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EXHIBIT 10.1
ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT
This Engagement Agreement (this "Agreement") is made this 28th day of
April, 2005, by and between (i) DataMeg Corp (the "Company"), a Delaware
corporation with its principal place of business at 9 West Broadway, Suite 214,
Boston, Massachusetts 02127, and (ii) 350 Group LLC ("350 Group"), a Delaware
limited liability company, with its principal place of business at 350 Fifth
Avenue South, Suite 203, Naples, Florida 34102.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company, through its direct wholly-owned subsidiary, North
Electric Company, Inc., a North Carolina corporation, owns certain VoIP
monitoring, voice quality measurement, and fault isolation methodologies,
software and related technology and has certain technical and services expertise
related thereto which it wishes to broadly market and sell;
WHEREAS, 350 Group has business development, management consulting, and
corporate financing expertise; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to engage the services of the 350 Group and 350
Group desires to be engaged for the services and responsibilities set forth
herein (the "Engagement");
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises herein
and other valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which each party
acknowledges, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1. OBJECTIVE OF ENGAGEMENT; SERVICES OF 350 GROUP
The objective of this Engagement shall be for 350 Group to assist the Company
in navigating from its developmental stage operations to the level of
sustainable commercial going concern. For the Term of Engagement (as
hereinafter defined), 350 Group agrees to provide to the Company a range of
consultative and related services which shall include, but not necessarily be
limited to, the following: (i) identifying, evaluating and advising in relation
to the Company's current financial, operational, managerial, strategic and/or
business model needs and objectives, (ii) preparing and coordinating with the
Company and others in the development of appropriate confidential descriptive
memoranda, investor presentations and financial models which can be used for the
purposes of developing potential investor participation in the Company, (iii)
identifying potential sources of private and/or public financing ("Financing
Sources"), including those involving transactions requiring issuance by the
Company of either equity, debt and/or equity-linked securities ("Financing
Transactions") and advising in relation to potential Financing Transactions,
(iv) identifying potential trading partners, contract manufacturers, marketing
and distribution alliances, licensees, multi-level marketing channels and/or
joint venture partners ("Strategic Relations") and negotiating, structuring
and/or advising in connection with the establishment and ongoing development of
Strategic Relations, and (v) such other matters as outlined in Exhibit A hereto,
and may be mutually agreed upon from time to time.
2. TERM OF ENGAGEMENT
The Engagement shall be effective as of the date of this Engagement Agreement
(subject to the Company satisfying the conditions precedent to effectuation of
this Agreement) for a period of thirty six (36) months, or if terminated early,
pursuant to the early termination provisions set forth in Section 5, until the
Termination date (the "Term of Engagement" or "Term"). Thereafter, the
Engagement shall automatically renew on a month-to-month basis, subject to the
right of either party to terminate the Engagement in accordance with Section 5
hereof, as of the end of any given month by giving written notice to the other
party at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of any month. The date upon
which the Agreement expires or is terminated, as provided in this Section 2 and
Section 5 hereafter, shall be known as ("Termination").
3. COMPENSATION
In consideration for the services rendered by 350 Group to the Company
pursuant to this Agreement, and throughout the Term of Engagement, the Company
shall compensate 350 Group according to the schedules set forth in Exhibit B.
4. EXPENSES
The Company shall reimburse 350 Group, promptly upon submission of
documentation evidencing expenses for all allowable fees and disbursements of
350 Group's travel and out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with the services performed by 350 Group pursuant to this Agreement, including
without limitation, airfare, hotel, food and associated expenses, long-distance
telephone calls, and mileage (reimbursed at the standard federal government rate
of $0.365 per mile). The Company further agrees that wherever possible, it will
utilize the Company's travel agency account in arranging for airfare for 350
Group personnel. All reimbursable travel will be subject to the Company's pre-
approval.
