EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) made as of the
___ day of _____________________, 20__ (the “Effective Date”), by and
between Atlantic Medical Supply, Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valiant
Health Care, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”),
and _____________ (the “Executive”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to
employ the Executive as _________________, on the terms and conditions set forth
in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Executive is
willing to accept such employment on such terms and conditions;
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and of the mutual promises, representations and
covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. SCOPE OF
EMPLOYMENT
(a) The Company hereby agrees to
employ the Executive upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and to
perform such executive duties as may be determined and assigned to him or her by
the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). The Executive
hereby accepts such employment, subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth. The Executive shall have the title of
___________________________. While serving in such position, the
Executive shall have the customary duties and powers of such position. Executive
shall not be employed by any other organization during the term of this
Agreement, unless such employment has been approved in advance by the Board and
the Executive may
devote reasonable periods of time to serve as a director or advisor to other
organizations, to perform charitable and other community activities, and to
manage his or her personal investments; provided, however, that such activities
do not materially interfere with the performance of his or her duties hereunder
and are not in conflict or competitive with, or adverse to, the interests of the
Company.
(b) By
executing this Agreement, each party represents to the other that it is
authorized to enter into this Agreement and that it is not under any legal
restriction or other impediment that would prevent it from fully discharging its
responsibilities and obligations under this Agreement.
2. TERM
(a) The
term of Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall be for a period of
three years from the Effective Date. The term shall automatically
renew thereafter for successive one-year periods beginning on the anniversary
date of the Effective Date unless (i) the Company provides written notice
of non-renewal to the Executive at least 90 days prior to the next renewal date,
or (ii) the Executive provides written notice of non-renewal to the Company
at least 90 days before the next renewal date. In the
event of a “Change of Control” (as defined in Section 5(c) herein), this
Agreement shall automatically be extended for the greater of (i) a period of one
year from the date of such Change of Control in the event there exists less than
one year remaining in the term of this Agreement; or (ii) the remaining term of
this Agreement in the event there exists more than one year remaining in the
term of this Agreement.
(b) The
Agreement may be terminated before the end of the current term as
follows:
(i) By
the Company for Cause (as hereinafter defined);
(ii) By
the Company without Cause. For purposes hereof, Executive shall be deemed
terminated by the Company without Cause if he or she terminates employment for
Good Reason (as hereinafter defined);
(iii) In
the event of the Company’s dissolution or liquidation;
(iv) By
the Executive for any reason;
(v) In
the event of the death of the Executive; or
(vi) In
the event of the disability of Executive (as hereinafter defined).
(c) For
purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean, and shall
be limited to, any of the following that is reasonably determined by the Board
to be substantially detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company,
and that occurs or comes to light after the Effective Date: (i) the
Executive’s willful commission of acts of dishonesty in connection with his or
her position; (ii) the Executive’s willful failure or refusal to perform
the essential duties of his or her position or to adhere to any written Company
policy approved by the Board of Directors; (iii) the Executive’s conviction
of, or plea of guilty or nolo
contendere to, (x) a felony, or (y) a misdemeanor involving
fraud, dishonesty, embezzlement, or theft; or (iv) the Executive’s breach
of the restrictive covenants contained in Sections 6 and 7 of the
Agreement. The Company shall provide the Executive with written notice
describing any event or condition that gives the Company Cause for termination.
If the Executive cures the same within 30 days after receiving such notice,
there shall be no termination for Cause.
(d) For
purposes hereof, the term “Good Reason” shall mean any
one or more of the following events unless Executive specifically agrees in
writing that such event shall not be Good Reason:
(i) the
assignment to Executive by the Board of Directors or other officers or
representatives of the Company of duties materially inconsistent with the duties
associated with the position described in Section 1(a);
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(ii) a
material change in the nature or scope of Executive’s authority from those
applicable to him or her in his or her position;
(iii)
material acts or conduct on the part of the Company or its officers and
representatives which have as their purpose forcing the resignation of Executive
or preventing him or her from performing his or her duties and responsibilities
pursuant to this Agreement;
(iv) a
material breach by the Company of any material provision of this Agreement
(including, but not limited to, failure of the Company to pay any amount, or to
provide any benefit, pursuant to the provision of Articles 3 and 4
hereof);
(v) the
Executive’s involuntary termination without Cause or voluntary termination for
any reason on or after a Change in Control.
The
Executive shall provide the Company with written notice describing any event or
condition that gives the Executive Good Reason for termination. If the Company
cures the same within thirty (30) days after receiving such notice, there
shall be no termination for Good Reason.
