Sample Advisory Agreement
Sample Advisory Agreement
BETWEEN
_________________________ PRIVATE LIMITED, a private limited company having its registered office at
________________________________________India (hereinafter, the “Company”, which expression shall
unless repugnant to the context mean and include its successors); of the FIRST PART;
AND
WHEREAS:
A. The Company is engaged in the business of providing technology products and IT enabled
services in the field of logistics and transportation (“Business”).
B. The Company wishes to engage individuals with the business and technical expertise to serve on
its advisory board (“Advisory Board”) to advise the Company in relation to its Business.
C. The Advisor has the requisite expertise and is willing to serve as a member of the Company’s
Advisory Board.
D. Therefore, in consideration of the mutual promises set forth herein, the Parties have agreed to
execute this Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE IN CONSIDERATION OF THE MUTUAL PROMISES CONTAINED HEREIN,
THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
1. ENGAGEMENT OF SERVICES
1.1 The Company hereby appoints the Advisor as a member of its Advisory Board. The Advisor,
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, agrees to serve as a member of the Company’s
Advisory Board and provide such Services (as defined hereinafter) to the Company as required
from time to time.
1.2 As a member of the Advisory Board, the Advisor agrees to perform such services, including but
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not limited to those specified in Schedule A (“Services”).
1.3 The Advisor promises to perform the Services of the Company with utmost care, responsibility
and in a timely manner. Further, the Advisor agrees to perform the Services for the Company in
good faith and to the best of Advisor’s ability.
2. COMPENSATION, EXPENSES
2.1. The Company will grant the Advisor options to purchase _________ number of shares equivalent
to _____% (__________________ percent) of the equity shares of the Company at the face value of
the shares (“Compensation Shares”). Such options will be granted only if the Advisor meets the
performance metrics and the milestones mentioned in the Schedule – A. In case of partial
completion of the performance metrics, the Founder of the Company will have the sole right to
decide how many of the shares, and if at all any, would be granted to the Advisor.
2.2. Such option must be exercised by the Advisor within 3 months of vesting of such option
(Exercise Period). In case the option is not exercised by the Advisor within the Exercise period,
the option will lapse and no right will accrue after such date.
2.3. In case the Agreement is terminated by the Company, due to continuous non-performance,
non-availability or inability to perform duties without satisfactory justification, dishonest or
unethical conduct damaging to the business or reputation of other Founders, serious breach of
discipline in course of performance of duties at workplace or otherwise, including sexual
harassment, as well as commission of a crime involving moral turpitude or death of the Advisor
or the Advisor terminates the Agreement before the term, shares remaining unvested as of the
Termination Date shall be cancelled or returned to the Company.
2.4. In case of the Company raising investment, acquisition or merger, the Co-founders may help the
Advisor to be given an opportunity to dilute after a discussion. However, it is clarified that the
Co-founders have no obligation to ensure that Advisor’s shares will be purchased by an investor,
whether on a pro-rata basis or otherwise.
2.5. The shares will not have any special rights. The Advisor shall vote in consonance with the
Co-founders of the Company.
2.6. Company will seek written approval or have a meeting of the Board of Directors to authorize the
issuance of such shares or transfer of shares within 90 days of the options getting vested.
2.7. The Company shall reimburse Advisor for reasonable travel and related expenses incurred by the
Advisor in the course of performing services as per the terms of this Agreement, provided,
however, for any expenses above INR ______ the advisor must take a prior permission of the
Company. For all such expenditure, Advisor shall submit a proof of such cost and expenditure
made to the Company. However, no reimbursement will be provided for visi ng the
Registered/Corporate office of the Company or mee ngs within Delhi-NCR.
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3. MUTUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
3.1 Advisor represents, warrants, and covenants that (i) neither the Work Product nor the Services
will infringe or misappropriate any intellectual property right of any person or entity; (ii) Advisor
has not and will not grant any right or interest in the Work Product to any person or entity other
than the Company; (iii) the Work Product is not subject to any lien, encumbrance, or other
restriction on its transfer; (iv) Advisor has the full power and authority to enter into this
Agreement; (v)Advisor has obtained and will obtain any and all assignments necessary to satisfy
its obligations under this Agreement; and (vi) Advisor will comply with all laws in performing its
obligations under this Agreement.
