Document:

pzza8kex101022414.htm

 

 

ADVISORY SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

 

This Advisory Services Agreement (this "Agreement"), is made and entered as of February 20, 2014 by and among NCM Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Service Provider"), and Pizza Inn Holdings, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company").

 

WHEREAS, the Service Provider has previously provided certain advisory and consulting services to the Company without compensation; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the Service Provider to provide additional advisory and consulting services upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, and the Service Provider is willing to undertake such obligations.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual and dependent covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows:

 

 

1. Appointment. The Company hereby engages the Service Provider, and the Service Provider hereby agrees, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, to provide certain services to the Company, as described in Section 3 hereof.

 

2. Term. The term of this Agreement (the "Term") shall commence December 30, 2013, and continue for four fiscal quarters of the Company and quarterly thereafter until either party shall terminate this Agreement upon not less than 30 days written notice prior to the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (a) the provisions of Section 6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and (b) no termination of this Agreement, whether pursuant to this Section 2 or otherwise, will affect the Company's duty to pay any fees accrued, or reimburse any cost or expense incurred, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement prior to the effective date of that termination.

 

3. Duties of the Service Provider. During the term of this Agreement, The Service Provider shall provide to the Company such management advisory and consulting services (the “Services”), as more fully described and defined below, as may be necessary or desirable or as may be reasonably requested or required by the board of directors of the Company (the "Board"), in connection with the business, operations and affairs, both ordinary and extraordinary, of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates. “Services” means and includes, without limitation, the furnishing of office space, advice, assistance and guidance, and personnel to implement the same in connection with, among others, executive administration, business strategy, investment strategy, organizational structure, personnel decisions, financial management, tax planning and merger and acquisition strategy. The Company shall use the Services of the Service Provider or any of its affiliates and the Service Provider shall make itself or any of its affiliates available for the performance of the Services upon reasonable notice. The Service Provider or any of its affiliates, as applicable, shall perform the Services at the times and places reasonably requested by the Board to meet the needs and requirements of the Company, taking into account other engagements that the Service Provider and its affiliates may have.

 

 

  

  

  

 

4. Compensation and Reimbursement for Services.

 

(a) Initial Fee.  In consideration of the Services previously provided by the Service Provider, and as an inducement for the Service Provider to enter into this Agreement and provide the additional Services required hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Service Provider the sum of $150,000 upon the execution of this Agreement.

 

(b) Quarterly Fee for Management Services. In consideration of the Services to be provided by the Service Provider to the Company hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Service Provider for each fiscal quarter of the Company (or portion thereof) during the Term hereof, beginning with the fiscal quarter ended in March 2014, a management fee in the amount of $50,000 (the "Quarterly Fee"); provided, however, that (i) the Quarterly Fee shall be waived for any fiscal quarter of the Company in which the Company is not in compliance with all of the financial covenants under its primary credit facility, (ii) a portion of the Quarterly Fee shall be waived for any fiscal quarter of the Company if such portion of the Quarterly Fee, if paid, would otherwise cause the Company to not be in compliance with all of the financial covenants under its primary credit facility, and (iii) the Quarterly Management fee shall be increased by up to $50,000 per fiscal quarter until $100,000 of aggregate additional fee has been paid or is payable to Service Provider pursuant to this section 4(b)(iii). The Quarterly Fee shall be payable within 45 days following the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company.

 

5. Disclaimer; Limitation of Liability.

 

(a) Disclaimer. The Service Provider makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, in respect of the Services to be provided by it hereunder.

 

(b) Limitation of Liability. Neither the Service Provider nor any of its officers, directors, managers, principals, stockholders, partners, members, employees, agents, representatives and affiliates (each a "Related Party" and, collectively, the "Related Parties") shall be liable to the Company or any of its affiliates for any loss, liability, damage or expense arising out of or in connection with the performance of any Services contemplated by this Agreement, unless such loss, liability, damage or expense shall be proven to result directly from the willful misconduct of such person. In no event will the Service Provider or any of its Related Parties be liable to the Company for special, indirect, punitive or consequential damages, including, without limitation, loss of profits or lost business, even if Service Provider has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Under no circumstances will the liability of Service Provider and Related Parties exceed, in the aggregate, the fees actually paid to Service Provider hereunder.

