Document:

Form of Custodian Agreement

 Exhibit 10.1 
 CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT 
 CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT dated as of
[        ], 20[    ] (this “Agreement”), by and among THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, a banking corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York and having an
office at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, acting in its capacity as trustee (in such capacity, “Trustee”) of the iShares® Copper Trust, a trust governed by the laws of the State of New York (the “Trust”) and not individually, METRO INTERNATIONAL TRADE SERVICES LLC, a
limited liability company organized under the laws of [        ], and having an office at 6850 Middlebelt Road, Romulus, Michigan 49174 (hereafter, “Custodian”), and
[        ], a [        ] (“Purchaser”). 
 WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the Trust Agreement (as defined below), Trustee is required to establish an account with Custodian to hold and maintain certain property which Trustee holds in its
capacity as Trustee; 
 WHEREAS, Custodian agrees to establish such custody account and to hold and maintain the property in
such account on the terms and conditions herein set forth; and 
 WHEREAS, Purchaser agrees from time to time to purchase from
Trust certain amounts of Copper (as defined below) subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein. 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and of the agreements hereinafter set forth, Trustee, Purchaser and Custodian agree as follows: 

1. Establishment of Account; Definitions. 

(a) Custodian shall establish and maintain one or more custodial accounts entitled “The Bank of New York, as
trustee of the iShares® Copper Trust” (collectively, the “Account”) for the receipt of
Copper delivered to Custodian as contemplated in the Trust Agreement and the Procedures (each as defined below). 
 (b) For
purposes of this Agreement: 
 “Account Daily Balance” means, as of any day, the aggregate number of Tonnes of
Copper and fractions thereof (including any undivided interests in Copper) credited to the Account at the end of such day after giving effect to any receipt or disposition of Copper pursuant to the Procedures and to any purchase of Copper to be made
by Purchaser in respect of such day pursuant to Section 13 (regardless of whether such sale has been settled); provided, that fractions of less than 0.001 Tonne will be disregarded. 

“Approved Location” means each of the cities of East Chicago (Indiana), Mobile (Alabama), New Orleans (Louisiana) and
Saint Louis (Missouri); provided, that the list of cities which constitute Approved Locations may be modified from time to time in compliance with Section 3(f) of this Agreement. 

 “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday and any other
day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are allowed to remain closed. 
 “Capacity” means,
as of any date, (i) with respect to any Approved Location, the maximum number of Tonnes of Copper which Custodian is obligated to hold for the Account at such Approved Location as of such date; and (ii) with respect to this Agreement, the
maximum number of Tonnes of Copper which Custodian is obligated to hold for the Account at all Approved Locations as of such date. 
 “Copper” means electrolytic copper Grade A in the form of cathodes that, at the time it is delivered to the Trust, satisfies all of the requirements (including in respect of brand,
markings, bundling, shape, weight and size) to be put on Warrant in compliance with the LME Rulebook as in effect at the time such copper is delivered to Custodian pursuant hereto. 

“Copper Expense Equivalent” means, as of any day on which an LME Settlement Price is announced, the number of Tonnes of
Copper obtained by dividing (1) the sum of all expenses of the Trust (including the Custodian’s Fee and the Sponsor’s Fee, but excluding expenses payable or reimbursable by the Sponsor pursuant to Section [5.3(g)] of the Trust
Agreement) accrued in the period from, but excluding, the last day on which a purchase of Copper by Purchaser occurred pursuant to Section 13(a) of this Agreement to, and including, the date for which the Copper Expense Equivalent is being computed,
by (2) the LME Settlement Price announced on such day (expressed in U.S. dollars). 
 “Custodian’s
Fee” has the meaning set forth in Section 10. 
 “Custodian Performance Breach” means (i) any
failure by Custodian to comply with its obligations under this Agreement, or (ii) any failure by Custodian to exercise in the discharge of its obligations under this Agreement such care as a reasonably careful person would exercise under like
circumstances, and the failure under clause (i) or (ii) continues for a period of at least seven (7) days after Custodian’s discovery of such failure. 
 “Depositor” means a party that, pursuant to the provisions of the Trust Agreement, delivers Copper to Custodian for deposit into the Account. 

“LME” means The London Metal Exchange or any successor thereto. 

“LME Rate” means, as of any day on which the fee referred to in Section 10 is accrued, the maximum per-Tonne, per-day
fee that on the first day of the calendar year in which such day occurs, Custodian was authorized to charge for the warehousing of copper [in the United States of America] under the LME Warehouse Agreement. 

  
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 “LME Rulebook” means the rules and regulation of the LME, as from time to
time in effect. 
 “LME Settlement Price” means, as of any day, the Cash Seller Official Price for Copper
announced by the LME on such day. 
 “LME Warehouse Agreement” means the Warehouse Agreement between Custodian
and the LME, as in effect from time to time. 
 “Procedures” means the Creation and Redemption Procedures
adopted by the Sponsor and the Trustee as of [        ], 20[    ], as amended, superseded or supplemented from time to time in compliance with the provisions hereof and thereof. 

“Property” means any Copper received by Custodian for deposit into the Account. 

“Purchaser Performance Breach” means (i) any failure by Purchaser to comply with its obligations under this
Agreement, or (ii) any failure of any representation or warranty of Purchaser under Section 2 to be true and correct, and the failure under clause (i) or (ii) continues for a period of at least seven (7) days after
Purchaser’s discovery of such failure. 
 “Sponsor” means BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., a
Delaware corporation acting in its capacity as the sponsor of the Trust, and any successor thereto in such capacity. 

“Sponsor’s Fee” means the fee payable to the Sponsor in compliance with the Trust Agreement. 

“Termination Date” the date designated by a party hereto for the termination of such party’s obligations to another
party hereunder pursuant to, and in compliance with, Section 3(i)(v) or Section 11(a) hereof. 

“Tonne” means a metric ton (equivalent to 1,000 kilograms). 

“Trust Agreement” means the Depositary Trust Agreement dated as of [        ],
20[    ], between BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., a Delaware corporation, and the Trustee, pursuant to which the Trust was created, as the same may be amended, superseded or supplemented from time to time in
compliance with the provisions hereof and thereof. 

  
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 “Trustee Performance Breach” means (i) any failure by Trustee to
comply with its obligations under this Agreement, or (ii) any failure of any representation or warranty of Trustee under Section 2 to be true and correct, and the failure under clause (i) or (ii) continues for a period of at
least seven (7) days after Trustee’s discovery of such failure. 
 “Warrant” means a warehouse
receipt issued in respect of copper Grade A pursuant to, and in compliance with, the LME Rulebook. 
 (c) The ownership of all
Property shall be clearly recorded on Custodian’s books as belonging to the Trust. Custodian’s records shall at all times allow for the separate identification of all Property, and shall not commingle such Property with any assets of
Custodian, the Trustee in its individual capacity or the assets of Custodian’s other customers; provided, however, that in the case of any bundle or parcel of physical Copper the ownership of which is shared between the Trust and any
other entity, clear indication in Custodian’s records of the extent of the Trust’s ownership interest in such bundle or parcel (by percentage, weight or similar means) shall suffice. 

(d) Subject to Sections 1(e) and 3(g), Custodian shall accept Copper delivered by a Depositor at the Approved Location selected by such
Depositor. Custodian will not be required to undertake an assay of Copper delivered for deposit into the Account, but it must carefully undertake a visual inspection of such Copper and all supporting documentation and reject such Copper if it
concludes that such Copper or the supporting documentation is in any way patently sub-standard or anomalous. Without limiting the foregoing, Copper will be patently sub-standard if (1) there is broken or visibly corroded strapping which could
make the bundle of metal unsafe to handle; (2) there is visible contamination of the metal; or (3) there is inconsistent branding of metal. Custodian will not be required to break bundles or inspect metal cathodes hidden from view within
bundles, unless there are visible signs indicating or suggesting a defect in quality within a bundle or Custodian is in any way aware that there is a defect within a bundle not apparent from a visual inspection. References to visibility shall mean
that which is visible to the naked eye. 
 (e) Custodian shall not be obligated to accept any Copper delivered to it for
deposit into the Account unless Custodian is reasonably satisfied that the Depositor thereof (or a person on its behalf) has paid (i) all fees owed to Custodian in respect of the delivery of such Copper (including, without limitation, any fees
hereunder and under the Procedures), and (ii) any fees and taxes, of any nature whatsoever, incurred in connection with the transfer thereof, or the storage thereof prior to such delivery to Custodian. 