3.2 Each Party represents and warrants to the other Party that as on the date of this Agreement:
(a) it has necessary power and authority to enter into this Agreement and that the execution,
delivery and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby have each been; and
(b) the execution, delivery, performance and consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement do not and will not constitute a material default under any contract by which they or
any of their material assets are bound.
4. RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER OF SHARES
4.1 Restrictions on Transfer of the Shares. The Advisor shall not at any time transfer the
Compensation Shares allotted to him, or create any mortgage, lien or charges of any kind over the
same without the consent of the Company.
4.2 Right of First Refusal. If the Advisor wishes to transfer, subject to the consent from the
Company, all of the Compensation Shares allotted to him pursuant to clause 2.1 above to any
person (“Proposed Transferee”), the Advisor shall first grant to the Chief Executive Officer,
Mr. _____________________________________ (“First CEO”), a prior right to purchase the
Compensation Shares at the same price and on the same terms and conditions as offered to the
Proposed Transferee (“Right of First Refusal”), in accordance with Clause 7.3 (Procedure). If the
First CEO refuses to purchase the Compensation Shares, the Advisor shall then offer the
Compensation Shares to the remaining co-founders of the Company. In an event that the
co-founders also do not exercise their Right of First Refusal, the Advisor can then offer the
Compensation Shares to the third party investors of the Company.
4.3 Procedure.
4.3.1 Upon the Advisor receiving a proposal from a Proposed Transferee for purchase of the
Compensation Shares (“Proposal”), the Promoters shall immediately (i) seek consent from the
CEO for the proposed sale; and (ii) forward the Proposal and all other documents entered into
with the Proposed Transferee to the CEO along with an offer for sale of the said Compensation
Shares to the CEO (“Offer”). The Offer shall set out, among other things, the name and other
material particulars of the Proposed Transferee, the number of Compensation Shares proposed to
be Transferred, the price per share and other terms of the transfer and confirmation from the
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Promoters stating that the offer is bona fide.
4.3.2 Within 30 (thirty) days of receipt of the Offer, the CEO shall convey to the Advisor in writing, its
decision to accept or decline the Offer. If the CEO chooses to exercise the Right of First Refusal,
the Advisor shall complete the sale of the Compensation Shares to the CEO within a period of 15
(fifteen) days from the date of receipt of the intimation of acceptance of the Offer from the CEO.
4.3.3 Notwithstanding anything written in this agreement, if the Proposed Transferee is not suitable to
be a shareholder of the company in opinion of the CEO, or a person of ill repute, or if the price is
lower than the valuation of the company at that point of time or conflicts with the plans of the
company to raise funding, then at the option of the CEO, the company may veto the plans of the
Advisor to sell his shares in writing citing the reasons and the Advisor will then not sell his
shares.
5. TERM AND TERMINATION
5.1 Term: This Agreement shall be effective for a term of 5 (five) years (“Term”). The Term can be
extended with mutual agreement of Parties in writing as an addendum to this Agreement.
5.2 Termination:
5.2.1 The Company may terminate the Agreement if the Advisor breaches any of the clauses of the
Agreement and in that case no shares or compensation will be due to the Advisor.
5.2.2 Either party has the right to terminate this Agreement if the other breaches or commits a default
of any obligation which default is incapable of cure. If the default is capable of cure but has not
been cured within 30 (Thirty) calendar days after receipt of notice of such default (or such
additional cure period as the non-defaulting party may authorize), then the other party has a
right to terminate the Agreement.
5.2.3 Upon the termination of this Agreement, each Party shall be released from all obligations and
liabilities to the other occurring or arising after the date of such termination, except that any
termination of this Agreement shall not relieve Advisor of Advisor’s obligations under clause 5, 6,
7, 8 & 9 hereof, nor shall any such termination relieve Advisor or the Company from any liability
arising from any breach of this Agreement.
