Contract
Exhibit
10
AGREEMENT
made this 9th day of August 2006, by and between Xxxxxxxx X'Xxxxx, whose address
is 0000 X, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx XX 00000 hereinafter referred
to
as "CONSULTANT", and Tasco Holdings International, Inc., whose principal place
of business is 0000 Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000, hereinafter
referred to as "Company".
WHEREAS,
the Company desires to engage CONSULTANT, as an independent contractor and
not
as an employee, to provide services to the Company in accordance with the Terms
and Conditions of this Agreement
WHEREAS,
CONSULTANT desires to provide services to the Company in accordance with the
Terms and Conditions of this Agreement
THEREFORE,
It is Agreed as follows
1.
Term.
The respective duties and obligations of the contracting parties shall be for
a
period of one year commencing on September 1, 2006 ("Contract
Period").
2.
Liability, The CONSULTANT shall not be liable to the Company, or to anyone
who
may claim any right due to any relationship with the Company, for any acts
or
omissions in the performance of services on the part of the CONSULTANT except
when said acts or omissions of the CONSULTANT are due to willful misconduct
or
gross negligence. The Company shall hold the CONSULTANT free and harmless from
any obligations, costs, claims, judgments, attorneys' fees, and attachments
arising from or growing out of the services rendered to the Company pursuant
to
the terms of this Agreement or in any way connected with the rendering of
services, except when the same shall arise due to the willful misconduct or
gross negligence of the CONSULTANT and the CONSULTANT is adjudged to be guilty
of willful misconduct or gross negligence by a court of competent
jurisdiction,
3.
Representations and Warranties
(a)
Company hereby represents and warrants to CONSULTANT as follows;
(i)
Corporate Existence of Company. Company (a) is a corporation duly formed,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware
and (b) has all requisite power and authority, and has all governmental
licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals necessary to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(ii)
No
Conflicts. None of the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
by
Company, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
(a) constitute or will constitute a violation of the organizational documents
of
Company, (b) constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a
default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would
constitute such a default) under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of Company,
loan
agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which Company is a party
or
by which Company or any of its properties may be bound, (c) violates or will
violate any statute, law or regulation or any order, judgment, decree or
injunction of any court or Governmental Authority directed to Company or any
of
its properties in a proceeding to which its property is or was a
party.
(b)
CONSULTANT hereby represents and warrant to Company as follows:
(i)
No
Conflicts. None of the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
by
CONSULTANT, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby (a) constitutes or will constitute a violation of the organizational
documents of CONSULT ANT, (b) constitutes or will constitute a breach or
violation of, or a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time
or
both, would constitute such a default) under, any indenture, mortgage, deed
of
Company, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which
CONSULTANT is a party or by which CONSULTANT or any of its properties may be
bound, (c) violates or will violate any statute, law or regulation or any order,
judgment, decree or injunction of any court or Governmental Authority directed
to CONSULTANT or any of their properties in a proceeding to which its property
is or was a party.
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4.
Scope
of Services. CONSULTANT shall perform the following tasks, as directed by the
Company's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and /or Board of Directors ("Board"),
in conjunction with Company's legal counsel and/or Company's staff (including
other consultants)
(i)
preparing the Company in order that the Company shall be compliant with, and
ensuring the Company remains compliant with cGMP & cGTP, as defined by the
applicable regulatory bodies ("cGMP/cGTP Compliance"), including, but not be
limited to, preparation, in conjunction with Company staff, of all documentation
required to be prepared in connection with cGMP/cGTP Compliance.
(ii)
Assisting in the preparation of any and all documentation required in order
that
the Company may obtain any FDA or state licensing which the Company may be
required to obtain in connection with the Company's business
activities
(iii)
Preparing a comprehensive list of persons and organizations that are known
to
CONSULTANT to be qualified to assist the Company in achieving its objectives
("Qualified Contacts"), such list to include information which may be required
in order that the Company can contact Qualified Contacts ("Contact List") and
providing the Contact List to the Company. CONSULTANT will be prepared, at
the
direction of the Company, to make personal introductions to Qualified Contacts
and promote the best interests of the Company in connection with interaction
with Qualified Contacts.
(iv) Preparing
a comprehensive list of any and all equipment which may be needed by the Company
in order that the Company may achieve its objectives regarding storage of both
cord blood and adipose tissue specimens ("Equipment List") and providing the
Equipment List to the Company, Contractor will be prepared, at the direction
of
the Company, to assist the Company in procuring any and all equipment which
may
be needed by the Company in order that the Company may achieve its objectives
regarding storage of both cord blood and adipose tissue specimens.