 

 

  

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6. Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Service Provider and each of its Related Parties (each, an "Indemnified Party") from and against any and all losses, claims, actions, damages and liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under any applicable statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, constitution, treaty, common law, judgment or decree, made by any third party or otherwise, relating to or arising out of the Services or other matters referred to in or contemplated by this Agreement or the engagement of such Indemnified Party pursuant to, and the performance by such Indemnified Party, of the Services or other matters referred to or contemplated by this Agreement, and the Company will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) as they are incurred in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense of any pending or threatening claim, or any action or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto. The Company will not be liable under the foregoing indemnification provision to the extent that any loss, claim, damage, liability, cost or expense is determined by a court, in a final judgment from which no further appeal may be taken, to have resulted solely from the willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party. The reimbursement and indemnity obligations of the Company, under this Section 6 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have, shall extend upon the same terms and conditions to any affiliate of the Service Provider and any Related Party or controlling persons (if any), as the case may be, of the Service Provider and any such affiliate and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successors, assigns, heirs and personal representatives of the Company, the Service Provider, any such affiliate and any such Related Party or other person. The provisions of this Section 6  shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

7. Independent Contractor. Nothing herein shall be construed to create a joint venture or partnership between the parties hereto or an employee/employer relationship. The Service Provider shall be an independent contractor pursuant to this Agreement. Neither party hereto shall have any express or implied right or authority to assume or create any obligations on behalf of or in the name of the other party or to bind the other party to any contract, agreement or undertaking with any third party. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to enlarge the fiduciary duties and responsibilities, if any, of the Service Provider or any of its Related Parties, including without limitation in any of their respective capacities as stockholder or directors of the Company.

 

8. Permissible Activities. Nothing herein shall in any way preclude the Service Provider or its affiliates or their respective Related Parties from engaging in any business activities or from performing services for its or their own account or for the account of others, including, without limitation, companies which may be in competition with the business conducted by the Company and any of its affiliates.

 

9. Notices. All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); (c) on the date sent by facsimile or e-mail of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient; or (d) on the third day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the addresses indicated below (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 9).

 

 

  

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If to the Company:

	
Pizza Inn Holdings, Inc.

3551 Plano Parkway

The Colony, Texas 75201

Facsimile:   214-661-7475

Attention:   Randall E. Gier, President 

and Chief Executive Officer

 

	
If to the Service Provider:

	
NCM Services, Inc.

200 Crescent Court, Suite 1400

Dallas, Texas 75201

Facsimile:  469-384-5055

Attention:  Mark E. Schwarz, 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the sole and entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

 

11. Successor and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. However, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights of the parties hereunder may otherwise be transferred or assigned by any party hereto, except that (a) if the Company shall merge or consolidate with or into, or sell or otherwise transfer substantially all its assets to, another company which assumes the Company's obligations under this Agreement, the Company may assign its rights hereunder to that company, and (b) the Service Provider may assign its rights and obligations hereunder to any affiliate. Any attempted transfer or assignment in violation of this Section 11 shall be void.

 

12. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever, under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

13. Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

 

  

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14. Amendment and Modification; Waiver. This Agreement may only be amended, modified or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by each party hereto. No waiver by any party of any of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and signed by the party so waiving. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, no failure to exercise, or delay in exercising, any rights, remedy, power or privilege arising from this Agreement shall operate or be construed as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.

 

15. Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

16. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Texas without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of Laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Texas. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America or the courts of the State of Texas in each case located in the city of Texas and County of Texas, and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of process, summons, notice or other document by mail to such party's address set forth herein shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or any proceeding in such courts and irrevocably waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

17. Waiver of Jury Trial. Each party irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any legal action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each party to this Agreement certifies and acknowledges that (a) no representative of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not seek to enforce the foregoing waiver in the event of a legal action; (b) such party has considered the implications of this waiver; (c) such party makes this waiver voluntarily; and (d) such party has been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 17.

 

 

  

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18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall together be deemed to be one and the same agreement. A signed copy of this Agreement delivered by facsimile, e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Agreement.

 

19. No Strict Construction. The parties to this Agreement have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Management Services Agreement on the date first written above.

	  	
 

PIZZA INN HOLDINGS, INC.

	  	
 

By_____________________

 

Name: Randall E. Gier

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

	  	
NCM SERVICES, INC.

