subsequent to, and no less than ninety (90) days after the execution of this Agreement, either party hereto may terminate this
Agreement for any reason upon thirty (30) business days’ prior written notice to the other party. Termination of this
Agreement shall cause Consultant to cease providing Services under this Agreement; however, termination for any reason whatsoever,
other than for Cause, shall not decrease or eliminate the compensatory obligations of the Company as outlined in Section 5 of this
Agreement.


 


(b)           
Modification. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof. This Agreement may be amended only in writing signed by both parties hereto.


 


(c)           
Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed or otherwise delivered
in person at the address of such party set forth in the preamble thereof or to such other address or facsimile telephone number as the
party shall have furnished in writing to the other party in accordance with the terms of this subparagraph (c).


 


(d)           
Waiver. Any waiver by either party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed
to be a waiver of any other breach of that provision or of any breach of any other provision of this Agreement. The failure of a party
hereto to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on one or more occasions will not be considered a waiver or deprive
that party of the right thereafter to insist upon adherence to such term of any other term of this Agreement.


 






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(e)           
Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the balance of this Agreement shall
remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any person, circumstance or jurisdiction, it shall nevertheless remain applicable
to all other persons, circumstances and jurisdictions.


 


(f)            
Disagreements. Any dispute, disagreement, conflict of interpretation or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement,
or its enforcement, shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflicts of law principles. Consultant
and the Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submit themselves and their property to the non- exclusive jurisdiction of the
federal and state courts of the State of New York and any appellate court thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating
to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
agree that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in New York, or, to the extent permitted
by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agree that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive
and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Each of the parties hereto
irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referenced.
Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to
the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court. Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process
in the manner provided for notices herein. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process
in any other manner permitted by law. Each party hereto hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it
may have to a trial by jury in any legal proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby (whether based on contract, tort or any other theory). If either party hereto shall commence an action or proceeding
to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party
for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, court costs incurred with the investigation,
preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.


 


(g)           
Counterparts. Each party hereto may sign identical counterparts of this Agreement with the same effect as if both parties
signed the same document. A copy of this Agreement signed by one party hereto and delivered by facsimile or electronic transmission to
the other party shall have the same effect as the delivery of an original of this Agreement containing the original signature of such
party.


 


 


[SIGNATURE
PAGE FOLLOWS]





 






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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement
has been executed by the parties as of the date first above written.


 


 





	ZK International Group Co., Ltd.	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	/s/ Jiancong Huang	 
	Name:	Jiancong Huang	 
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	CONSULTANT	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	/s/ Susan Kilkenny	 
	By:	Susan Kilkenny	 



 






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