5. TERMINATION
After the first 180 days of the Term, a party shall have the right to
terminate the Engagement by giving written notice to the other party at least
thirty (30) days prior to the effective termination date. Upon any such
Termination, the Company shall promptly pay all outstanding invoices owed to 350
Group and 350 Group shall provide to the Company a definitive list of all the
parties to whom 350 Group has introduced the Company in accordance with this
Agreement. Receipt of this list shall constitute the Company's agreement with
the names contained therein unless within ten (10) business days of receipt of
same, the company notifies 350 Group that it disputes particular names on the
list. In such event, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith to develop a
mutually agreeable subset of such parties. Failure of the Company to acknowledge
this list will be deemed that the Company agrees with every party listed on 350
Group's original submission of the list. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the
event the Company breaches any aspect of this agreement or 350 Group becomes
aware that the Company has made any material misrepresentations or omissions
either to 350 Group or to any potential investors during the Engagement, then
350 Group shall have the right to immediately terminate this Agreement.
Similarly, in the event that the Company becomes aware of willful misconduct or
gross negligence on the part of 350 Group in the performance of its duties
hereunder, the Company has the right to immediately terminate this Agreement.
POST-TERMINATION NOTICE
If at any time prior to 18 months after the termination or expiration of this
Agreement a Financing Transaction is consummated with a party introduced by 350
Group during the period of this Engagement, the Company will promptly provide
350 Group with written notice of the Transaction and promptly pay to 350 Group
or make mutually satisfactory arrangements to pay to 350 Group all Additional
Compensation due to 350 Group.
6. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF 350 GROUP SERVICES
It is understood and acknowledged by the Company that 350 Group presently
has, and anticipates having throughout the Engagement Term, other clients for
which it performs the same or similar services to those to be performed in
accordance herewith, and that 350 Group shall be under no obligation under this
Engagement to restrict its ability in any way to perform services for any other
clients. 350 Group shall use commercially reasonable efforts to fulfill its
obligations under this Agreement.
7. ROLE OF FINDER
In connection with any Financing Transactions hereunder, the Company
acknowledges that 350 Group is not a registered broker-dealer under Section 15A
of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any similar state law, and that
350 Group cannot, and shall not be required hereunder to, engage in the offer or
sale of securities for or on behalf of the Company. While 350 Group has
preexisting relationships and contacts with various investors, registered
broker-dealers and investment funds, 350 Group's participation in any actual or
proposed offer or sale of Company securities shall be limited to that of an
advisor to the Company and, if applicable, a "finder" of investors, broker-
dealers and/or funds. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the solicitation
and consummation of any purchases of the Company's securities shall be handled
by the Company or one or more NASD member firms engaged by the Company for such
purposes.
8. REFERRAL FEES
Any referral fees that are agreed to by 350 Group and are payable in
connection with any Financing Transactions shall be the exclusive responsibility
of, and shall be paid by 350 Group.
9. COOPERATION BY COMPANY
In order to enable 350 Group to provide the services requested, the Company
agrees to provide to 350 Group, among other things, all information reasonably
requested or required by 350 Group including without limitation information
concerning historical and projected financial results with respect to the
Company and its subsidiaries and possible and known litigation, environmental
and/or other contingent liabilities. The Company also agrees to make available
to 350 Group such representatives of the Company, including, among others,
directors, officers, employees, outside counsel and independent certified public
accountants, as 350 Group may reasonably request to answer questions and to
provide documentary and other information.
10. LIMITATION ON USE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION
The Company acknowledges that all services and advice (written or oral)
provided by 350 Group to the Company in connection with the Engagement are
intended solely for the benefit and use of the Company in considering the
subject matter to which they relate, and the Company agrees that no person or
entity (including shareholders of the company) other than the Company shall be
entitled or advised to make use of or rely upon the advice of 350 Group provided
pursuant hereto, and no such opinion or advice shall (i) be used for any other
purpose or reproduced, disseminated, quoted or referred to at any time, in any
manner or for any purpose, or (ii) filed with, included in or referred to in
whole or in part in any registration statement, proxy statement or any other
document, in either case without 350 Group's prior written consent or as
required by law or stock exchange rules. In any event, neither the Company nor
any other parties may use the 350 Group name in any public references, press
releases or public filings in connection with the Company without 350 Group's
prior written consent or as required by law or stock exchange rules.