	  	
 

By_____________________

 

Name: Mark E. Schwarz

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

  

6EuramaxHuronInterimManagementEngagementLetter

PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL
February 22, 2014                                       

Euramax Holdings, Inc.
Board of Directors 
303 Research Drive
Suite 400
Norcross, GA 30092

I am pleased to confirm, on behalf of Huron Consulting Services LLC (“Huron”, “We”, “Our”), our engagement to provide the Euramax Holdings, Inc. (“Euramax”, “you” or the “Company”) Board of Directors (“Board” or “You”) certain services related to interim management support for Euramax and its subsidiaries (references to Company, Euramax and you shall also include the Company’s subsidiaries, as applicable). Euramax has the opportunity to improve its financial performance, extend its cash runway and transition the Company to higher levels of performance as the Board considers various strategic options.

Objectives and Scope of Role
Huron will make available Mr. Hugh Sawyer (the “Executive”) to serve as the Company’s interim President or such other title as the parties may decide. Mr. Sawyer will report to the Company’s Board of Directors.

Huron will, in coordination with the Company’s Board and management, provide certain management services to the Board and the Company that will include but not be limited to the following objectives and scope during the period of any engagement:

		
	•
	Responsibility for the overall management of the Company’s operations, with particular emphasis on the North American business subject to the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors

		
	•
	Written Assessment of Euramax’s business through the analysis and understanding of key assumptions, economic drivers, and underlying projections, including but not limited to:

		
	◦
	Reasonableness of projected revenues

		
	◦
	Accuracy of expenses projected in the budget:

		
	◦
	Gross margin reasonableness

		
	◦
	Period expenses

		
	◦
	Capital expenditures budget

		
	◦
	Assessment of working capital management

		
	◦
	Review of pricing policies, customer profitability and vendor agreements for margin improvement

		
	◦
	Assessment of opportunities to enhance operating performance 

		
	◦
	Analysis of downside risks to the Company’s strategy, operational and financial performance

		
	◦
	Analysis supporting variance between actual and planned performance EBITDA results 

		
	•
	Review of the Company’s Business Plan 

		
	•
	Review of the Company’s Cash Projections 

		
	•
	Supporting the Board’s effort to attract and retain a permanent President and Chief Executive Officer

		
	•
	Collaboration with the Company’s European management team 

		
	•
	Interaction with the Company’s key customers and suppliers

		
	•
	Supporting the Company, Board and management team  in ongoing efforts to improve and extend the Company’s cash runway 

		
	•
	Executing with the Board’s approval and in collaboration with management certain initiatives to improve the Company’s performance in North America

		
	•
	Reviewing, monitoring and reporting the Company’s liquidity position inlcuding cash disbursements and a 13 Week Cash Flow Report 

		
	•
	Supporting regular communications to the Board and other key constituents, including a bi-weekly reporting structure to the Board

		
	•
	Preparing contingency plans for a range of potential outcomes

		
	•
	Supporting the Company’s management team in various other priorities as determined by the Board

		
	•
	Assessment of various strategies in North America, including identification of the Company’s optimum operating platform, services and customer/segment focus

		
	•
	Ensuring that the Company appropriately balances the priorities of various constituents

Our Services

Huron will make available to the Company the services of the Executive and appropriate support staff.  Huron shall cause the Executive and support staff to perform their respective duties and responsibilities in a diligent, efficient, and faithful manner and to the best of their respective abilities.  The Executive, as an employee of Huron, shall be responsible for certain financial, operational and strategic affairs of the Company as assigned by the Company’s Board, in accordance with the Company’s by-laws and in compliance with applicable provisions of state law.  The Executive will report to the Company’s Board of Directors during the term of the Agreement. The Executive shall be responsible for leading the verification and implementation of certain financial, operational or strategic matters as approved by the Board.

Huron may provide additional resources or services to the Board and/or the Company beyond those described herein, if agreed upon by Huron and the Board or its designated committee.  You agree to pay for such additional work at Huron's current rates.  It is understood and agreed that the Executive will not be involved in any decision by the Board or the Company to use Huron for such additional resources or services.