(v)
Assist
in preparation of tagging/inventory systems
(vi)
Initiate and manage meetings with potential clients of the Company
(vii)
Assist the Company in identifying and negotiating with potential acquisition
targets
(viii)
Prepare proposals for, and apply for, grants on behalf of the Company including,
but not limited to, Research and Development Grants, applicable Federal grants.
Small Business Grants and grants from the National Institute of
Health.
(ix)
Lead
employee personnel as directed
5.
Consideration. As consideration for entering into this Agreement and performing
services hereunder, Company agrees that:
CONSULTANT
shall be compensated in accordance with the following schedule:
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CONSULTANT
shall receive a fee of $5000 per month for each month of service pursuant to
the
terms and conditions of this Agreement ("Fees*), Fees shall be paid on the
first
Friday of each month ("Payment day") or, in the event that Payment day falls
on
a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, on the next business day, in any combination
of
cash and/or common shares of the Company ("Fee Shares") at the sole discretion
of the Company. Fee Shares shall be issued pursuant to an employee benefit
plan,
as the term "employee benefit plan" is defined in Rule 405 of Regulation C,
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and shall be
registered through Form S-8 to be filed with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission. Each Fee Share shall be valued at current market
price.
Expenses:
The Company shall reimburse CONSULTANT for all expenses necessarily and
reasonably incurred by CONSULTANT in connection with the business of the Company
against presentation of proper receipts or other proof of expenditure, and
subject to such guidelines or limitations as are provided to CONSULTANT by
the
CEO or the Board.
6.
Binding
Effect and Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and
assigns. This Agreement shall not be assignable by Company, in whole or in
part,
without CONSULTANT'S prior consent in its sole discretion and also shall not
be
assignable by CONSULTANT, in whole or in part, without Company's consent in
its
sole discretion.
7.
Non
Disclosure. CONSULTANT agrees that he shall be bound by the Non Disclosure
Agreement dated August 9, 2006 ("Appendix A") attached to and made part of
this
Agreement.
8.
Non
Solicitation, for a period beginning on the date hereof and ending three years
from the termination of this Agreement, CONSULTANT will not, singly, jointly,
or
as a partner, member, contractor, employee or agent of any partnership or as
an
officer, director, employee, agent, contractor, stockholder or investor in
any
other entity or in any other capacity, directly or indirectly:
a)
induce,
or attempt to induce, any person or party who is employed by or affiliated
with
cither of the Company or an Entity or at any time during the term of this
covenant is, or may be, or becomes an employee of or affiliated with the Company
or an Entity, to terminate his, her or its employment or affiliation with the
Company or an Entity;
b)
induce,
or attempt to induce, any person, business or entity which is or becomes a
customer or supplier of the Company or an Entity, or which otherwise is a
contracting party with the Company or an Entity a! any time to terminate any
written or oral agreement or understanding with the Company or an Entity, or
to
interfere in any manner with any relationship between the Company or an Entity
and such customer or supplier;
c)
employ
or otherwise engage in any capacity any person who at any time during the term
of this covenant is or at any time during the period two years prior thereto
was
employed, or otherwise engaged, in any capacity by the Company or an Entity
and
who, by reason thereof is or is reasonable likely to be in possession of
information including, but not limited to, certain trade secrets and information
belonging to the Company or an Entity which Company or Entity desires to protect
as confidential
9.
Consideration, Relief, Reformation; Severability. The Company has specifically
bargained for the covenants set forth in this Sections 7 and 8 in consideration
for the compensation and experience that CONSULTANT will gain or receive in
connection with this Agreement. CONSULTANT agrees that the covenants set forth
herein will not preclude CONSULTANT from engaging in any lawful profession,
trade or business or from being gainfully employed necessary to provide
CONSULTANT, his family members and dependents a standard of living to which
he
and they have been accustomed and may expect. CONSULTANT acknowledges and agrees
that the restrictive covenants in this Section 7 and Section 8 have been
specifically negotiated, are reasonable in all respects, including, without
limitation, their geographic scope and duration, and may be enforced by specific
performance or otherwise. CONSULTANT shall not raise any issue of reasonableness
as a defense in any proceeding to enforce any of such covenants. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the event that a covenant included in this Agreement shall
be
deemed by any court to be unreasonably broad in any respect, it shall be
modified or limited in its geographic scope, duration or otherwise to the extent
necessary to make it reasonable while preserving its restrictive nature to
the
maximum degree possible and shall be enforced accordingly; provided however,
that if, notwithstanding the foregoing^ a court of competent jurisdiction shall
hold any of the covenants contained in Sections 7 or S to be unenforceable
(as
so modified), then the unenforceable covenant shall be deemed eliminated from
the provisions of this Agreement for the purpose of those proceedings to the
extent necessary to permit the remaining covenants to be enforced so that the
validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
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10.