11. RELIANCE BY 350 GROUP ON ACCURACY OF INFORMATION
The Company recognizes and acknowledges that, in advising the Company and
in fulfilling the Engagement hereunder, 350 Group will use and rely on data,
material and other information furnished to 350 Group by the Company. The
Company agrees that 350 Group may do so without independently verifying the
accuracy or completeness of such data, material or other information. The
Company represents and warrants that any such data, material or information
shall be true and accurate and shall not, as of the time communicated, contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit in all material respects to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. Further, the Company agrees to promptly inform 350 Group
if it becomes aware that any information previously provided to 350 Group
becomes incorrect or would be misleading in any material respect promptly upon
becoming aware that such previous information provided to 350 Group is
misleading or would no longer be correct.
12. NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT
13.1 Definition of "Confidential Information"
Confidential Information means proprietary information relating to the
Company which is not generally known and available to the public, and
includes (without limitation): Trade Secrets (as defined below) and
information relating to trade methods; methods of doing business; research
and development; invention; the identity, prior requirements, and present or
future particular needs, of clients of the Company; the identity of and
background information about purchasing, contracting, recruitment, and
management personnel of clients of the Company; all orders, bids, and
quotations, with or related to past, present and prospective clients of the
Company and all clients and prospect files, lists, records, studies, surveys,
reports, correspondence and similar materials related to the foregoing; the
identity, particular skills, work history and evaluations of personnel,
including personnel listed in any database of the Company, especially their
most recent work history and skills; profit margins, and pricing policies and
practices, in general and as to particular clients; sales and marketing
techniques, history, data forecasts, and material, in general and as to
particular clients; development plans; and personnel training techniques and
materials; and information in respect of which the Company is bound by an
obligation of confidence to a third party.
13.2 Definition of "Trade Secrets"
Trade secrets shall mean all information, whether or not Confidential
Information, included within the definition of "Trade Secrets" under the law
of any state in which 350 Group provides services for the Company or, in the
absence of any such definition, as defined in the Uniform Trade Secrets Act.
13.3 Acknowledgement of Company-Owned Information
350 Group acknowledges that all Confidential Information is owned by and
shall continue to be owned by the Company.
13.4 Return of Property
Upon the termination of this Agreement, regardless of why the Agreement
terminates, upon written request by the Company, 350 Group shall return to
the Company all Confidential Information indicated by the Company in its
notice letter as well as any other Confidential Information that 350 Group
is aware that it has, in whatever form it exists, including all copies
thereof. The Company agrees that so long as 350 Group has made a good faith
effort to return all such Confidential Information, 350 Group shall be
deemed to have complied with the provisions of this paragraph 13.4. The
Company may at anytime call to 350 Group's attention that certain additional
Confidential Information needs to be returned and 350 Group shall promptly
search for such additional Confidential Information and return it to the
Company. The Company agrees that 350 Group may delete any information that
is proprietary to 350 Group that may be contained within the Company's
Confidential Information.
13.5 Non-Disclosure.
350 Group agrees that, during the term of the Engagement and for a
period of three (3) years after the expiration or Termination of this
Agreement, regardless of the reason for such Termination, 350 Group will not
reveal or disclose any such Confidential Information to any third party
unless the Company has consented, or unless required by law, a court or
agency of the government; provided, however, that 350 Group is authorized to
disclose such Confidential Information in connection with a potential
Transaction in a manner consistent with customary industry practices in
connection with the provision of services under this Agreement. Neither the
previous paragraph nor any restriction, non- disclosure or use limitation or
other obligation contained in this Agreement shall apply to any information,
data or item of any kind which is: (i) in the public domain, through no
action of 350 Group; (ii) already known by 350 Group at the time it is
provided to 350 Group by the Company; (iii) disclosed to 350 Group by any
person or entity not known by 350 Group to be under an obligation of
confidentiality to Company; or (iv) independently developed or derived by 350
Group.
13. INDEMNIFICATION In consideration of 350 Group signing this Agreement and