Unless the Board otherwise agrees, Huron shall cause the Executive to devote substantially his full-time efforts to the business and affairs of the Company and its Board. Provided, however, that the Executive may be available to Huron for activities relating to the normal course of its business (including marketing Huron and directing associates or affiliates of Huron who may be working on other projects on its behalf) to the extent such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of his duties to the Board and the Company hereunder.

Without adjustment to Huron’s compensation hereunder and in accordance with the Company’s policies, the Executive shall be entitled to the same time off as he would otherwise receive in the form of vacation, sick time, personal days and holidays in his position if he were an employee of the Company (without requirement of vesting or accrual); provided, however, that no period of absence from the Company by the Executive for sick time or personal days may exceed two (2) consecutive weeks without the prior approval of the Board.

Huron is a management consulting firm and not a CPA firm. Huron does not provide attest services, audits, or other engagements in accordance with standards established by the AICPA or auditing standards promulgated by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”).  We will not audit any financial statements or perform attest procedures with respect to information in conjunction with this engagement.  Our services are not designed, nor should they be relied upon, to identify weaknesses in internal controls, financial statement errors, irregularities, illegal acts or disclosure deficiencies.

Approach 

We anticipate approaching this engagement as an independent evaluation of the financial, operational and strategic processes of the Company contemporaneous with the daily operation of the business and priorities of the Board.  During the course of this engagement, we except to engage with key members of management, other employees, suppliers and potential customers, and will be given access to critical information related to all aspects of the Company’s operations. Based upon the information available to us, we will form an independent and objective view of all reviewed aspects of the business, make suggestions for change and improvement and provide our findings to the Board and Company management before executing on material initiatives.

The engagement team will be staffed by a Huron team with substantial executive and performance improvement   experience, including Hugh Sawyer, Managing Director, as Executive, D’Andre Davis, Director, and Huron Manager Alex Kotlyar, providing analytical and other support. Hugh Sawyer Managing Director will supervise the overall engagement and Huron’s Quality Control team will review all key deliverables. While we will attempt to comply with your requests for specific individuals, we retain the right to assign and reassign our personnel, as appropriate, to perform the services. If any factors arise that are beyond our control that would affect the availability of our staff, such as death, illness, disability, or a career change, we will notify you immediately, and subject to your approval, provided such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, we will assign a replacement executive with substantially equivalent skills experience and expertise.

Your Responsibilities

In connection with our provision of services, the Company will perform the tasks, furnish the personnel, provide the resources, and undertake the responsibilities specified below. 

You agree to ensure that all assumptions set forth below are accurate and to provide us with such further information we may need and which we can rely on to be accurate and complete.  You also agree to cause all levels of the Company’s employees and advisors to cooperate fully and timely with us.  We will be entitled to rely on all of your decisions and approvals and we will not be obligated to evaluate, advise on, confirm, or reject such decisions and approvals.

To help maximize the value of our work to you and to keep the project moving on schedule, you agree to comply with all of our reasonable requests and to provide us timely access to all information and locations reasonably necessary to our performance of the services.  

You agree to provide all Huron personnel acting as officers of the Company the most favorable indemnities provided by the Company to its officers and directors, whether under the Company’s by-laws, partnership agreement, by contract or otherwise.  This indemnification is in addition to the indemnification afforded Huron under the attached General Business Terms.  The Company shall also provide such Huron personnel full coverage under applicable Company insurance policies that protect officers and directors from liability.  Certificates of insurance demonstrating the coverage contemplated by the foregoing shall be furnished to the Executive.

Except as stated in this Engagement Letter, the risk of loss with respect to the Company’s operations and assets shall be borne by the Company.  Huron shall not be deemed to have assumed or be liable for any claim, liability, or obligation of the Company whether known or unknown, fixed or contingent accrued or un-accrued.  Except as otherwise required by applicable law, any reference to the nature or results of Huron’s work may not be communicated to the public through public relations media, news media, sales media, or any other means without the prior written consent of both parties.

The successful delivery of our services, and the fees charged, are dependent on (i) your timely and effective completion of your responsibilities, (ii) the accuracy and completeness of any assumptions in all material respects, and (iii) timely decisions and approvals by your management.  You will be responsible for any delays, additional costs, or other liabilities caused by any deficiencies in the assumptions or in carrying out your responsibilities.