(e) For
purposes hereof, the term “disability” shall mean the
inability of the Executive, due to illness, accident, or any other physical or
mental incapacity, to perform his or her duties in a normal manner for
(i) a period of four (4) consecutive months or (ii) six
(6) months (with each month being composed of 31 consecutive days) during
any twelve (12) consecutive month period. The disability of the Executive
shall be determined by a medical doctor approved by the Company. The Executive
shall submit to a reasonable number of examinations by the medical doctor making
the determination of disability, and the Executive hereby authorizes the
disclosure and release to the medical doctor of all supporting medical
records.
(f) In
the event of a termination of the Agreement for a reason other than death or
disability, the Executive agrees to cooperate with the Company in order to
ensure an orderly transfer of the Executive’s duties and
responsibilities.
3. COMPENSATION
(a) Annual Salary. The
Company agrees to pay the Executive, and the Executive agrees to accept, in
payment for services to be rendered by the Executive hereunder, a minimum base
salary of $__________ per annum (the “Annual Salary”). The Annual
Salary shall be payable in equal periodic installments, not less frequently than
monthly, less such sums as may be required to be deducted or withheld under the
provisions of federal, state or local law. The Company agrees to review the
Annual Salary on or around January 1st of each calendar year (or such other time
as the Company and Executive mutually agree), for adjustment based on the
Executive’s performance; provided, however, that no such
adjustment shall be effective to reduce the Annual Salary below the amount
provided above. For all purposes under this Agreement, the term “Annual Salary” shall refer
to the Executive’s base salary as in effect from time to time. The
Company and Executive agree to certain additional compensation terms as provided
for on Exhibit
A attached hereto and incorporated herein by this
reference.
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(b) Annual Bonus. In
addition to Executive’s salary, the Executive shall be eligible to receive an
annual bonus if performance goals established by the Company are satisfied. If
the Company has established an annual incentive compensation plan for its senior
management, the Executive’s annual bonus opportunity may be provided under the
terms of the annual incentive compensation plan. Any bonus program in which the
Executive participates may be established and administered on behalf of the
Company by the independent directors who are members of the compensation
committee of the Board (the “Compensation
Committee”).
(c) Equity Compensation
Plan. Executive shall be considered for any type of equity compensation
plan as determined by the Compensation Committee.
4. FRINGE
BENEFITS, REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES, ETC.
(a) The
Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave benefits
in accordance with the Company’s policies for executive employees.
(b) The
Executive shall participate in all retirement, welfare, deferred compensation,
life and health insurance (including health insurance for Executive’s spouse and
his or her dependents), and other benefit plans or programs of the Company now
or hereafter applicable to the Executive, or applicable generally to employees
of the Company or to a class of employees that includes senior executives of the
Company; provided, however, that during any period during the Term that the
Executive is subject to a disability, and during the 180-day period of physical
or mental infirmity leading up to the Executive’s disability, the amount of the
Executive’s compensation provided under Section 2 shall be reduced by the sum of
the amounts, if any, paid to the Executive for the same period under any
disability benefit or pension plan of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries.
(c) Except
as provided in Section 15, the Company agrees to pay, or promptly reimburse
the Executive for, any reasonable and necessary expense incurred by the
Executive in performing his or her duties for the Company during the term of
this Agreement; provided, however, that the Executive furnishes appropriate
documentation for such expenses in accordance with the Company’s practices and
procedures.
5.
TERMINATION
BENEFITS
In
addition to the benefits described under the Agreement that survive the
termination of the Agreement, the following benefits will be paid on account of
the termination of the Agreement for the following reasons:
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(a) Upon
termination of this Agreement by the Company for Cause pursuant to
Section 2(b)(i), or by the Executive for other than Good Reason or upon the
Executive’s death, or by either party through non-renewal at the end of the
current term, the Company shall pay to Executive or his or her beneficiaries, as
the case may be, immediately after the date of termination an amount equal to
the sum of Executive’s accrued base salary and any bonus amount earned but not
yet paid;
(b) Upon
termination of this Agreement before the end of the current term (x) by the
Company without Cause or (y) by the Executive for Good Reason or
disability, Executive shall be entitled to his or her accrued base salary and
any bonus amount earned but not yet paid, as provided in Section 5(a), and
to the following benefits:
(i) the
Company shall pay to Executive, immediately after the date of termination (or as
soon thereafter as the amount may be paid without incurring the 20% additional
income tax under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code) an amount which
is equal to the Executive’s Annual Salary for
one month; and
(ii) the
Company shall fully vest any stock options or restricted stock previously
granted to the Executive.