(f) Unless otherwise instructed by Trustee, no Copper held in the Account will be on Warrant, although Copper held in the Account will,
at the time it was deposited in the Account, have met the definition of “Copper” hereunder. 

  
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 2. Representations and Warranties. 

(a) Custodian hereby represents and warrants that, as of the date of this Agreement and as of any date on which Copper is credited to,
debited from, or substituted in, the Account: 
 (i) it is a limited liability company, duly organized and in good standing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization as set forth above; 
 (ii) it is an LME listed warehouse company;

 (iii) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered on its behalf and constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of Custodian; 
 (iv) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Custodian do not and will
not violate any applicable law or regulation and do not require the consent of any governmental or other regulatory body except for such consents and approvals as have been obtained and are in full force and effect; 

(v) prior to the execution of this Agreement, it has delivered to Trustee a complete copy of the LME Warehouse Agreement as in effect on
the date hereof; and 
 (vi) copper substituted by it for other copper previously held in the Account meets the definition of
“Copper” in this Agreement and is of weight equivalent to Copper for which the substitution is made. 
 (b) Trustee
hereby represents and warrants that, as of the date of this Agreement and as of any date on which Copper is credited to, debited from, or substituted in, the Account: 
 (i) it is a banking corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York; 
 (ii) it is the trustee of the Trust and has all necessary authority, power, licenses and authorizations to act as such under the Trust Agreement and to enter into and perform its obligations under this
Agreement; 
 (iii) it has unencumbered legal title to all assets of the Trust; 

(iv) the person entering into this Agreement on behalf of the Trustee has been duly authorized to do so; 

(v) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Trustee do not and will not violate applicable law or regulation and do
not require the consent of any governmental or other regulatory body except for such consents and approvals as have been obtained and are in full force and effect; and 

  
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 (vi) prior to the execution of this Agreement, it has delivered to Custodian a complete
copy of the Procedures as in effect on the date hereof. 
 (c) Purchaser hereby represents and warrants that, as of the date of
this Agreement and as of any date on which Copper is purchased by it from the Account: 
 (i) it is a
[                        ], duly organized under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization as set forth above; 

(ii) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered on its behalf and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of Purchaser; and 
 (iii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser do not and will
not violate any applicable law or regulation and do not require the consent of any governmental or other regulatory body except for such consents and approvals as have been obtained and are in full force and effect. 

3. Undertakings and Agreements of Custodian. Custodian hereby undertakes and agrees that, so long as any Property is held in the
Account: 
 (a) Insurance. Custodian shall maintain such insurance as it is required to maintain under the LME Warehouse
Agreement. Upon reasonable prior written notice, in connection with the preparation of the initial registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 for shares of the Trust or any amendment to that registration statement or any subsequent
registration statement for those shares, Custodian will allow its insurance to be reviewed by Trustee, the Sponsor, any underwriter mentioned in that registration statement or amendment and their respective counsel. 

(b) Charges; Liens. Trustee agrees that Custodian shall have a lien on all Property to secure the payment obligations of Trustee
or the Trust to Custodian hereunder. Custodian agrees that, except as provided in the previous sentence, Property held in the Account shall not be subject to any right, charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind in favor of Custodian or
any creditor of Custodian. Custodian shall not loan, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise encumber any Property in the Account absent Trustee’s written instructions. 
 (c) Transferability. Beneficial ownership of the Property held in the Account shall be freely transferable without the payment of money or value other than as expressly provided herein. 

  
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 (d) Reports. For each Business Day, not later than 9:00 a.m., New York time on the
following Business Day, Custodian shall transmit to Trustee by facsimile message signed by any person set forth on Schedule A-2, as such Schedule may be changed from time to time by written notice to Trustee and Purchaser from Custodian (a
“Custodian Authorized Person”) and by e-mail information showing the movement of Copper into and out of the Account, identifying separately each transaction and any substitution or relocation of Copper made under Section 4(e).
Custodian shall supply to Trustee at least monthly, within ten Business Days following the end of each calendar month, by facsimile message signed by a Custodian Authorized Person a written statement which (i) lists all Property held in the
Account including a weight list for the Copper in the Account containing information sufficient to uniquely identify such Copper; (ii) identifies the location where such Property is physically located; and (iii) details all transactions
involving the Account during the period covered by the report. Such reports shall also include any other information that Trustee may reasonably request. Custodian shall provide additional weight lists to the Trustee upon request from the Trustee.

 (e) Notice of Changes. Custodian shall notify Trustee immediately in writing if (i) Custodian receives notice of
any claim against the Property other than a claim of Custodian for payment permitted by this Agreement; (ii) Custodian shall otherwise fail to comply with any of the provisions of this Agreement; or (iii) any of the representations and
warranties in Section 2(a) shall cease to be true and correct. 
 (f) Location of Copper. Copper in the Account shall be
held by the Custodian at facilities that are (i) unless otherwise authorized in writing by Trustee in its discretion, LME listed warehouses approved for the storage of copper by the LME at the time such Copper is delivered to Custodian pursuant
hereto and (ii) located in cities which are Approved Locations at the time such Copper is so delivered; provided, that the list of cities included in the definition of “Approved Locations” in this Agreement may be modified from
time to time in writing by Custodian and Trustee. 
 (g) Relocation of Copper at Custodian’s Expense. In the event
that (1) Custodian shall breach its obligations under Section 7.2 of the LME Warehouse Agreement in connection with any facility at which any Property is maintained pursuant hereto, and (2) as a result thereof the LME shall require
that Custodian relocate Copper at such facility at Custodian’s expense, then upon request of Trustee, Custodian shall, at its own expense, promptly relocate all Property maintained at such facility to another Approved Location. 

  
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 (h) Initial Capacity. Custodian shall be required to take delivery of Copper at an
Approved Location only if, after giving effect to such delivery, the Capacity at the time in effect for such Approved Location is not exceeded. As of the date of this Agreement, the Capacity in effect for each Approved Location shall be as follows:

  

							
	 Approved Location
	  	Initial Capacity	 	Adjusted Capacity	 	Minimum Capacity
	 East Chicago
	  	[    ] Tonnes	 	[    ] Tonnes	 	[    ] Tonnes
	 Mobile
	  	[    ] Tonnes	 	[    ] Tonnes	 	[    ] Tonnes
	 New Orleans
	  	[    ] Tonnes	 	[    ] Tonnes	 	[    ] Tonnes
	 Saint Louis
	  	[    ] Tonnes	 	[    ] Tonnes	 	[    ] Tonnes
	 Total Capacity
	  	[    ] Tonnes	 	[    ] Tonnes	 	[    ] Tonnes

 where the “Initial Capacity” with respect to an Approved Location is the Capacity in effect with respect to such Approved Location for the first [    ] months
following the date of this Agreement; the “Adjusted Capacity” with respect to an Approved Location is the Capacity with respect to such Approved Location that will take effect (in place of the Initial Capacity) thereafter, if on the
date [    ] months following the date of this Agreement the actual amount of Copper at such Approved Location does not equal or exceed 50% of the Initial Capacity with respect to such Approved Location; and the “Minimum
Capacity” with respect to an Approved Location is the Capacity with respect to such Approved Location that will be in effect (in place of the Initial or Adjusted Capacity, as the case may be) on the day [two] years following the date of
this Agreement if, on such date, the actual amount of Copper at the applicable Approved Location does not equal or exceed 50% of the Initial Capacity with respect to such Approved Location. 