Fees and Expenses

We will bill on an hourly basis based on the actual hours worked and the following hourly billing rates (which may be subject to adjustment from time to time) subject to the caps below representing a substantial discount to our standard market pricing as evidence of our support for the constituents, plus typical and reasonable out-of-pocket direct expenses actually incurred, which shall be subject to the Company’s travel and business expense policy. We anticipate deploying three professionals including our Managing Director, Director and a Manager for analytical support:

	
			
	Title
	Hourly Rate

	Managing Director: Hugh Sawyer  
	 
	$750

	Director: D’Andre Davis  
	 
	$550

	Manager: Alex Kotlyar
	 
	$425

Phase I: Interim Management and Written Assessment Period – Ten Weeks
		
	•
	Hourly billing capped at $250K/month not to exceed $625K for the Phase I period.

Note: The parties agree to review the opportunities identified in Phase I prior to beginning the Phase II project.

Phase II: Interim Management and Support from Huron Team –Ongoing After First Ten Weeks
		
	•
	Fees Will be Invoiced at Hourly Rates Above.

Direct out of pocket reasonable expenses (including transportation, lodging, meals, communications, supplies, copying, etc.) will be billed at the actual amounts incurred and will not be subject to the cap for hourly engagement fees.  Travel time during which no work is performed shall be itemized separately and billed at fifty percent (50%) of regular hourly rates.  Such out of pocket expenses also include reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys consulted or engaged by Huron to assist it with matters under this Agreement.

Huron will provide a detailed invoice of all hourly fees and expenses. We will bill on a semi-monthly basis and our invoices are due within 30 days of receipt of invoice.  We reserve the right to suspend further services until payment is received on past due invoices, in which event we will not be liable for any resulting loss, damage or expense connected with such suspension. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the attached terms and conditions, the Board may cancel this agreement without notice or penalty subject to payment of any unpaid, but earned fees or incurred expenses.

Wire transfer to:

Bank of America, N.A.
Chicago, Illinois
Routing No.: 
Account Title:  Huron Consulting Services LLC
Account Number:  
Comments:  (Include Invoice Number) 

We understand that our bills should be sent to:

Euramax International, Inc.
Attention: Chief Financial Officer 
303 Research Drive
Suite 400
Norcross, GA 30092

Retainer 

We will require a retainer of $100,000. The retainer will either be applied to our final invoice to you at the conclusion of the engagement or will be refunded to you at that time. 

Business Terms

The attached General Business Terms apply to this engagement. 

*    *    *    *    *    *

Please indicate your agreement with these terms by signing and returning to me the enclosed copy of this letter.  This engagement and the enclosed terms will be deemed effective as of February 18, 2014.  We appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you and look forward to working with you on this engagement.

Sincerely,

HURON CONSULTING SERVICES LLC

	
				
	 
	By:
	/s/ Hugh Sawyer
	 

    

Attachments:    General Business Terms        

Acknowledged and Accepted: Euramax Holdings, Inc. 

	
				
	 
	By:
	/s/ Trey Parker
	 

	 
	 
	Name:  Trey Parker
	 

	 
	 
	Title:  Director, Board of Directors, Euramax Holdings, Inc
	 

Date:    February 22, 2014

Attachment to Engagement Letter dated February 22, 2014 between Huron Consulting Group and the Euramax Holdings, Inc. Board of Directors

GENERAL BUSINESS TERMS

These General Business Terms, together with the Engagement Letter (including any and all attachments, exhibits and schedules; hereinafter, this “Agreement”), constitute the entire understanding and agreement between us with respect to the services and deliverables described in the Engagement Letter.  If there is a conflict between these General Business Terms and the terms of the Engagement Letter, these General Business Terms will govern, except to the extent the Engagement Letter explicitly refers to the conflicting term herein.

