Strategic Alliance Agreement between Startech Environmental Corp. and UXB International Inc.

Summary

Startech Environmental Corp. and UXB International Inc. have entered into a five-year strategic alliance to jointly pursue contracts for the safe destruction and processing of unexploded ordnance and hazardous waste using Startech's Plasma Waste Converter systems and UXB's expertise in munitions management. Both companies agree to cooperate, maintain confidentiality, and respect each other's intellectual property. The agreement automatically renews for additional five-year terms unless terminated with proper notice. Disputes will be resolved through arbitration, and each party is responsible for necessary insurance and indemnification.

EX-10.I 14 0014.txt STARTECH STRATEGIC ALLIANCE\UXB INTER. Exhibit (10)(i) Strategic Alliance Between Startech Environmental Corp. (Startech), a Colorado Corporation with its principal office at 79 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and UXB International Inc. (UXB) with its principal office at 21641 Beaumeade Circle, Ashburn, VA 20147-6002. Whereas, Startech has developed and commercialized a proprietary system and process for the safe destruction, remediation, reduction and recycling of various waste streams, including those characterized as hazardous and non-hazardous waste, also including, but not limited to military munitions, and radioactive waste, utilizing its Plasma Waste Converter (PWC) system, and Whereas, UXB is a pre-eminent munitions management, processing, engineering and service company having special experience, knowledge and expertise in the field of decommissioning unexploded ordnance, and Whereas, both Parties hereto believe that it is in their mutual interest to work together to gain contracts, the purpose of which is to sell services, equipment and facilities that will safely process and destroy various forms of unexploded ordnance with the use of Startech PWC systems, where appropriate, in both stationary and mobile configurations. The mobile PWC configurations will be comprised of self propelled, trailer, and portable skid-assembled systems. Mobile configurations will also include barge mounted PWC systems. The 'initial focus of the undertaking will be on unexploded ordnance applications, but mutually beneficial applications may also be exploited for various other forms of non-hazardous and hazardous waste, including but not limited to radioactive waste and toxic waste. Now Therefore, Startech and UXB hereby agree to form a Strategic Alliance to mutually seek opportunities that utilize Startech PWC systems and utilize UXB's expertise, knowhow and experience in unexploded ordnance applications and for other dangerous or hazardous waste stream applications, and secure contracts that result from these opportunities, as follows: 1.0 Implementation ------------------ 1.01 Startech agrees to cooperate with UXB and UXB agrees to cooperate with Startech to promote the securing of contracts utilizing the Plasma Waste Converter systems and UXB's unexploded ordnance industry experience, expertise and know how on a case by case basis. 2.0 Period of Agreement ----------------------- 2.01 This Strategic Alliance Agreement shall continence on September 30, 1999 and extend for a period of five (5) years thereafter. Further it shall be automatically renewed for unlimited five (5) year extensions unless sixty (60) days prior to the initial expiration date, or sixty (60) days period to any five (5) year extension, a Party hereto notifies in writing the other Party of its intent to terminate the Agreement at the end of the then current contract period. Such notification must be posted and U.S. postmarked (first class or faster mail) sixty (60) or more days prior to the expiration of the then current Agreement period. 3.0 Common Undertakings ----------------------- 3.01 Both Parties agree with each other that they will: a. i. Use their best efforts (including where appropriate the resources of their associate companies) to obtain Contracts for application of the Startech Plasma Waste Converter Process and UXB's unexploded ordnance industry services, experience, expertise and know-how. ii. Do all such other acts as may be in the best interests of furthering the objectives of this Agreement. iii. Cooperate and liaise in all respects with any employee, duly authorized representative or agent of the other Party (and/or its associate companies) in connection with furthering the objectives of this Agreement; b. Conduct its business in accordance with the highest business standards and not perform any act which will or may reflect adversely upon the business integrity or goodwill of the other Party (or its associate companies); c. Not make any promises or representations or give any warranties or guarantees in respect of the capabilities of the other Party (or its associate companies) which have not been authorized either under the terms of this Agreement or, if outside the terms of this Agreement specifically authorized in writing regarding the inquiry of a potential client or contract concerned; 4.0 Secrecy ----------- 4.01 The Parties to this Agreement agree to maintain strict confidentiality regarding all confidential information and disclosures that come into their possession regarding the other Party during the period of this Agreement and for three (3) years thereafter regardless of the reason for the conclusion of the Agreement. 5.0 Intellectual Property Rights, Inventions and Patents -------------------------------------------------------- 5.01 Unless otherwise agreed, title and copyright of anything developed by either Party for a Contract resulting from a Contract resulting from this Agreement will remain with the developing Party. Under such circumstances, however, the developing Party grants to the other Party an unrestricted free of charge license to use the developed Item for the purpose for which it was sold providing it is not in competition with the developing Party. 