(i) Capacity Adjustments. The Capacity in effect with respect to an Approved Location and the total Capacity available under this
Agreement may from time to time be increased as follows: 
 (i) Within [    ] months after the first day on
which Copper held at an Approved Location exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the Capacity at the time in effect for such Approved Location (such day, a “Location Trigger Date”), Custodian may give irrevocable written notice to
Trustee of its decision to increase the Capacity for such Approved Location by an amount at least equal to fifty per cent (50%) of the Initial Capacity specified for such Approved Location in Section 3(g), and such decision shall be binding
upon the parties hereto and shall operate to increase by such amount, with effect on the date of such notice to Trustee, the Capacity in effect for such Approved Location; provided, however, that without the express written consent of Trustee
such decision shall not be binding upon the parties hereto, and shall not operate to increase the Capacity in effect for such Approved Location if, at the time such notice is given by Custodian to Trustee, either (1) more than
[    ] calendar days have elapsed from the Location Trigger Date, or (2) the Property held at such Approved Location exceeds seventy-five percent (75%) of the Capacity for such Approved Location in effect as of the
Location Trigger Date; and provided, further, that with the express written consent of Trustee, the Capacity in effect for such Approved Location may be increased by Custodian by an amount which is less than fifty per cent (50%) of the
Initial Capacity specified for such Approved Location in Section 3(g). 

  
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 (ii) Within [    ] months after the first day on which the Capacity at
the time in effect for an Approved Location exceeds one hundred fifty percent (150%) of Copper held at such Approved Location (such day, a “Location Reduction Date”), Custodian may give irrevocable written notice to Trustee of
its decision to decrease the Capacity for such Approved Location by an amount not greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Initial Capacity specified in Section 3(h) with respect to such Approved Location, and such decision shall be binding
upon the parties hereto and shall operate to decrease by such amount, with effect on the date of such notice to Trustee, the Capacity in effect for such Approved Location; provided that the Capacity in effect for any Approved Location
following such Location Reduction Date may in no event be below the Minimum Capacity. 
 (iii) Within
[    ] months after the first day on which Copper held in the Account exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate Capacity at the time in effect for all Approved Locations (such day, a “Facility Trigger
Date”), Custodian may give irrevocable written notice to Trustee of its decision to increase the Capacity for each Approved Location by an amount at least equal to fifty per cent (50%) of the Initial Capacity specified for such
Approved Location in Section 3(g), and such decision shall be binding upon the parties hereto and shall operate to increase by such amount, with effect on the date of such notice to Trustee, the Capacity in effect for each Approved Location;
provided, however, that without the express written consent of Trustee such decision shall not be binding upon the parties hereto with respect to, and shall not operate to increase the Capacity in effect for, an Approved Location if, at the
time such notice is given by Custodian to Trustee, a Location Trigger Date has occurred with respect to such Approved Location pursuant to clause (i) above; and provided, further, that without the express written consent of Trustee such
decision shall not be binding upon the parties hereto, and shall not operate to increase the Capacity in effect for any of the Approved Locations if, at the time such notice is given by Custodian to the Trustee, either (1) more than
[    ] calendar days have elapsed from the Facility Trigger Date, or (2) the Copper held in the Account exceeds seventy-five percent (75%) of the aggregate Capacity for all Approved Locations in effect as of the
Facility Trigger Date. 
 (iv) Within [    ] months after the first day on which the aggregate Capacity at
the time in effect for all Approved Locations exceeds one hundred fifty percent (150%) of Copper held in the Account (such day, a “Facility Reduction Date”), Custodian may give irrevocable written notice to Trustee of its
decision to decrease the Capacity for each Approved Location by an amount not greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Initial Capacity specified in this Section 3(h) with respect to such Approved Location, and such decision shall be
binding upon the parties hereto and shall operate to decrease by such amount, with effect on the date of such notice to Trustee, the Capacity in effect for each Approved Location; provided that the Capacity in effect for each Approved
Location following such Facility Reduction Date may in no event be below the Minimum Capacity for such Approved Location. 

  
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 (v) If Custodian is permitted to, but does not, provide notice to Trustee to increase
Capacity within the [    ] month period referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, then (1) Section 11(e) and Section 11(f) shall no longer be applicable to any party, and (2) Trustee shall have the right to
designate a Termination Date by prior written notice given to Custodian or Purchaser at least 60 Business Days prior to the date designated by Trustee as the Termination Date. 
 4. Powers and Duties of Custodian. 
 (a) Delivery, Receipt and
Maintenance of Property. Custodian shall receive, hold, release and deliver Property from the Account only in accordance with this Agreement and the Procedures. 
 (b) Release of Property. No Property held in the Account shall be released in any manner whatsoever except in accordance with this Agreement and the Procedures or upon written instructions of
Trustee. In connection with a redemption of shares of the Trust, as provided in the Procedures, Custodian will credit the redeeming Authorized Participant with the relevant amount of Copper. Custodian will select Copper to be placed on Warrant or
delivered in the form of a warehouse receipt by using the algorithm from time to time provided by Trustee. 
 (c) Payment of
Taxes. Custodian shall provide to Trustee notice of any and all taxes and levies in the nature of taxes imposed on the Property by any governmental authority promptly after Custodian becomes actually aware of such imposition. Unless Trustee
otherwise instructs Custodian in writing, Custodian shall not liquidate any Copper in the Account in order to pay any such tax or levy. Custodian is under no obligation to advance its own funds in the payment of taxes or levies on the Property held
in the Account; provided, that if Custodian nevertheless advances it own funds for the payment of taxes or levies on Property held in the Account, Trustee shall promptly reimburse Custodian for all amounts so advanced. 

(d) Other Information. Custodian shall provide to Trustee (i) its most recent audited financial statements promptly after
such statements are prepared; (ii) information reasonably requested by Trustee regarding Custodian’s policies and procedures applicable to its activities hereunder; (iii) prompt notice of any communication received by Custodian from
the LME (1) suspending, terminating, or threatening to suspend or terminate the status of Custodian as an LME listed warehouse company, or the approval of any of Custodian’s facilities as an authorized location for the storage of copper,
(2) instituting disciplinary procedures against Custodian pursuant to the LME Warehouse Agreement, or (3) announcing the modification or proposed modification of any LME rule or regulation which is, or would be (if adopted, in the case of
a proposed modification) reasonably expected to have an effect on the operation of the 

  
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Trust or the performance of the obligations of Custodian hereunder; (iv) a copy of any document that amends, supersedes or modifies the LME Warehouse Agreement; and (v) a copy of any
communication sent by Custodian to the LME (1) reporting, pursuant to the LME Warehouse Agreement, any degradation in the level of security of any of the facilities at which Property is held, or any change as a result of which any such facility
fails to meet LME standards, or (2) terminating the LME Warehouse Agreement. 
 (e) Substitution and Relocation of
Copper. With the prior approval of Trustee, Custodian may (i) substitute other Copper for Copper held in the Account, provided that there is no change in the total amount of Copper held in the Account and (ii) at its own risk and
expense, move Copper held in the Account from one Approved Location to another Approved Location. For the avoidance of doubt, Custodian’s action pursuant to Section 13(d) hereof shall not constitute a substitution within the meaning of
this Agreement. 
 5. Access to Records; Inspection Rights. Upon at least ten days’ prior notice, during
Custodian’s regular business hours, any officer or properly designated representative of Trustee, any independent public accountants for the Trust identified by Trustee and any person designated by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction
over Trustee or the Trust shall be entitled to examine on Custodian’s premises (i) all Property held by Custodian pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) Custodian’s records regarding the Property held hereunder, but only upon
receipt from Trustee of written instructions to that effect. In addition, Custodian shall cooperate with Trustee in providing to Trustee’s external auditors and the Trust’s external auditors such reports (or portions thereof) of the
external auditors of Custodian as relate directly to Custodian’s system of internal accounting controls and procedures applicable to its duties under this Agreement. 
 6. Instructions from Trustee; Other Notices; Addresses. 
 (a)
Instructions from Trustee. Whenever in this Agreement it is provided that Custodian is authorized to act or refrain from acting on instructions, approval or consent of, or notice from, Trustee, Custodian is so authorized to act or refrain
from acting only on instructions, approval, consent or notice given in accordance with this Section 6(a). As used in this Section 6(a), the term “instructions” shall be deemed to include approvals, consents or notices. Custodian is
authorized to rely and act upon written instructions signed by any person designated in the schedule attached hereto as Schedule A-1, as such Schedule may be changed from time to time by written notice to Custodian and Purchaser from Trustee
(“Trustee Authorized Persons”). Instructions in writing shall include (i) instructions in writing signed by a Trustee Authorized Person (including facsimile or e-mail transmissions attaching copies thereof); and (ii) such
other forms of communication as may be agreed upon from time to time by Trustee and Custodian. Except where otherwise provided in this Agreement, Custodian is further authorized to rely upon instructions received orally or by any other means which
are identified as having been given by a Trustee Authorized Person and which conform to 

  
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any agreement which might be entered between Trustee and Custodian regarding the method of identification or the means of transmission of such instructions. Any such oral instructions shall be
promptly confirmed in writing. 
 (b) Amendments. Once given, instructions will continue in effect until a subsequent
communication cancelling, amending or superseding such instructions is actually received by Custodian in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement. 
 (c) Unclear or Ambiguous Instructions. If, in Custodian’s opinion, any instructions received from Trustee are unclear or ambiguous, Custodian will use reasonable efforts (taking into account
any relevant time constraints) to obtain clarification of those instructions but, failing that, Custodian may in its absolute discretion and without liability on its part either act upon what Custodian believes in good faith such instructions to be,
or refrain from acting upon such instructions until they have been clarified to Custodian’s satisfaction. 
 (d)
Refusal to Execute. Custodian will have the right to refuse to execute any instructions which Custodian in good faith believes to be contrary to any laws, rules, regulations, practices or customs by which Custodian is bound. 