(c) For
purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” means any
of the following events:
(i) any
person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”)), other than
a subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit plan (or any related trust)
of the Company, after the Effective Date, the beneficial owner (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 35% or more of
the common stock of the Company (the “Common Stock”);
(ii)
individuals who constitute the Board as of the Effective Date (the “Incumbent Board”), cease for
any reason to constitute a majority of the members of the Board (except that any
individual who becomes a director after the Effective Date, whose election by
the Company’s stockholders was approved by a majority of the members of the
Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of
the Incumbent Board); or
(iii)
approval by the stockholders of the Company of either of the
following:
(1) a
merger, reorganization, consolidation, business combination or similar
transaction (any of the foregoing, a “Merger”) as a result of
which the persons who were the respective beneficial owners of the outstanding
Common Stock immediately before such Merger are not expected to beneficially
own, immediately after such Merger, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the
common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of the corporation or other entity resulting from such Merger in
substantially the same proportions as immediately before such Merger,
or
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(2) a
plan of liquidation of the Company or a plan or agreement for the sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
(iv)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall not be a Change in Control if, in
advance of such event, Executive agrees in writing that such event shall not
constitute a Change in Control.
(d) Upon
the termination of this Agreement in the event of a Change of Control, Executive
shall be entitled to his accrued base salary and any bonus amount earned
but not yet paid, and to the following benefits:
(i) the
Company shall pay to Executive, immediately after the date of termination (or as
soon thereafter as the amount may be paid without incurring the 20% additional
income tax under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code) an amount which
is equal to the Executive’s Annual Salary for three months;
(ii) the
Company shall provide to Executive medical coverage as described in Section
4(b), above, and continue access to or payment of any other fringe benefits
provided pursuant to Section 4, at the expense of the Company, for a period of
three months after the date of the Change of Control; and
(iii) the
Company shall fully vest any stock options or restricted stock previously
granted to the Executive.
(e) The
Company’s obligations under this Section 5 shall survive termination of
this Agreement.
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6. NONDISCLOSURE
OBLIGATION
(a) General
Obligation. The
Executive acknowledges that while employed by the Company, the Executive will
occupy a position of trust and confidence. The Executive shall not disclose to
others or use, whether directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information (as
defined below) regarding the Company or any of its subsidiaries or franchisees;
provided, however that this Section 6(a) shall not apply to any disclosure
(x) required to perform the Executive’s duties hereunder; (y) required
by applicable law; or (z) of information that shall have become public
other than by the Executive’s unauthorized disclosure. “Confidential Information”
shall mean information about the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
franchisees, and their clients and customers, that is not disclosed by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or franchisees in the ordinary course of
business and that was learned by the Executive in the course of employment by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or franchisees, including (without
limitation) any proprietary knowledge, trade secrets, data, formulae,
information and client and customer lists and all papers, resumes, and records
(including computer records) of the documents containing such Confidential
Information. The Executive acknowledges that such Confidential Information is
specialized, unique in nature, and of great value to the Company and its
subsidiaries or franchisees, and that such information gives the Company and its
subsidiaries or franchisees a competitive advantage. The Executive agrees to
deliver or return to the Company, at the Company’s request at any time or upon
termination or expiration of the Executive’s employment or as soon thereafter as
possible, all documents, computer tapes and disks, records, lists, data,
drawings, prints, notes and written information (and all copies thereof)
furnished by the Company and its subsidiaries or franchisees or prepared by the
Executive in the course of the Executive’s employment by the Company and its
subsidiaries or franchisees. As used in this Agreement, “subsidiaries” shall mean any company
controlled by, controlling, or under common control with the
Company.
(b) Compulsory
Disclosures. If
the Executive is requested or (in the opinion of his or her counsel) required by
law or judicial order to disclose any Confidential Information, the Executive
shall provide the Company with prompt notice of any such request or requirement
so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order or waiver of the
Executive’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 6.
(c) Confidential Information of
Third Parties.
The Executive agrees that he or she will not, during the term of this
Agreement, improperly use or disclose to the Company any proprietary information
or trade secrets of any former or current employer or other person or entity
with which he or she has an agreement or duty to keep in confidence information
acquired by him or her in confidence, and that he or she will not bring onto the
premises of the Company any unpublished document or proprietary information
belonging to such employer, person or entity unless consented to in writing by
such employer, person, or entity.
