Exhibit 4(a)(4)
Consulting Agreement dated April 4, 1996, between the
Company and John Sloan
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CONSULTING AGREEMENT
This Agreement is effective as of the 4th day of April, 1996, by and
between Hollywood Trenz, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and John
Sloan (the "Consultant").
WHEREAS, the Company is a public company; and
WHEREAS, the Consultant is in the business of assisting public companies in
financial relations; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the Consultant to provide consulting
services for the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises
contained herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Duties and Involvement.
a. The Company hereby engages Consultant to provide financial and public
relations services. Such services will generally include advice to and
consulting with the Company's management concerning marketing surveys, investor
profile information, methods of expanding investor support and increasing
investor awareness of the Company and its products and/or services. Consultant
will also provide additional services to the Company, including broker
relations, assisting in the preparation and formatting of due diligence
meetings, and attendance at conventions and trade shows, all as more fully set
forth in Exhibit "A" attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
b. Consultant acknowledges that it is not an officer, director, or agent
of the Company, that it is not and will not be responsible for any management
decisions on behalf of the Company and that it may not commit the Company to any
action. Consultant represents that it does not have, through stock ownership or
otherwise, the power to control the Company nor to exercise any dominating
influence over its management.
2. Term.
This Agreement shall continue for twelve (12) months from the date of
this Agreement; provided that Consultant's employment hereunder may be
terminated during the term of this Agreement under the following circumstances:
a. Cause. The Company may immediately terminate Consultant's employment
hereunder for cause without prior notice. For purposes of this Agreement, the
Company shall have "cause" to terminate Consultant's employment hereunder upon
(i) the willful failure or refusal by Consultant to perform its duties
hereunder; or (ii) Consultant's willful misconduct which is materially injurious
to the Company, monetarily or otherwise; or (iii) the violation by Consultant of
the provisions of this Agreement.
b. Termination by the Company with Notice. The Company may terminate
this Agreement at any time upon 30 days' written notice.
3. Compensation.
As total and complete consideration for the services to be provided by
Consultant to the Company;
The Company agrees to issue to Consultant 1,300,000 free trading shares
of the Company's Common Stock in such installments and at such times during the
term of this Agreement as the Company's management shall determine that the
shares have been earned by the performance of the services required pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement.
4. Services not Exclusive.
The Consultant shall devote such of its time and effort necessary to the
discharge of its duties hereunder. The Company acknowledges that the Consultant
is engaged in other business activities and that it will continue such
activities during the term of this Agreement. The Consultant shall not be
restricted from engaging in other business activities during the term of this
Agreement.
5. Confidentiality.
Consultant acknowledges that it will have access to confidential
information regarding the Company and its business. Consultant agrees that it
will not, during or subsequent to the term of this Agreement, divulge, furnish
or make accessible to any person (other than with the written permission of the
Company) any knowledge or information or plans of the Company with respect to
the Company or its business, including, but not limited to, the products of the
Company, whether in the concept or development stage or being marketed by the
Company on the effective date of this Agreement or during the term hereof.
6. Covenant not to Compete.
During the term of this Agreement, Consultant warrants, represents and
agrees that it will not directly or indirectly compete with the Company.
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Investment Representation.
a. Access to Information.
The Consultant represents and warrants that it has access to all
information available to the Company concerning its condition, financial and
otherwise, its management, its business and its prospects. The Consultant
represents that it has received a copy of the Company's most recent Form 10-KSB
and any subsequent Forms 10-QSB and Forms 8-K (the "Disclosure Documents"). The
Consultant represents that it has read the Disclosure Documents and has reviewed
all available information with its legal, financial and investment advisors to
the extent that it deemed such review necessary or appropriate. The Consultant
acknowledges that it is aware that because of the Company's financial position
and other factors, the acquisition of the shares to be paid to Consultant as
compensation involves a high degree of risk, including the risk that the
Consultant may lose the entire investment in the shares of Common Stock.
The Consultant further represents that it and its advisors have been afforded
the opportunity to discuss the Company with its management. As a result, the
Consultant is cognizant of the financial condition and operations of the
Company, has available full information concerning its affairs and has been able
to evaluate the merits and risks of the investment in the Common Stock. The
Consultant represents and warrants to the Company that it has received from the
Company and otherwise has access to all information necessary to verify the
accuracy of the information contained in the Disclosure Documents.
b. Registration of Securities.