(e) Other Notices; Addresses. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all notices contemplated by this Agreement shall
be in writing signed by, as the case may be, a Trustee Authorized Person, a Custodian Authorized Person, or a person listed on Schedule A-3, as such Schedule may be changed from time to time by written notice to Custodian and Trustee from
Purchaser, and, except as otherwise agreed in writing from time to time by the parties, shall be given by facsimile or e-mail transmission, courier, or first-class mail, postage prepaid. Such notices shall be given, and shall be deemed given when
received, at the addresses set forth in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time upon prior written notice from Trustee to Custodian and Purchaser, from Custodian to Trustee and Purchaser, or from Purchaser to
Trustee and Custodian, as the case may be. 
 7. Sub-Custodians. Without the express written consent of Trustee, which
consent Trustee shall be free to withhold in its discretion (but Trustee agrees that it will not provide such consent without authorization from the Sponsor), Custodian will not retain any sub-custodians to discharge Custodian’s obligations
hereunder. 
 8. Annual Certificate. Custodian shall deliver annually to Trustee and more frequently if requested by
Trustee, on dates specified by Trustee, on Business Days specified by Trustee by written request given at least five Business Days prior to the specified day of delivery a certificate dated the date of delivery, certifying that Custodian has, since
the date of this Agreement or the date of the preceding such certificate, complied with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and that Custodian’s representations and warranties in Section 2(a) of this Agreement continue to be true and
correct. 

  
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 9. Liability of Custodian; Indemnification. 

(a) Subject to clauses (b), (c) and (d) below, Custodian shall be liable for and shall indemnify Purchaser, Trustee and the Trust for,
and hold Purchaser, Trustee and the Trust harmless from, any loss, damage, cost, judgment, expense or any other liability (including, but not limited to legal fees and expenses) (“Losses”) incurred by Purchaser, Trustee
(individually or in its capacity as Trustee) or the Trust relating to or arising from a Custodian Performance Breach. Purchaser or Trustee, as the case may be, shall notify Custodian promptly of any proceeding or claim for which it may seek
indemnity, provided, however, that any failure or delay in so notifying Custodian shall not affect the indemnification obligations of Custodian, except to the extent such failure or delay causes actual prejudice to Custodian. Custodian shall
cooperate fully with Purchaser or Trustee, as the case may be, with respect to any such proceeding or claim at no cost to Custodian unless Custodian is ultimately determined to be at fault. 

(b) Except for Copper deposited by Custodian in substitution for other Copper held in the Account pursuant to Section 4(e), but subject
to Custodian’s inspection duties under Section 1(d), Custodian disclaims all liability for the genuineness and quality of copper delivered to Custodian under this Agreement. 

(c) Neither Custodian nor any of its directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to Purchaser, Trustee or the
Trust if by reason of any provision of any present or future law, rule or regulation of the United States or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority (which, for purposes of this Agreement, includes the LME), or by reason of
an act of God or war or terrorist or other unanticipated circumstance beyond the reasonable control of Custodian, Custodian is prevented or forbidden from, or would be subject to civil or criminal penalty on account of, or is delayed in, doing or
not doing any act or thing which the terms of this Agreement provide that shall be done or not done by Custodian and, as a result thereof, Custodian does not do or perform such act or thing, or does or performs such act or thing at a later time than
would be required hereunder. 
 (d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no party shall be liable under
this Agreement (including, but not limited, pursuant to this Section 9), for any consequential, punitive, special, incidental or indirect damages (including lost profits). 
 (e) Trustee shall indemnify Purchaser and Custodian for and hold Purchaser and Custodian harmless against any Loss relating to or arising from (i) any breach of the representations and warranties of
Trustee contained in this Agreement, or of its obligations hereunder, or (ii) acts of omissions by Custodian in compliance with instructions from Trustee in accordance with Section 6 that Custodian reasonably believes were given by an
Authorized Person of Trustee, including instructions to release Property from the Account to a person designated by Trustee. 

  
 - 13 -

 10. Fees. As compensation for its services hereunder, Trustee shall pay to Custodian
a fee (the “Custodian’s Fee”) which shall accrue daily, but shall be payable monthly in arrears, in an amount equal to the Account Daily Balance as of the end of the day for which the computation is made multiplied by the
corresponding factor set forth in the following table: 
  

			
	 Account Daily Balance
	  	 Factor

	 [    ]
	  	[    ]
	 [    ]
	  	[    ]
	 [    ]
	  	[    ]

provided, however, that the fees determined as provided above shall be reduced by [    ] as of any day on
which Custodian shall be in breach of its obligations under Section 11(e) below. 
 11. Termination; exclusivity.

 (a) Each party to this Agreement shall have the right to designate a Termination Date by a written notice sent to the other
parties at least one year prior to the date designated by such party as the Termination Date; provided, that if a Custodian Performance Breach, Purchaser Performance Breach or Trustee Performance Breach (the applicable breaching party, the
“Party in Breach”) shall occur and be continuing, then each of the parties other than the Party in Breach shall have the right to designate a Termination Date by prior written notice given to the other parties at least 60 Business
Days prior to the date designated by such party as the Termination Date. 
 (b) Following a Termination Date (other than a
Termination Date designated in a notice given by Purchaser as provided in Section 11(a) above): (i) Custodian shall not be required to accept delivery of any additional Copper at any Approved Location or elsewhere; (ii) Trustee shall
continue to be responsible for the payment of the Custodian’s Fee in respect of any Property held in the Account; (iii) Custodian shall remain subject to the provisions of this Agreement with respect to any Property that remains in
Custodian’s facilities; (iv) as long as any Copper remains in Custodian’s facilities, Trustee will not sell or deliver in connection with redemptions of shares any Copper held elsewhere by the Trust; (v) should Trustee decide to
re-locate Copper held at Custodian’s facilities, Custodian will (at the expense of the Trust and subject to any obligations Custodian may have to the LME under the LME Warehouse Agreement) cooperate with any reasonable request of Trustee to
expedite the process of such removal, subject to any and all laws, rules and regulations of any governmental or regulatory authority, or of the LME, applicable to Custodian; and (vi) if the amount of Copper held at any Approved Location shall
fall below 25% of applicable Capacity, 

  
 - 14 -

 
Custodian may either at its expense and risk remove all such Copper and relocate it to another Approved Location, or substitute pursuant to Section 4(e) of this Agreement such Copper for Copper
stored at another Approved Location (in which case Trustee’s approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). 