5.2.4 Further, upon the termination of this Agreement, the Advisor shall promptly return to the
Company all Confidential Information received by the Advisor during the Term of the
Agreement.
6. LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY
6.1 Indemnity:
6.1.1 Each Party (an “Indemnifying Party”) hereby undertakes to indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the other Party, its directors, agents, officers and employees (together, the “Indemnified
Parties”) against any and all claims, suits, actions, demands or proceedings and all related
damages, losses, liabilities, cost and expenses (including but not limited to reasonable lawyers’
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fees) (together, “Claims”) incurred by the Indemnified Parties arising out of or relating to: (i)
breach of the terms of this Agreement or of any applicable law, rules, regulations or orders of any
statutory, judicial, quasi-judicial or other competent authority; or (ii) any action taken by any
government or other statutory, judicial, quasi-judicial or other competent authority against the
Indemnified Parties for any breach or default by the Indemnifying Party.
6.1.2 Notwithstanding the above, the Company will not indemnify the Advisor if he breaches the
Confidential Information or any component thereof or uses the Confidential Information outside
the scope of this Agreement.
6.2 Limitation of Liability:
6.2.1 Neither Party shall have any liability for incidental, consequential, indirect, special or punitive
damages arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, regardless of the form of the action,
whether in contract, tort or otherwise.
7. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
7.1 The advisor shall be an independent contractor and not an employee, agent or partner of the
Company. The Advisor is skilled in providing the Services to the Company and shall do so on an
independent basis. The Advisor shall not be eligible for any employee benefits and to the extent
necessary, the Advisor shall be solely responsible for any and all taxes related to the receipt of
any compensation under the Agreement.
7.2 The Advisor shall have no authority to enter into or execute contracts which the bind the
Company or create obligations on the part of the Company without the prior written consent of
the Company.
8. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
8.1 The Advisor recognizes that the Company has over the years developed certain rights,
information including but not limited to the Business of the Company, customer information,
financial projections, marketing plans, marketing materials, logos, and designs, and technical
data, inventions, processes, know-how, algorithms, formulae, franchises, databases, computer
programs, computer software, user interfaces, source codes, object codes, architectures and
structures, display screens, client lists, layouts, development tools and instructions, templates,
and other trade secrets, intangible assets and industrial or proprietary property rights which may
or may not be related directly or indirectly to Company's software business and all
documentation, media or other tangible embodiment of or relating to any of the foregoing and all
proprietary rights therein of Company (“Confidential Information”).
8.2 The Parties agree and acknowledge that the Confidential Information shall not include
information that: (a) is or becomes a part of the public domain through no act or omission of the
Advisor; (b) was in the Advisor’s lawful possession prior to the disclosure and had not been
obtained by the Advisor either directly or indirectly from the Company; (c) is lawfully disclosed
to the Advisor by a third party without restriction on the disclosure; (d) needs to be disclosed
pursuant to an order of a court, administrative agency or other government body; or (e) is
independently developed by the other Advisor.
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8.3 As a material and fundamental condition of this Agreement, the Advisor agree that Confidential
Information shall be held in strictest and highest level of confidence for a period of 3 (three) years
from the date of disclosure. The Advisor agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to inform
the Company promptly if it is aware of any breach by its employees or third party business,
technical or legal advisors of a non-disclosure agreement related to this Agreement.
8.4 Advisor hereby assigns and transfers to the Company his entire right, title and interest in and to
all Confidential Information developed under this Agreement solely or with the resources of the
Company. Advisor will, at the Company’s request, promptly execute a written assignment to the
Company of title of any such Confidential Information and will preserve any such information as
part of the Confidential Information of the Company.
8.5 Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as granting any rights under any patent, copyright
or other intellectual property right of the Company, nor shall this Agreement grant any rights in
or to the Company’s Confidential Information, expect the limited right to use the Confidential
Information to provide the Services to the Company.
9. NON-COMPETE CLAUSE
9.1 During the Term of this Agreement, and for a period of 2 years after termination or expiration, the
Advisor agrees that he shall not start any new business which is identical or similar to the
business model, product or services provided by the Company.