(d) The
Executive’s obligations under this Section 6 shall survive termination of
this Agreement.
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7. NON-COMPETITION
AND NON-SOLICITATION
(a) Non-Competition. The Executive
acknowledges and recognizes his possession of Confidential Information and
acknowledges the highly competitive nature of the business of the Company and
its franchisees and subsidiaries and accordingly agrees that, in consideration
of the premises contained herein, he or she will not, during the term of this
Agreement, as from time to time extended, and for one year after the date of
termination of this Agreement, regardless of the reason for his or her
termination, engage or invest in, own, manage, operate, finance, control, or
participate in the ownership, management, operation, financing, or control of,
be employed by, lend his or her name to, lend his or her credit to, or render
services or advice to any business that competes with the business then being
conducted by the Company or any of its franchisees or subsidiaries, or that had
been conducted by the Company or any of its franchisees or subsidiaries during
the prior 12 months; provided, however, that the Executive may purchase or
otherwise acquire up to three percent of any class of securities of any
enterprise if such securities are listed on any national or regional securities
exchange or have been registered under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended. The Executive agrees that, in consideration of the
premises contained herein, he or she will not, during the term of this
Agreement, as from time to time extended, and for one year after the date of
termination of this Agreement, regardless of the reason for his or her
termination, either individually or as an officer, director, stockholder,
member, partner, agent, consultant or principal of another business firm,
directly or indirectly, solicit any business of the type being carried on by the
Company or any of its franchisees or subsidiaries during the term of this
Agreement (or any business of a similar type) from any person or entity that was
a customer of the Company or its franchisees or subsidiaries during the term of
this Agreement.
(b) Non-Solicitation. The Executive
recognizes that he or she will possess confidential information about other
employees of the Company and its subsidiaries or franchisees relating to their
education, experience, skills, abilities, compensation, and benefits, and
inter-personal relationships with suppliers to and customers of the Company and
its subsidiaries or franchisees. The Executive recognizes that the information
he or she will possess about these other employees is not generally known, is of
substantial value to the Company and its subsidiaries or franchisees in
developing their respective businesses and in securing and retaining customers,
and will be acquired by Executive because of Executive’s business position with
the Company. Executive agrees that during the term of this Agreement and for one
year after the date of termination of this Agreement, regardless of the reason
for his or her termination, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, solicit
or recruit any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or franchisees
for the purpose of being employed by Executive or by any business, individual,
partnership, firm, corporation or other entity on whose behalf Executive is
acting as an agent, representative, or employee and that Executive will not
convey any such confidential information or trade secrets about other employees
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or franchisees to any other person
except within the scope of Executive’s duties hereunder.
(c) The
Executive’s obligations under this Section 7 shall survive termination of
this Agreement.
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8. ENFORCEMENT
AND REMEDIES
(a) Enforcement. It is
the desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this
Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and
public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought.
Accordingly, although the Executive and the Company consider the restrictions
contained in this Agreement to be reasonable for the purpose of preserving the
Company’s goodwill and proprietary rights, if any particular provision of this
Agreement shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision
shall be deemed amended to delete the portion thus adjudicated to be invalid or
unenforceable, such deletion to apply only with respect to the operation of such
provision in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made. It
is expressly understood and agreed that although the Company and the Executive
consider the restrictions contained in Section 7 to be reasonable, if a
final determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the time
or territory or any other restriction contained in this Agreement is
unenforceable against the Executive, the provisions of this Agreement shall be
deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such
maximum extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be
enforceable.
(b) Remedies; Survival.