(c) Subject to the next sentence, following any Termination Date, Purchaser’s obligation to effect purchases, and Trustee’s
obligation to effect deliveries, pursuant to Section 13 hereof shall terminate; provided, however, that the obligations of Purchaser and Trustee in respect of transactions entered into prior to such Termination Date shall remain in full force
and effect (subject to any applicable conditions in Section 13(c)). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if such Termination Date has not been designated in a notice given by Purchaser and has not been designated as a result of a Purchaser
Performance Breach, then Purchaser may elect to have Purchaser’s and Trustee’s respective obligations pursuant to Section 13 continue. 
 (d) The provisions of Sections 7, 9, 11 and 14 hereof shall survive the termination of this Agreement. 
 (e) Subject to Section 3(i)(v), Custodian promises and agrees that, as long as (1) shares of the Trust are publicly traded in, and the primary listing therefor is an exchange located in, the
United States of America, (2) the total market capitalization of the Trust as of [            ] exceeds [        ]% of the aggregate market
capitalization as of the same date[s]of all physical copper-based investment vehicles (including the Trust) the shares of which are primarily listed for trading in the United States of America, and (3) no Termination Date shall have been
designated, Custodian shall not knowingly provide warehousing services to any such copper-based investment vehicle other than the Trust. 
 (f) Trustee agrees that: 
 (i) it shall not enter into any agreement or
arrangement with any other person or entity (other than Custodian) which would provide copper custodial or warehousing services for Trustee or the Trust, unless (1) a Termination Date has been designated pursuant hereto and (2) Trustee has
complied with any applicable obligations under clause (iii) below; 
 (ii) except as provided in Section 3(i)(v) or as
provided in the proviso to Section 11(a), it shall not designate a Termination Date prior to the tenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement; 
 (iii) if it designates a Termination Date at any time after such tenth anniversary (other than as provided in Section 3(i)(v) or as provided in the proviso to Section 11(a)), it shall not
thereafter retain any other person to provide the custodial or warehousing services contemplated hereby unless (i) Trustee has given to Custodian written notice of its intent to retain such other person and the terms under which such person
would be retained and (ii) Custodian has failed to agree, within 10 Business Days, to provide such custodial and warehousing services to Trustee on the same or better terms; and 

  
 - 15 -

 (iv) it shall not enter into any agreement or arrangement with any other person or entity
(other than Purchaser) which would provide services for Trustee or the Trust materially the same as those performed by the Purchaser, unless (1) a Termination Date has been designated pursuant hereto and (2) Custodian no longer performs
any of the services to the Trustee described under this agreement, 
 provided, however, that in the event that (1) a Custodian
Performance Breach shall occur and is continuing or (2) Custodian shall breach its obligations under Section 7.2 of the LME Warehouse Agreement in connection with any facility at which any Property is maintained pursuant hereto and shall
fail to relocate the relevant Copper as required in Section 3(g), Section 11(f)(i) and Section 11(f)(iii) shall no longer be applicable to Trustee. 
 (g) Each of Purchaser and Custodian agrees that, except as provided in the proviso to Section 11(a), it shall not designate a Termination Date prior to the tenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement.

 12. Confidentiality. Subject to the other sentences of this Section 12, each party shall respect the confidentiality
of information acquired by it under this Agreement and will not, without the consent of the other parties, disclose to any person any information acquired under this Agreement, provided that nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or condition the
filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission a copy of this Agreement in connection with the registration of the offering of its shares by the Trust. Each party accepts that from time to time the other party may be required by
law or applicable rules or regulations, or if requested by a government department or agency, fiscal body or regulatory authority (including the LME), to disclose information acquired under this Agreement. In addition, the disclosure of such
information may be required by a party’s auditors, by its legal or other advisors or by a company that is in the same group of companies as a party (e.g., a subsidiary or holding company of a party). Each party irrevocably authorizes the
other to make such disclosures. 
 13. Sales of Copper to Purchaser. 

(a) Purchaser hereby agrees, as long as there is sufficient Copper in the Account, to purchase from the Trust, on the date of this
Agreement and on each day thereafter on which an LME Settlement Price is announced, the Copper Expense Equivalent corresponding to such day, at a price equal to the LME Settlement Price so announced on such day (expressed in U.S. dollars per Tonne).

 (b) The Copper Expense Equivalent as of any day on which an LME Settlement Price is announced shall be determined by
Trustee, and Trustee shall provide notice thereof to Custodian and Purchaser prior to [            ] p.m. (New York City time) on such day. 

  
 - 16 -

 (c) Subject to Purchaser’s receipt of the Copper purchased as provided in Section
13(d) below, Purchaser shall pay to the order of Trustee the purchase price of such Copper [on the last day of the calendar month on which the purchase takes place]. 
 (d) The Trust will deliver to Purchaser any Copper purchased pursuant to this Section 13 by causing Custodian to credit such Copper to Purchaser’s account; provided, however, that neither
the Trust nor Custodian shall have any obligation to physically deliver any parcel of Copper until the aggregate of all Copper theretofore acquired by, but not delivered to, Purchaser under this Section 13 reaches an amount which Custodian
determines, by taking into account the physical inventory of Copper credited to the Account, can be delivered in physical form in whole warrantable lots and until such delivery, Purchaser and the Trust will be co-owners (pro rata, in
proportion to their respective interest therein) of such parcels of Copper as Custodian and Purchaser shall jointly identify; and provided, further, that once Copper has been so identified by Custodian and Purchaser, all subsequent purchases
by Purchaser hereunder shall be of additional portions of the same parcel, until such parcel has been purchased in full by Purchaser (it being the express intent of the parties to minimize, to the extent possible, the Copper co-owned by Purchaser
and the Trust). 
 (e) The Trust and Purchaser covenant and agree that, prior to the dissolution of the Trust or the
termination of this Agreement, neither party shall seek judicially or otherwise, the termination of their co-ownership with respect to specific parcels of Copper. 
 (f) Neither Purchaser nor any of its directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to Custodian, Trustee or the Trust if by reason of any provision of any present or future law,
rule or regulation of the United States or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority (which, for purposes of this Agreement, includes the LME), or by reason of an act of God or war or terrorist or other unanticipated
circumstance beyond the reasonable control of Purchaser, Purchaser is prevented or forbidden from, or would be subject to civil or criminal penalty on account of, or is delayed in, doing or not doing any act or thing which the terms of this
Agreement provide that shall be done or not done by Purchaser and, as a result thereof, Purchaser does not do or perform such act or thing, or does or performs such act or thing at a later time than would be required hereunder. 

14. Choice of Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. 
 (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal substantive laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles other than the
provisions of Section 5-1401 of New 

  
 - 17 -

 
York’s General Obligations Law. All actions and proceedings relating to or arising from, directly or indirectly, this Agreement may be brought by Trustee in courts located within the City
and State of New York, and shall be litigated only in courts located within the City and State of New York if brought by Custodian against Trustee. The parties hereto hereby waive the right to a trial by jury in any such action or proceeding brought
by Trustee, Custodian or Purchaser and Custodian hereby submits to the personal jurisdiction of such courts and to the personal jurisdiction of any court or administrative agency in which any action or proceeding is brought by any person (other than
Custodian) against Trustee, relating to or arising from, directly or indirectly, any act or omission of Custodian under this Agreement. 
 If either Custodian or Purchaser does not maintain an office in The City of New York, Custodian or Purchaser, as applicable, shall appoint and maintain an agent located in The City of New York upon whom
process may be served in any action or proceeding which may be instituted by the Trustee or by any other person in any court or administrative agency relating to or arising from, directly or indirectly, any act or omission of Custodian under this
Agreement. If Custodian or Purchaser is required to maintain an agent for service of process under the preceding sentence, Custodian or Purchaser shall notify the Trustee of the appointment of that agent and provide Trustee with evidence of
acceptance by that agent of that appointment. Service of process upon such agent at the office of such agent for service of process shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon Custodian or Purchaser in any such action or
proceeding. Each of Custodian and Purchaser further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue in force such designation and appointment of
such agent or its successor. 
 15. Legal Opinion. Each of Purchaser and Custodian will furnish to Trustee an opinion of
counsel reasonably acceptable to Trustee addressed to Trustee and dated the date hereof to the effect that: 
 (a) the
execution, delivery and performance by Custodian or Purchaser (as applicable) of this Agreement have been duly authorized by Custodian or Purchaser (as applicable) and do not and will not violate any applicable law or regulation and do not require
the consent of any governmental or other regulatory body except for such consents and approvals as have been obtained; and 

(b) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Custodian or Purchaser (as applicable) and constitutes its legal, valid and
binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms. 