9.2 During the Term of this Agreement, and for a period of 2 years after termination or expiration, the
Advisor agrees that the Advisor shall not, directly or indirectly, engage as a consultant, employee,
sole proprietor, member of a partnership, shareholder, investor, officer or director of a company,
or as an associate, or be an agent of any person, business organization or entity which is a
competitor (or any person or entity that is reasonably anticipated to the general knowledge of the
Advisor or the public to become a competitor) of the Company.
9.3 Advisor shall not originate any publicity, news release or other public announcement related to
the Agreement without the prior written approval of the Company.
9.4 Non-solicitation: For two (2) years following termination of the Advisor’s engagement he or she
shall not:
(i) solicit, encourage, or induce or attempt to solicit, encourage, or induce any a) employee,
marketing agent, or consultant of the Company to terminate his employment, agency, or
consultancy with the Company or any (b) prospective employee with whom the Company has had
discussions or negotiations within six months prior to Advisor’s termination of employment, not
to establish a relationship with the Company;
(ii) induce or attempt to induce any current customer to terminate its relationship with the
Company, or
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(iii) induce any potential customer with whom the Company has had discussions or negotiations
within six months prior to Employee’s termination of employment not to establish a relationship
with the Organization.
10. MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 Assignment: Neither Party shall be entitled to transfer or assign this Agreement or any portion
thereof except with the prior written approval of the other Party.
10.2 Compliance with Laws: Each Party will comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations
applicable to such Party in its performance of this Agreement.
10.3 Relationship: Nothing in this Agreement shall constitute or be deemed to constitute a
partnership, joint venture, agency or the like between the Parties hereto or confer on any Party
any authority to bind the other Party or to contract in the name of the other Party or to incur any
liability or obligation on behalf of the other Party.
10.4 Dispute Resolution and Governing Law:
10.4.1 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India and
shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts in Mumbai subject to Clause
10.4.2.
10.4.2 In the event a dispute or difference arises in connection with the interpretation or implementation
of this Agreement, the Parties to the dispute shall attempt in the first instance to amicably resolve
such dispute through mutual consultations. If the dispute is not resolved within 30 (thirty) days
from the date of commencement of discussions or such longer period as the Parties agree in
writing, then a Party may refer the dispute to arbitration.
10.4.3 The Parties shall be bound to submit all disputes and differences howsoever arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement to arbitration by 1 (one) arbitrator mutually appointed by the
Parties hereto failing which, the arbitrator shall be appointed as per the provisions of the
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (“Arbitration Act”) and all matters in the arbitration shall
be governed by the Arbitration Act.
10.4.4 The place of arbitration shall be Mumbai, India and the language to be used in the arbitration
proceedings shall be English. The award of the arbitration proceedings will be final and binding
on both Parties to the Agreement.
10.5 Non- Exclusive Remedies: The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and none is
exclusive of any other, or of any rights or remedies that any Party may otherwise have at law or
in equity. The rights and remedies of any Party based upon, arising out of or otherwise in respect
of any inaccuracy or breach of any representation, warranty or agreement or failure to fulfill any
condition shall in no way be limited by the fact that the act, omission, occurrence or other state of
facts upon which any claim of any such inaccuracy or breach is based may also be the subject
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matter of any other representation, warranty, covenant or agreement as to which there is no
inaccuracy or breach.
10.6 Notices:
10.11.1 All notices given pursuant to this Agreement, shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be
served as follows: (i) in the case of any notice delivered by hand, when so delivered; (ii) if sent by
pre-paid post or courier, on the fifth business day after the date of posting; (iii) in the case of any
notice sent by facsimile, upon the receipt of a confirmation copy at the sender’s facsimile
machine; and (iv) if sent by e-mail, 24 (twenty four) hours after the e-mail is sent.
10.11.2 Any notice to be given by any Party shall be deemed to be duly served if delivered by prepaid
registered post or through a delivery service/courier, by hand delivery, by fax or by email to the
address mentioned on signature page of this Agreement. Any change in the address of either
Party shall be notified to the other Party in the same manner mentioned hereinabove.