The parties acknowledge that the Company’s damages at law would be an inadequate
remedy for the breach by the Executive of any provision of Section 6 or 7,
and agree in the event of such breach that the Company may obtain temporary and
permanent injunctive relief restraining the Executive from such breach, and, to
the extent permissible under the applicable statutes and rules of procedure, a
temporary injunction may be granted immediately upon the commencement of any
such suit. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the
Company from pursuing any other remedies available at law or equity for such
breach or threatened breach of Section 6 or 7, or for any breach or
threatened breach of any other provision of this Agreement. The obligations
contained in Sections 6 and 7 shall survive the termination or expiration
of the Executive’s employment with the Company and, as applicable, shall be
fully enforceable thereafter in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
(c) Arbitration. The
parties agree that any claim, controversy, or dispute between Executive and the
Company (including without limitation Company’s franchisees, officers,
employees, representatives, or agents) arising out of or relating to this
Agreement, other than a dispute concerning the breach or threatened breach of
Section 6 or 7 of this Agreement, shall be submitted to and settled by
arbitration before a single arbitrator in a forum of the American Arbitration
Association (“AAA”)
located in Broward County in the State of Florida and conducted in accordance
with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes. In such
arbitration: (a) the arbitrator shall agree to treat as confidential
evidence and other information presented by the parties to the same extent as
Confidential Information under this Agreement must be held confidential by the
Executive, (b) the arbitrator shall have no authority to amend or modify
any of the terms of this Agreement, and (c) the arbitrator shall have ten
business days from the closing statements or submission of post-hearing briefs
by the parties to render its decision. All AAA-imposed costs of said
arbitration, including the arbitrator’s fees, if any, shall be borne by Company.
All legal fees incurred by the parties in connection with such arbitration shall
be borne by the party who incurs them, unless applicable statutory authority
provides for the award of attorneys’ fees to the prevailing party and the
arbitrator’s decision and award provides for the award of such fees. Any
arbitration award shall be final and binding upon the parties, and any court
having jurisdiction may enter a judgment on the award. The foregoing requirement
to arbitrate claims, controversies, and disputes applies to all claims or
demands by Executive, including, without limitation, any rights or claims the
Executive may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1991, the Equal Pay Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, or any other federal,
state or local laws or regulations pertaining to Executive’s employment or the
termination of Executive’s employment.
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9. WITHHOLDING
The
Company shall withhold such amounts from any compensation or other benefits
payable to the Employee under this Agreement on account of payroll and other
taxes as may be required by applicable law or regulation of any governmental
authority.
10. ENTIRE
AGREEMENT
This
Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto and
supersedes all other oral and written agreements or understandings between them.
All previous oral or written agreements between the parties hereto shall be
deemed to have been completely fulfilled by both parties and shall be superseded
by this Agreement. No modification or addition hereto or waiver or cancellation
of any provision shall be valid except by a writing signed by all of the parties
hereto.
11. SUCCESSORS
AND ASSIGNS
This
Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties
hereto and their heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. As
used herein, the successors of the Company shall include, but not be limited to,
any successor by way of merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all
of its assets, or similar reorganization. In no event may Executive assign any
duties or obligations under this Agreement. It is expressly agreed for purposes
of this Agreement that the spouse and children of Executive shall be third-party
beneficiaries of Executive under this Agreement and shall be entitled to enforce
the rights of Executive hereunder in the event of Executive’s death or
disability.
12. CONTROLLING
LAW
The
validity and construction of this Agreement or of any of its provisions shall be
determined under the laws of Florida, without giving effect to any choice of law
or conflict of law provision or rule that would cause the application of the
laws of any jurisdiction other than Florida. The invalidity or unenforceability
of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect or limit the validity and
enforceability of the other provisions hereof.
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13. COUNTERPARTS
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
14. HEADINGS
The
headings herein are inserted only as a matter of convenience and reference, and
in no way define, limit or describe the scope of this Agreement or the intent of
any provisions thereof.
15. INDEMNIFICATION
The
Company shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless from and against all claims,
investigations, actions, awards, and judgments, including costs and attorneys’
fees, incurred by Executive in connection with acts or decisions made by
Executive in good faith in his or her capacity as an executive of the Company,
so long as Executive reasonably believed that the acts or decisions were in the
best interests of the Company and (with respect to any criminal action) the
Executive had no reason to believe the Executive’s conduct was unlawful. The
Company further agrees to pay the reasonable expenses of private counsel or
investigators incurred in representing the Executive in any audit, inquiry,
regulatory review, or similar action or proceeding covered by this
indemnification. The Company shall not settle any claim or action or pay any
award or judgment against Executive without Executive’s prior written consent,
which shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company may obtain coverage for
Executive under an insurance policy covering the directors and officers of the
Company against claims set forth herein if such coverage is possible at a
reasonable cost, provided, however, it is understood and agreed that the
Company’s obligation to indemnify Executive as set forth in this Section 15
shall not be affected by the Company’s ability or inability to obtain insurance
coverage.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above
written.
ATLANTIC MEDICAL SUPPLY, INC. (a
wholly-owned subsidiary of VALIANT
HEALTH CARE, INC.)
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By:
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Name:.
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Title:
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EXECUTIVE:
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Name:
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