  
 - 18 -

 16. Procedures. Trustee and Custodian agree that the provisions of the Procedures are
hereby incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement and each of Trustee and Custodian agrees to comply with the Procedures. Custodian acknowledges that Trustee may modify the Procedures from time to time upon reasonable advance notice;
provided, that Trustee will not modify the Procedures in any way that changes the obligations of Custodian without Custodian’s prior written consent. 
 17. No Advice. The duties and obligations of each of Custodian and Purchaser under this Agreement do not include providing Trustee with investment or trading advice. In asking Custodian to open and
maintain the Account, Trustee represents that it does so in compliance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement and Custodian and Purchaser shall not owe to Trustee any duty to exercise any judgment on behalf of Trustee as to the merits or
suitability of any deposits into, or withdrawals from, the Account. 
 18. Miscellaneous. Except as otherwise
specifically provided in this Agreement, this Agreement may not be amended nor may any provision hereof be waived except by writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, but all of which constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their respective successors and assigns; provided, that this Agreement
shall not be assignable by any party without the prior written consent of the others, and provided further that, if there is a change in the identity of the Trustee under the Trust Agreement, the Custodian and retiring Trustee shall execute
such documents and shall take such actions as the new Trustee and the retiring Trustee may reasonably require for the purpose of vesting in the new Trustee the rights and obligations of the retiring Trustee, and releasing the retiring Trustee from
any future obligations, under this Agreement. This Agreement and the Procedures contain the entire agreement among the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. The invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall in no way affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision; and if any provision is held to be unenforceable as a matter of law, the other provisions shall
not be affected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect. The captions included in this Agreement are included only for the convenience of the parties and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their
construction or effect. 

  
 - 19 -

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed and sealed
by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized. 
  

			
	METRO INTERNATIONAL TRADE SERVICES LLC

			
		
	By:	 	  

	Name:
	Title:

			
	
	THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee of the iShares® Copper Trust

			
		
	By:	 	  

	Name:
	Title:
	
	[                    ]
		
	By:	 	  

	Name:
	Title:

 SCHEDULE A-1 
 AUTHORIZED PERSONS OF TRUSTEE 
 Dated
[            ], 20[    ] 
 The names, titles and specimen
signatures of the “Authorized Persons” of Trustee are as follows: 
  

					
	 Name
	  	 Title
	  	 Signature

			
		  		  	                            

			
		  		  	                            

			
		  		  	                            

 SCHEDULE A-2 
 AUTHORIZED PERSONS OF CUSTODIAN 
 Dated
[            ], 20[    ] 
 The names, titles and specimen
signatures of the “Authorized Persons” of Custodian are as follows: 
  

					
	 Name
	  	 Title
	  	 Signature

			
		  		  	                            

			
		  		  	                            

			
		  		  	                            

 SCHEDULE A-3 
 AUTHORIZED PERSONS OF PURCHASER 
 Dated
[            ], 20[    ] 
 The names, titles and specimen
signatures of the “Authorized Persons” of Purchaser are as follows: 
  

					
	 Name
	  	 Title
	  	 Signature

			
		  		  	                            

			
		  		  	                            

			
		  		  	                            

 SCHEDULE B 
 NOTICES 
 Dated
[            ], 20[    ] 
  

					
		
	If to Trustee:	  	[Exchange Traded Funds Division]
		  	The Bank of New York Mellon
		  	101 Barclay Street – Floor 6E
		  	New York, New York 10286
		  	U.S.A.
		  	Attention:	 	[                    ]
		  	Telephone:	 	[                    ]
		  	Facsimile:	 	[                    ]
		  	e-mail: 	 	[                    ]
		
	If to Custodian:	  	Metro International Trade Services LLC
		  	[                    ]	 	
		  	Telephone:	 	[                    ]
		  	Facsimile:	 	[                    ]
		  	e-mail:	 	[                    ]
		
	If to the Sponsor:	  	BlackRock Asset Management International Inc.
		  	400 Howard Street
		  	San Francisco, CA 94105
		  	Attn: Product Management Team and Intermediary Investor and Exchange-Traded Products Department
		  	Telephone:  [                    ]
		  	Facsimile:   [                    
]
		  	e-mail:  [                    ]
		
	If to Purchaser:	  	[                    ]fs12010ex10xx_nxt.htm

Exhibit 10.20

 

 

CONSULTING AGREEMENT

 

This Consulting Agreement (the "Agreement") is made effective as of June 1, 2010 (the "Effective Date"), by and between NXT Nutritionals Holdings, Inc. ("NXT" or the "Company"), a Delaware corporation with its principal business address at 56 Jackson Street, Holyoke, MA 01040, and Richard Kozlenko (the "Consultant"), with an address at 21 Solar Court, San Rafael, CA 94901.

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in the business of developing, marketing and distributing a proprietary, patent-pending healthy alternative sweetener trading under the brand name SUSTATM Natural Sweetener, and other food and beverage products ("Products");

 

WHEREAS, the Consultant has expertise in product research and development for use by Company; and

 

WHEREAS, the Consultant has heretofore used his expertise to provide services as a product researcher and developer related to the Company's business (the "Consulting Services") and the Company and Consultant desire to formalize the consulting agreement between the parties.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Services. During the Consultation Period (as defined below), the Consultant agrees to perform services in product research and development for use in the healthy alternative sweetening system and such other services to and for the Company as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the Company. Such services shall include but not be limited to those services as set forth on Annex I attached hereto.

 

2. Term. Except for earlier termination as provided herein, the term of this Agreement shall commence as of the Effective Date and continue until December 31, 2012 (such period, including any extensions thereof, the "Consultation Period"). The Consultation Period will automatically extend for additional one (1) year periods on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, unless otherwise terminated by either party not later than ninety (90) days prior to the end of the then-current Consultation Period. The Consultation Period, including any extensions thereof, is sometimes are referred to herein as the "Term."

 

2.1 During the Consultation Period, the Consultant shall use his best efforts to perform his duties under this Agreement and shall devote a sufficient amount of his business time, on a first priority basis over any other engagements the Consultant may have, to fully perform with a high degree of professionalism all services reasonably requested by the Company. The Consultant shall maintain, and provide to the Company upon request, reasonably detailed monthly records of the services provided to the Company during each month in a format reasonably acceptable to Company.

 

  

  

  

 

3. Compensation.

 

3.1 Consulting Fees. Beginning with the Effective Date through the expiration of the Consultation Period, the Company shall pay in advance to the Consultant Cash Consulting Fees (defined below) of

 

(a) Nine Thousand Three Hundred Seventy-Five ($9,375.00) Dollars per month ("Base Consulting Fee"). Such payment shall be made not later than the first business day of each month, starting June 1, 2010, for the services provided in the prior month (including services during the month of May, 2010).

 

(b) If Consultant completes and delivers to Company two (2) Projects in a three (3) month period (with one being a new or improved product other than SUSTA Bowl Natural Sweetener, for which there is the potential for revenue for Company), Consultant shall be entitled to a payment equal to One Thousand Eight Hundred Seventy Five ($1,875) Dollars as a "Quarterly Bonus Fee" for the period in which those two (2) Projects were completed. The question of whether a Project is completed shall be determined exclusively by the CEO of the Company. The Quarterly Bonus Fee will be paid on a quarterly basis within 15 days after the end of each three (3) month period of the Term during which the two Projects were completed and delivered to Company; and

 

(c) If, in the sole and absolute discretion of the CEO of Company, Consultant contributes in a significant manner to the commercialization and sale of a product pursuant to an approved "Major Project" (as defined below), Company will pay Consultant an additional fee of up to twenty-five (25%) percent of the Base Consulting Fee (the "Additional Bonus Fee"). This Additional Bonus Fee will be in addition to the Base Consulting Fees and the Quarterly Bonus Fee and, if payable pursuant to this Section 3.1 (c), shall be paid by no later than Forty five (45) days after the completion of the Major Project. A "Major Project" is a project that generates material revenue growth for the Company.

 

The Base Consulting Fee, Quarterly Bonus Fee, and Additional Bonus Fee are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the "Cash Consulting Fees."

 

The Consultant's status during the Consultation Period shall be that of an independent contractor and not, for any purpose, that of an employee or agent with authority to bind the Company in any respect. All payments and other consideration made or provided to the Consultant under Section 3 shall be made or provided without withholding or deduction of any kind, and the Consultant shall assume sole responsibility for discharging all tax or other obligations associated therewith.