5.02 If a joint innovative development involving both Parties is required under a Contract, such development will be the subject of shared intellectual property rights and joint patent application if and where appropriate. However, by mutual consent one Party can "buy our' the other Party's intellectual property rights/copyright. 6.0 Disputes ------------ 6.01 All disputes, differences or questions arising out of this Agreement as to the rights and liabilities of the parties hereto or as to the construction or interpretation hereof shall be referred to the decision of a single arbitrator under the American Arbitration Association's Rules. The appointment of the arbitrator to be agreed between the parties or in default of agreement appointed at the request of either Party by the then President for the time being of the American Arbitration Association. Arbitration shall take place in English, in New York City, unless mutually agreed otherwise. 7.0 Insurance and Indemnities ----------------------------- 7.01 Each Party shall carry all necessary insurance required by (a) the laws of their country of operation and the United States and (b) the requirements of each Contract. 7.02 Each Party shall indemnify and hold harmless/waive subrogation right against the other Party relating to liens, claims or other charges on goods and property, loss or damage to that Party's property, except where due to the negligence of the other Party, arising out of actions in connection with this Agreement or any Contract entered into as a result of it; loss or damage to any deliverables under any Contract whilst such deliverables are in the custody of that Party; death or injury to any employee of that Party or damage to the property of the Party's employees; etc. 7.03 Minimum insurance for any one event shall be in accordance with the terms of each Proposal/Contract, entered into by the Parties in accordance with this Agreement. 8.0 Relationship ---------------- 8.01 Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute, create, give effect, or to otherwise recognize a joint venture, partnership or formal business entity of any kind, and the rights and obligations of the Parties shall be limited to those expressly set forth herein. 8.02 Nothing herein shall be construed as providing for the sharing of profits or losses arising out of efforts of either Party, except as may be provided for in any resulting contract agreed to between the Parties. The cooperation of the Parties is for the purpose of complementing their respective capabilities in securing mutually beneficial contracts. 9.0 Entire Understanding ------------------------ 9.01 This Agreement embodies the entire understanding between the Parties in relation to marketing and selling of UXB and Startech products and services and there are no promises, terms or conditions or obligations oral or written expressed or implied other than those contained herein. 9.02 For the avoidance of doubt the contents of this Agreement does not apply to any Contract between the Parties except where specifically referenced within such Contract. 10.0 No Compensation -------------------- 10.01 It is hereby expressly agreed between the Parties hereto that, without prejudice to any rights which shall have accrued to either Party, neither Party shall be liable to compensate the other for termination in accordance with Clause 11.0. 11.0 Termination ---------------- 11.01 Either Party shall have the right at any time by giving notice in writing to the other Party to terminate the Agreement forthwith in the event of any of the following: a. If the other Party commits a material breach of any of the terms or conditions of this agreement and fails to remedy the same within 30 days of being requested to do so in writing by the other Party, or such other time period as may be agreed between the Parties as being reasonable under the prevailing circumstances; b. If the other Party is unable to pay its debts as they fall due or a petition is presented or a meeting convened for the purpose of winding up that Party or the Party enters into liquidation where other compulsory or voluntarily or compounds with its creditors generally has a receiver appointed of all or for any part of its assets or takes or suffers any similar action in consequence of debt. 11.02 Either Party shall have the right to terminate for convenience after a proscribed period of notice as set forth in Clause 2.0 hereof. 11.03 If terminated for convenience by either Party, both Parties to this Agreement shall honor all outstanding valid proposals and contractual obligations existing at the date of termination. 11.04 If terminated by one Party due to any of the reasons defined in Clause 11.01, the Party in default will forfeit any rights requiring the other Party to honor any outstanding commitments under the terminated Agreement. 12.0 Applicable Law ------------------- 12.01 The law of the State of Connecticut shall govern this Agreement and the parties agree that any Connecticut Court of competent jurisdiction shall be a proper venue for the bringing of any and all claims relative to this Agreement. In witness whereof this Agreement has been entered into on the date and year above first written. Signed (for and on behalf of Startech) /S/ Joseph F. Longo 22 SEPT 99 - ---------------------------------------- ----------------- Joseph F. Longo, President Date WITNESSED BY: Signed: /S/ Peter J. Scanlon Peter J. Scanlon --------------------------------- Signed (for and on behalf of UXB) /S/ Richmond H. Dugger, Ph.D, President 23 SEPT 99 - ---------------------------------------- --------------- Richmond H. Dugger, P.D, President Date WITNESSED BY: Signed: /S/ Toni Ann Marin 23 SEPT 99 --------------------------------- --------------- Date