1. Our Services and Deliverables We will provide the services and furnish the deliverables (the “Services”) as described in our Engagement Letter and any attachments thereto, as may be modified from time to time by mutual consent (as defined in the Engagement Letter).
2. Independent Contractor We are an independent contractor and not your employee, agent, joint venturer or partner, and will determine the method, details and means of performing our Services. We assume full and sole responsibility for the payment of all compensation and expenses of our employees and for all of their state and federal income tax, unemployment insurance, Social Security, payroll and other applicable employee withholdings. 
3. Fees and Expenses 
(a)    Our fees and payment terms are set out in our Engagement Letter. Those fees do not include taxes and other governmental charges (which will be separately identified in our invoices.) 
(b)     You acknowledge that where out-of-town personnel are assigned to any project on a long-term basis (as defined from time to time in the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and related IRS regulations, and currently defined, under IRC Section 162, as a period of time reasonably expected to be greater than one year), the associated compensatory tax costs applied to out-of-town travel and living expenses also shall be calculated on an individual basis, summarized, and assessed to such personnel. In such cases, the expenses for which you shall reimburse us hereunder shall be deemed to include the estimated incremental compensatory tax costs associated with the out-of-town travel and living expenses of our personnel, including tax gross-ups. We shall use reasonable efforts to limit such expenses.
(c)     We reserve the right to suspend Services if invoices are not timely paid, in which event we will not be liable for any resulting loss, damage or expense connected with such suspension.
4. Taxes 

(a)     You will be responsible for and pay all applicable sales, use, excise, value added, services, consumption and other taxes and duties associated with our performance or your receipt of our Services, excluding taxes on our income generally.  You will provide us with a copy of your certificate of tax-exemption, if applicable.

(b)     If you are required by the laws of any foreign tax jurisdiction to withhold income or profits taxes from our payment, then the amount payable by you upon which the withholding is based shall be paid to us net of such withholding.  You shall pay any such withholding to the applicable tax authority.  However, if after 120 days of the withholding, you do not provide us with official tax certificates documenting remittance of the taxes, you shall pay to us an amount equal to such withholding.  The tax certificates shall be in a form sufficient to document qualification of the taxes for the foreign tax credit allowable against our corporation income tax.
5. Confidentiality and Privacy 
(a)    With respect to any information supplied in connection with this engagement and designated by either of us as confidential, or which the other should reasonably believe is confidential based on its subject matter or the circumstances of its disclosure (“Confidential Information”), the other agrees to protect the confidential information in a reasonable and appropriate manner, and use confidential information only to perform its obligations under this engagement and for no other purpose. This will not apply to information which is: (i) publicly known, (ii) already known to the recipient, (iii) lawfully disclosed by a third party, (iv) independently developed, (v) disclosed pursuant to legal requirement or order, or (vi) disclosed to taxing authorities or to representatives and advisors in connection with tax filings, reports, claims, audits and litigation. 
(b)    Confidential Information made available hereunder, including copies thereof, shall be returned or destroyed upon request by the disclosing party; provided that the receiving party may retain other archival copies for recordkeeping or quality assurance purposes and receiving party shall make no unauthorized use of such copies.
(c)    We agree to use any personally identifiable information and data you provide us only for the purposes of this engagement and as you direct, and we will not be liable for any third-party claims related to such use.  You agree to take necessary actions to ensure that you comply with applicable laws relating to privacy and/or data protection, and acknowledge that we are not providing legal advice on compliance with the privacy and/or data protection laws of any country or jurisdiction. 
(d)    We may also mention your name and provide a general description of the engagement in our client lists or marketing materials upon your prior written approval.
6. Our Deliverables and Your License Upon full and final payment of all amounts due us in connection with this engagement, all right, title and interest in the deliverables set out in our Engagement Letter will become your sole and exclusive property, except as set forth below.  We will retain sole and exclusive ownership of all right, title and interest in our work papers, proprietary information, processes, methodologies, know-how and software (“Huron Property”), including such information as existed prior to the delivery of our Services and, to the extent such information is of general application, anything which we may discover, create or develop during our provision of Services for you. To the extent our deliverables to you contain Huron Property, upon full and final payment of all amounts due us in connection with this engagement, we grant you a non-exclusive, non-assignable, royalty-free, perpetual license to use it in connection with the deliverables and the subject of the engagement and for no other or further use without our express, prior written consent.  If our deliverables are subject to any third party rights in software or intellectual property, we will notify you of such rights. Our deliverables are to be used solely for the purposes intended by this engagement and may not be disclosed, published or used in whole or in part for any other purpose.