 

  

  

  

 

3.2 Restricted Stock Issuance for Past Services Rendered. Upon execution of this Agreement, the Company shall issue an additional Three Hundred Thousand (300,000)shares of NXT's restricted common stock ("Section 3.2 Shares") to Consultant as additional consideration for all services rendered to the Company prior to the date of this Agreement (except for the payment for May 2010, referred to in Section 3.1(a)). The Consultant hereby represents and agrees that he is not owed any other compensation for services rendered to the Company and/or its predecessors as of the Effective Date. These shares of common stock are being issued pursuant to an exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and shall bear a legend stating that such shares are restricted pursuant to Rule 144 of the 1933 Securities Act.

 

3.3 Restricted Stock Issuance for Additional Services. The Company shall issue Twenty Thousand (20,000) shares of NXT's restricted common stock (the "Consultant Shares," and together with the Section 3.2 Shares, the "Shares") to Consultant for services to be rendered under this Agreement for each month during the Consultation Period. As a matter of administrative convenience, the balance of the Consultant Shares will be paid in accordance with the following schedule:

 

20,000 upon execution of this Agreement;

60,000 on September 1, 2010;

60,000 on December 1, 2010;

60,000 on March 1, 2011;

60,000 on June 1, 2011;

60,000 on September 1, 2011;

60,000 on December 1, 2011;

60,000 on March 1, 2012;

60,000 on June 1, 2012;

60,000 on September 1, 2012;

60,000 on December 1, 2012.

 

The number of Consultant Shares shall be equitably adjusted in the case of a stock splits, stock dividends, or similar transactions. These shares of common stock are being issued pursuant to an exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and shall bear a legend stating that such shares are restricted pursuant to Rule 144 of the 1933 Securities Act. The Consultant Shares will be subject to a Lock-Up Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, pursuant to which the Consultant agrees he will not, offer, pledge, sell or otherwise dispose of any Consultant Shares for the period set forth in the Lock-Up Agreement.

 

3.4 Reimbursement of Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Consultant for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket expenses incurred or paid by the Consultant in connection with, or related to, the performance of his services under this Agreement. The Consultant shall submit to the Company itemized monthly statements, in a form satisfactory to the Company, of such expenses incurred in the previous month. The Company shall pay to the Consultant amounts shown on each such statement within 30 days after receipt thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Consultant shall not incur total expenses in excess of $500 per month without the prior written approval of the Company. Wherever possible, the Company shall arrange travel and other expenses directly to minimize the Consultant's need to advance expense monies.

 

  

  

  

 

3.5 Benefits. The Consultant shall not be entitled to any benefits, coverages or privileges, including, without limitation, social security, unemployment, medical or pension payments, made available to employees of the Company.

 

3.6 Interest Any compensation payable under this Agreement not paid within fifteen (15) days after the date due under this Agreement shall bear interest from the date due until paid at the annual rate equal to the lesser of eight percent (8%) per annum or the maximum rate permitted by law. In the case of undelivered Shares, interest shall be calculated based on the fair market value of the shares at the time the shares are required to be issued under this Agreement.

 

4. Termination.

 

4.1 If either party breaches any material provision of this Agreement and fails to cure such breach ("Uncured Material Breach") within fifteen (15) days after receipt of a written notice from the non-breaching party ("Terminating Party") that specifies, in reasonable detail, the nature of the breach, the Terminating Party may terminate the Consultation Period by delivery of written notice of termination; provided that if by its nature the material breach cannot be cured, the termination shall be effective fifteen (15) days after receipt of the notice of breach; further provided that if a breach by the Consultant is due to a physical or mental condition or disability of the Consultant, the cure period shall be extended to ninety (90) days from the Consultant's receipt of the notice of breach. Upon the request of Company, the Consultant shall provide written verification of such condition or disability from a licensed physician. Upon termination of the Consultation Period for Uncured Material Breach, the Company shall pay or provide to the Consultant any accrued but unpaid Cash Consulting Fees and Shares through the date of termination pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.3 herein and, except as provided below in the last sentence of this Section 4.1, no further compensation (other than reimbursement of expenses under Section 3.4) will be due and owing to Consultant from the date of termination; provided that if the uncured breach is the result of the Consultant's death, in addition to the foregoing accrued benefits, the Consultant's estate shall also be entitled to a number of Consultant Shares equal to fifty percent (50%) of the number of Consultant Shares that the Consultant would have been entitled to receive pursuant to Section 3.3 for the remainder of the Term. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Consultation Period is terminated because of an Uncured Material Breach and the Non-Terminating Party provides the Terminating Party written notice, within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice of termination, that the Non-Terminating Party disputes whether an Uncured Material Breach occurred, the Terminating Party shall continue to perform its obligations under this Agreement until the matter is resolved under Section 17 or the end of the Consultation Period, as applicable.

 

  

  

  

 

4.2 The Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement without cause, at any time after December 31, 2010, by giving written notice to Consultant stating that it is exercising its right to terminate this Agreement without cause pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Agreement; such termination shall be effective only if, not later than ten (10) days after the date of such notice, the Company pays Consultant (i) all accrued but unpaid Cash Consulting Fees and undelivered Shares through the date of termination pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.3 hereof, (ii) the sum of $56,250, and (iii) the number of Consultant Shares equal to the lesser of (a) 240,000 or (b) 20,000 multiplied by the number of months (and a pro-rated portion of any partial month) between the date of termination and December 31, 2013.

 

5. Cooperation. The Consultant shall use his best efforts in the performance of his obligations under this Agreement. The Company shall provide such access to its information and property as may be reasonably required in order to permit the Consultant to perform his obligations hereunder. The Consultant shall fully cooperate with the Company's personnel, shall not interfere with the conduct of the Company's business and shall observe all rules, regulations and protections of persons and property of the Company.

 

6. Inventions and Proprietary Information.

 

6.1 Inventions.

 

(1) All inventions, discoveries, computer programs, data, technology, designs, innovations and improvements ("Inventions") related to the business of the Company which are made, conceived, reduced to practice, created, written, designed or developed by the Consultant, solely or jointly with others and whether during normal business hours or otherwise, that arise out of the services rendered to the Company during the Consultation Period shall be the sole property of the Company. The Consultant hereby assigns to the Company all Inventions and any and all related patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade names, and other industrial and intellectual property rights and applications therefor related to the Inventions, in the United States and elsewhere and appoints any officer of the Company as his duly authorized attorney to execute, file, prosecute and protect the same before any government agency, court or authority. Upon the request of the Company and at the Company's expense, the Consultant shall execute such further assignments, documents and other instruments as may be necessary or desirable to fully and completely assign all Inventions to the Company and to assist the Company in applying for, obtaining and enforcing patents or copyrights or other rights in the United States and in any foreign country with respect to any Invention. The Consultant also hereby waives all claims to moral rights in any Inventions.

 

(2) During the Consultation Period the Consultant shall promptly disclose to the Company all Inventions and will maintain adequate and current written records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings and as may be specified by the Company) to document the conception and/or first actual reduction to practice of any Invention. Such written records shall be available to and remain the sole property of the Company at all times.

 

  

  

  

 

6.2 Confidential Information.

 

(1) The Consultant acknowledges that his relationship with the Company is one of high trust and confidence and that in the course of his service to the Company he has had and will have access to and contact with Confidential Information. The Consultant represents that he has not pursuant to his prior services and agrees that he will not, during the Consultation Period or at any time thereafter, disclose to others, or use for his benefit or the benefit of others, any Confidential Information or Invention.

 

(2) For purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information" shall mean, by way of illustration and not limitation, all information (whether or not patentable and whether or not copyrightable) owned, possessed or used by the Company, including, without limitation, any Inventions, formula, vendor information, customer information, apparatus, equipment, trade secret, process, research, report, technical data, know-how, computer program, software, software documentation, hardware design, technology, marketing or business plan, forecast, unpublished financial statement, budget, license, price, cost and employee list that is communicated to, learned of, developed or otherwise acquired by the Consultant in the course of his service as a consultant to the Company in each case that is either marked as confidential or is disclosed under circumstances that one would reasonably expect it to be confidential. "Confidential Information" shall not include information that (i) was independently developed by the Consultant outside the scope of any agreement with the Company or its predecessors and is unrelated to services provided by Consultant to the Company or it predecessors; (ii) is or becomes known to the general public or in Company's industry under circumstances involving no breach by Consultant of the provisions of this Section 6.2, (iii) is generally disclosed to third parties by the Company without restriction on such third parties is approved for release by written authorization of the Board of Directors of the Company, or (iv) is required to be disclosed by court order or governmental agency of competent jurisdiction, provided that the Consultant shall give prompt written notice of such disclosure to the Company in order to allow the Company to challenge such order or to obtain a protective order.