10.11.3 Any notice or communication given in writing by the authorized signatory under this Agreement
shall be deemed to be served if the notice is given in the manner specified in Clause 10.11.1 and
Clause 10.11.2 at the following address or such other address as communicated in writing by the
Party:
If to _____________________ Private Limited:
Address : [●]
Attention : [●]
Telephone : [●]
Facsimile : [●]
Email : [●]
If to the Adviser:
Address : [●]
Attention : [●]
Telephone : [●]
Facsimile : [●]
Email : [●]:
10.7 Force Majeure: Neither Party shall be liable to the other for failure or delay in the performance of
a required obligation, excluding payments due, if such failure or delay is caused by strike, riot,
fire, flood, natural disaster, or other similar cause beyond such Party's control, provided that such
Party gives prompt written notice of such condition and resumes its performance as soon as
possible.
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10.8 Amendments and Waiver: Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, and
only if such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment by each
of the Parties, or in the case of a waiver, by the Party against whom the waiver is to be effective.
No waiver by any Party of any term or condition of this Agreement, in any one or more instances,
shall be deemed to be or construed as a waiver of the same or any other term or condition of this
Agreement on any future occasion.
10.9 Survival: Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions set forth in Clause 7 (Liability and
Indemnity), Clause 9 (Confidential Information), Clause 10.4 (Dispute Resolution and Governing Law),
Clause 10.5 (Non- Exclusive Remedies), Clause 10.6 (Notices), Clause 10.7 (Non-Solicitation),Clause
10.10 (Survival), , and any other terms which by their nature and content are intended to survive
the termination of this Agreement.
10.10 Good Faith: Each party will act in good faith in the performance of its respective duties and
responsibilities and will not unreasonably delay or withhold the giving of consent or approval
required for the other party under this Agreement. Each Party will provide an acceptable
standard of care in its dealings with the other party and its employees.
10.11 Telecopy execution and delivery: A facsimile, telecopy or other reproduction of this Agreement
may be executed by one or more Parties hereto and delivered by such Party by facsimile or any
similar electronic transmission device pursuant to which the signature of or on behalf of such
party can be seen. Such execution and delivery shall be considered valid, binding and effective
for all purposes. At the request of any Party hereto, all Parties hereto agree to execute and deliver
an original of this Agreement as well as any facsimile, telecopy or other reproduction hereof.
10.12 Severability: In the event that any of the terms, conditions or provisions contained in this
Agreement shall be determined by any competent authority to be invalid, unlawful or
unenforceable to any extent, such term, condition or provision shall to that extent be severed
from the remaining terms, conditions and provisions which shall continue to be valid to the
fullest extent permitted by the applicable laws.
10.13 Counterparts: This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
shall be enforceable against the Parties actually executing such counterparts, and all of which
together shall constitute one instrument. The Parties may enter into this Agreement by signing
any such counterpart.
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10.14 Entire Agreement: With the authorized signatures complete, this Agreement along with the
Annexures, herein, constitutes the entire Agreement between the Parties pertaining to the subject
matter hereof and any written or oral agreements existing between the Parties or modifications to
this Agreement shall be of no force or effect as regards the subject matter hereof unless
incorporated herein through an addendum signed by both the Parties specifically referencing this
Clause.
For the avoidance of any doubt, this Agreement shall be effective only when signed by both
Parties.
[Remainder or this page is intentionally left blank. Signature pages to follow.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Parties have duly executed this Agreement on the date first written
above.
For: Company
____________________________________
Authorised Signatory:
For: Advisor
____________________________________
Name:
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SCHEDULE A
The Advisor Compensation and Services are determined using the guidelines below:
Attend quarterly meetings to provide Promotion: On top of the regular advice and
_____ %
feedback on Company’s strategy for a insights, Advisor agrees to actively promote
mutually decided time and make introductions on behalf of the
Attend quarterly meetings of the Company through Advisor’s overall
Company’s Advisory board. network of business contacts, including
forwarding the Company’s business plan
Provide reasonable response to email and other materials as requested by the
requests by Company. Company.
Commitment Services
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