7. Your Responsibilities. To the extent applicable, you will cooperate in providing us with office space, equipment, data and access to your personnel as necessary to perform the Services. You shall provide reliable, accurate and complete information necessary for us to adequately perform the Services and will promptly notify us of any material changes in any information previously provided.  You acknowledge that we are not responsible for independently verifying the truth or accuracy of any information supplied to us by or on behalf of you.
 8. Our Warranty We warrant that our Services will be performed with reasonable care in a diligent and competent manner. Our sole obligation will be to correct any non-conformance with this warranty, provided that you give us written notice within 10 days after the Services are performed or delivered. The notice will specify and detail the non-conformance and we will have a reasonable amount of time, based on its severity and complexity, to correct the non-conformance.
We do not warrant and are not responsible for any third party products or services. Your sole and exclusive rights and remedies with respect to any third party products or services are against the third party vendor and not against us.
THIS WARRANTY IS OUR ONLY WARRANTY CONCERNING THE SERVICES AND ANY DELIVERABLE, AND IS MADE EXPRESSLY IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR OTHERWISE, ALL OF WHICH ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED.
9. Liability and Indemnification 
(a)    This engagement is not intended to shift risk normally borne by you to us. To the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, you agree to indemnify and hold us and our personnel, agents and contractors harmless against all costs, fees, expenses, damages, and liabilities (including reasonable defense costs and legal fees), associated with any legal proceeding or other claim brought against us by a third party, including a subpoena or court order, arising from or relating to any Services that you use or disclose, or this engagement generally. This indemnity shall not apply to the extent a claim arises out of our gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(b)    We will not be liable for any special, consequential, incidental, indirect or exemplary damages or loss (nor any lost profits, savings or business opportunity). Further, our liability relating to this engagement will in no event exceed an amount equal to the fees (excluding taxes and expenses) we receive from you for the portion of the engagement giving rise to such liability.
(c)     Neither of us will be liable for any delays or failures in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control. 
10. Non-Solicitation During the term of this engagement, and for a period of one year following its expiration or termination, you will not directly or indirectly solicit, employ or otherwise engage any of our employees (including former employees) or contractors who were involved in the engagement.
11. Termination 
(a)    Termination for Convenience. Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience at any time on 30 days’ prior written notice to the other. 

(b)      Termination for Breach. Either party may terminate this Agreement for breach if, within 15 days’ notice, the breaching party fails to cure a material breach of this Agreement. 
(c)      To the extent you terminate this Agreement for convenience, you will pay us for all Services rendered, effort expended, expenses incurred, success fees (if any), or commitments made by us to the effective date of termination. To the extent you terminate this Agreement for breach, you will pay us for all conforming Services rendered and reasonable expenses incurred by us to the effective date of the termination. 

(d)      Further, we reserve the right to terminate this Agreement at any time, upon providing written notice to you, if conflicts of interest arise or become known to us that, in our sole judgment, would impair our ability to perform the Services objectively.

(e)      The terms of this Agreement which relate to confidentiality, ownership and use, limitations of liability and indemnification, non-solicitation and payment obligations shall survive its expiration or termination.

12. General

(a)     This Agreement supersedes all prior oral and written communications between us, and may be amended, modified or changed only in writing when signed by both parties. 

(b)     No term of this Agreement will be deemed waived, and no breach of this Agreement excused, unless the waiver or consent is in writing signed by the party granting such waiver or consent.

(c)     We each acknowledge that we may correspond or convey documentation via Internet e-mail and that neither party has control over the performance, reliability, availability, or security of Internet e-mail. Therefore, neither party will be liable for any loss, damage, expense, harm or inconvenience resulting from the loss, delay, interception, corruption, or alteration of any Internet e-mail due to any reason beyond our reasonable control.

(d)       This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois without giving effect to conflict of law rules.  The parties hereto agree that any and all disputes or claims arising hereunder shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Any arbitration will be conducted in Chicago, Illinois.  Any arbitration award may be entered in and enforced by any court having jurisdiction thereof, and the parties consent and commit themselves to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Illinois for purposes of any enforcement of any arbitration award.  Except as may be required by law, neither a party nor an arbitrator may disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of both parties.

(e)    If any portion of this Agreement is found invalid, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of the remainder hereof, and such portion shall be revised to reflect our mutual intention.

(f)    Except as provided in the immediately succeeding sentence of this clause (f), this Agreement shall not provide third parties with any remedy, cause, liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in law or in equity for any matter governed by or subject to the provisions of this Agreement.  

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