 

(3) Upon termination of this Agreement or at any other time upon request by the Company, the Consultant shall promptly deliver to the Company all records, files, memoranda, notes, designs, data, reports, price lists, customer lists, drawings, plans, computer programs, software, software documentation, sketches, laboratory and research notebooks and other documents (and all copies or reproductions of such materials) relating to the business of the Company, whether electronic or otherwise, that relate to Inventions or Confidential Information.

 

(4) The Consultant represents that his retention as a Consultant with the Company and his performance under this Agreement does not, and shall not, breach any agreement that obligates him to keep in confidence any trade secrets or confidential or proprietary information of his or of any other party or to refrain from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of any other party. The Consultant shall not disclose to the Company any trade secrets or confidential or proprietary information of any other party.

 

(5) The Consultant acknowledges that the Company from time to time may have agreements with other persons or with the United States Government, or agencies thereof; that impose obligations or restrictions on the Company regarding inventions made during the course of work under such agreements or regarding the confidential nature of such work The Consultant agrees to be bound by all such obligations and restrictions that are known to him and to take all action necessary to discharge the obligations of the Company under such agreements.

 

  

  

  

 

6.3 Remedies. The Consultant acknowledges that any breach of the provisions of this Section 6 shall result in serious and irreparable injury to the Company for which the Company cannot be adequately compensated by monetary damages alone. The Consultant agrees, therefore, that, in addition to any other remedy it may have, the Company shall be entitled to enforce the specific performance of this Agreement by the Consultant and to seek both temporary and permanent injunctive relief (to the extent permitted by law) without the necessity of proving actual damages.

 

7. Independent Contractor Status. The Consultant shall perform all services under this Agreement as an "independent contractor" and not as an employee or agent of the Company. The Consultant is not authorized to assume or create any obligation or responsibility, express or implied, on behalf of, or in the name of, the Company or to bind the Company in any manner. The Consultant hereby agrees and represents that he will not represent to any party that he is authorized to assume or create any obligation or responsibility, express or implied, on behalf of, or in the name of, the Company or to bind the Company in any manner. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to create a fiduciary duty between the parties. Notwithstanding the above, no activity, employment, venture, business or other pursuit of the Consultant during the term of this Agreement shall conflict with his obligations under this Agreement or damage the interests of the Company.

 

8. Use of Confidential Information; Non-Solicitation.

 

8.1 The Consultant hereby acknowledges and recognizes the possession of the Confidential Information, the unique skills and scientific knowledge held by the Consultant, and the highly competitive nature of the business of the Company and hereby agrees that, (a) at no time during the Consultation Period and at any time thereafter shall he use any Confidential Information for his own benefit or the benefit of any third party, and (b) at no time during the Consultation Period or the one year period thereafter shall he induce employees of the Company, its affiliates or subsidiaries to terminate their employment with the Company or such affiliate or subsidiary and/or engage in any competitive business.

 

8.2 The Consultant affirms and represents that a true and correct list of any and all ownership interests, executive offices or directorships in any other companies or entities held by the Consultant and any of the Consultant's immediate family members is disclosed on Schedule 9 attached hereto.

 

8.3 The Consultant represents and warrants that he understands that Section 8.1 is not meant to prevent the Consultant from earning a living or fostering his career. It does intend, however, to prevent any competitive business from gaining any unfair advantage from Consultant's knowledge of Confidential Information.

 

9. Consultant Representations and Warranties. The Consultant hereby represents and warrants to NXT as follows:

 

9.1 Power and Authority. The Consultant has the legal power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and to perform his obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Consultant, enforceable against the Consultant in accordance with the terms hereof'. The Consultant represents to the Company that his execution and performance of this Agreement shall not be in violation of any agreement or obligation (whether or not written) that he may have with or to any person or entity, including without limitation, any prior employer. The Consultant hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement (and any other agreement or obligation referred to herein) shall be an obligation solely of the Company, and the Consultant shall have no recourse whatsoever against any stockholder or affiliate of the Company or any of their respective affiliates with regard to this Agreement.

 

9.2 Gifts and Payments. The Consultant, in his capacity as a service provider, to NXT, will not at any time, accept, demand or solicit any payments or gifts (cash or non-cash) from vendors or sub-contractors of NXT or its affiliates, without the prior written approval of the CEO of Company. If approved by Company's CEO, the Consultant will disclose to the Company any payments or other consideration received during the Consultation Period from any vendor or subcontractor of the Company.

 

9.3 Books and Records. All books and records in connection with the Company's Inventions and Confidential Information will be stored and contained in a safe and secure location. The Consultant shall provide access to the Company to the books and records immediately upon request. Upon termination of this Agreement or at any other time upon request by the Company, the Consultant shall promptly deliver to the Company all records, files, memoranda, notes, designs, data, reports, price lists, customer lists, drawings, plans, computer programs, software, software documentation, sketches, laboratory and research notebooks and other documents (and all copies or reproductions of such materials) relating to the business of the Company. The Consultant will not retain any copies, electronic or otherwise of such books and records.

 

10. Company Representations and Warranties. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Consultant as follows: The Company has the legal power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and to perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with the terms hereof. The Company's execution and performance of this Agreement shall not be in violation of any agreement or obligation (whether or not written) that it may have with or to any person or entity. The Consultant Shares shall be duly authorized and validly issued and shall be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

  

  

  

 

11. Survival. The obligations contained in Sections 3, 4, 6, 8, 9.3, and 17 shall survive, in accordance with their terms, the termination or expiration of this Agreement and the Consultant's services with the Company and shall be fully enforceable thereafter.

 

12. Pronouns. Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular forms of nouns and pronouns shall include the plural, and vice versa.

 

13. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

14. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument executed by both the Company and the Consultant.

 

15. Governing Law and Jurisdiction of Disputes. This Agreement shall he construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

16. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, both parties and their respective successors and assigns, including any corporation with which, or into which, the Company may be merged or which may succeed to its assets or business, provided, however, that the obligations of the Consultant are personal and shall not be assigned by him.

 

17.Dispute Resolution. If a dispute arises out of or relates to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, the parties shall seek to resolve the dispute in good faith. If the dispute cannot be resolved through direct discussions, the parties agree to first endeavor to settle the dispute by mediation administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA) under its commercial mediation rules, before resorting to arbitration. If such dispute is not resolved by mediation, it shall be settled by arbitration before a single arbitrator administered by AAA in accordance with its commercial arbitration rules, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof [f Consultant initiates the mediation proceeding, the mediation and any arbitration shall take place in Boston, Massachusetts; if Company initiates the mediation proceeding, the mediation and any arbitration shall take place in the San Francisco Bay Area.

 

18. Miscellaneous.

 

18.1 No delay or omission by the Company in exercising any right under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of that or any other right. A waiver or consent given by the Company on any one occasion shall be effective only in that instance and shall not be construed as a bar or waiver of any right on any other occasion.

 

18.2 The captions of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and in no way define, limit or affect the scope or substance of any section of this Agreement.

 

18.3 In the event that any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall in no way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

18.4 This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall he deemed an original and constitute one and the same agreement. Facsimile copies with signatures shall be given the same legal effect as an original.

 

18.5 In any litigation, mediation, arbitration, or other proceeding by which one party either seeks to enforce its rights under this Agreement (whether in contract, tort, or both) or seeks a declaration of any rights or obligations under this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be awarded its reasonable attorney fees, and other costs and expenses incurred, including its share of the cost of the mediation and arbitration and of the fees of the mediator and arbitrator.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Consultant have caused this Agreement to be signed by personally or by a duly authorized representative as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

	NXT NUTRITIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.
	 
	 
	 BY:	 /s/ Francis McCarthy	 
	 	 Francis McCarthy	 
	 	 President and Chief Executive Officer	 
	 	 	 
	 RICHARD KOZLENKO	 
	 	 	 
	/s/ Richard Kozlenko	    7/30/2010
	    Richard Kozlenko

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