The Company agrees at its expense to file a Registration Statement
on Form S-8 to register the shares prior to the first issuance of shares under
Section 3 hereof.
7. Assignment.
This Agreement may not be assigned by either party hereto.
8. Arbitration.
Any dispute arising between Consultant and the Company concerning this
Agreement or its interpretation shall be resolved by submission to arbitration
in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in accordance with the rules of the American
Arbitration Association then in effect. Any award made by such arbitrators shall
be binding and conclusive for all purposes thereof, may include injunctive
relief, and may be entered as a final judgment in any court of competent
jurisdiction. The costs and expenses of such arbitration shall be borne in
accordance with the determination of the arbitrators.
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9. Notices.
All notices required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given: (i) two hours after
delivered personally to the party to be notified; or (ii) three business days
after deposited in the U.S. mail, postage paid via registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested. Notices to the Company shall be addressed to its
Chairman at its principal executive office, and to the Consultant at the address
set forth beneath the signature line, or to such other addresses as either party
may designate by notice to the other party.
10. Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be construed by and enforced in accordance with the
laws of the State of Florida.
11. Entire Agreement.
This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement between
the parties. There are no other agreements, conditions or representations, oral
or written, express or implied, with regard thereto. This Agreement may be
amended only in writing signed by both parties.
12. Non-waiver.
A delay or failure by either party to exercise a right under this
Agreement, or a partial or single exercise of that right, shall not constitute a
waiver of that or any other right.
13. Headings.
Headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be
used to interpret or construe its provisions.
14. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
agreement.
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15. Binding Effect.
The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon the parties,
their successors and assigns.
16. Severability.
If any provisions of this Agreement or application thereof to any person
or circumstance shall be deemed or held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable
to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected and the
application of such affected provision shall be enforced to the greatest extent
possible under law.
17. Pronouns.
All the words used in this Agreement, regardless of the number and
gender in which they are used, shall be deemed to include any other number,
singular or plural, and any other gender, masculine, feminine or neuter, as the
context may require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement to be effective as of the day and year first above written.
HOLLYWOOD TRENZ, INC.
By: /S/ EDWARD R. SHOWALTER /S/ JOHN SLOAN
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Edward R. Showalter John Sloan
Chairman, President, C.E.O. 227 E. 57th Street, 6-F
3471 N. Federal Highway, Suite 501 New York, NY 10022
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33306
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Exhibit A
FINANCIAL RELATIONS PACKAGE
BY
JOHN SLOAN
Broker Solicitation Campaign
Consultant will provide, for a twelve-month period, specialized
professional financial public relations services, via direct
personal telephone contact, to inform, update and generate interest
in the Company and its stock on the part of select brokers and
market makers.
Print media advertisements, geared to both brokers and investors
Advertisements geared to both brokers and investors, will be created
by Consultant and inserted regularly over a twelve- month period in
several major financial and investment-related publications. The
emphasis here is to utilize publications that target and deliver
large numbers of brokers and investors.
Radio / TV Promotions
Consultant will develop a mix of financial and investment- related
programming and personalities to promote Hollywood Trenz, Inc. and
the Company's stock.
Direct Investor Mailer
Consultant will create a direct mail piece, highlighting the Company
and the benefits of owning the Company's stock. It will be mailed to
selected investors. The piece will include an identifying phone
number, enabling investors to respond immediately. The Consultant's
services include creative writing, design artwork, printing and list
rentals.
Person to Person Campaign
This will provide executives of the Company with the opportunity to
present the Company directly to audiences of registered brokers,
analysts and money managers seeking investment ideas and
recommendations for their clients. In addition, the Company's
participation in a series of specially-scheduled events will provide
executives of the Company with an exceptional opportunity to meet
and consult with investment analysts and portfolio managers
representing all primary investment centers in the United States
with special emphasis on the Company's "targeted" list of investment
professionals. This campaign will provide the Company with an
extremely effective and efficient format to tell its story to
leading investors.
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