Termination
CONSULTANT'S
employment hereunder shall terminate upon the earlier of: (i) the expiration
of
the CONTRACT Period, (ii) the death of CONSULTANT, (iii) termination by the
Company due to "just cause (iv) termination by CONSULTANT due to a material
breach of this Agreement by the Company ("good reason"). The exercise of the
right of the Company or CONSULTANT to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
clauses (iii) or (iv) hereof, as the case may be, shall not abrogate the rights
and remedies of the terminating party in respect of the breach giving rise
to
such termination.
a.
"Just
cause" hereunder shall be defined and limited to mean:
(i)
CONSULTANT'S failure or refusal, as determined by either the CEO and/or the
Board in his or their sole discretion, Lo perform specific directives of the
Board which are consistent with the scope and nature of CONSULTANT'S duties
and
responsibilities as set forth herein, which failure or refusal continues after
notice thereof and a reasonable time to cure; such reasonable time to be
determined by either the CEO or the Board.
(ii)
CONSULTANT'S conviction for a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude,
fraud, or misrepresentation, or the presentation of proof satisfactory to the
Board in the exercise of its reasonable judgment of CONSULTANT'S
misappropriation or embezzlement of funds or assets from the
Company;
(iii)
any
intentional act having the purpose and effect of injuring the reputation,
business or business relationships of the Company in any material respect;
and
(iv)
any
breach by CONSULTANT of any material provision of this
Agreement,
including, without limitation, the restrictive covenants contained in Section
7
and 8 hereof.
b.
If This
Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10, the Company shall have no
further obligations or liabilities hereunder.
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11.
Entire
Agreement. This Agreement represents the full and complete agreement between
the
parties and supersedes all previous agreements between the parties. Any
supplemental amendments to this Agreement shall not be binding upon either
party
unless executed in writing by the parties hereto.
12.
Invalid by Operation of Law. If any section or part of this Agreement is held
to
be invalid by operation of law or by any tribunal of competent jurisdiction,
or
if compliance with or enforcement of any section or part should be restrained
by
such tribunal, the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected thereby
and
the parties shall enter into immediate negotiations for the purpose of arriving
at a mutually satisfactory replacement for such section or part.
13.
Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this
contract, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance
of the rules of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the
award rendered by the arbitrator(s) shall be entered in any court having
jurisdiction thereof. For that purpose, the parties hereto consent to the
jurisdiction and venue of an appropriate court located in San Diego County,
State of California. In the event that litigation results from or arises out
of
this Agreement or the performance thereof, the parties agree to reimburse the
prevailing party's reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, and all other
expenses, whether or not taxable by the court as costs, in addition to any
other
relief to which the prevailing party may be entitled. In such event, no action
shall be entertained by said court or any court of competent jurisdiction if
filed more than one year subsequent to the date the cauae(s) of action actually
accrued regardless of whether damages were otherwise as of said time
calculable.
IN
WITNESS
WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto executed this Agreement on the 9th day of
August 2006.
/s/Xxxxx Xxxx |
/s/Xxxxxxxx
X’Xxxxx
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxx,
|
Xxxxxxxx
X’Xxxxx
|
CEO
Tasco Holdings International
|
CONSULTANT
|
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APPENDIX
A
This
Nondisclosure Agreement (the "NDA Agreement") is made effective as of August
9,
2006 between CONSULTANT and COMPANY ("Parties").
1.
Definitions, "Company" and "CONSULTANT shall be defined as they are defined
in
that Agreement by and between Xxxxxxxx X'Xxxxx and Tasco Holdings International,
Inc. dated August 9, 2006 ("Consulting Agreement"), of which this NDA Agreement
is part.
Confidential
Information" is all (a) written information disclosed by Company (the
"Disclosing Party") to the CONSULTANT (the "Receiving Party") marked
"confidential" or with a similar legend, or (b) oral information identified
as
confidential when disclosed to the Receiving Party and thereafter summarized
in
a writing marked "confidential" sent to the Receiving Party within 10 days
of
disclosure.
2.
Restrictions/Obligations. The Receiving Party agrees that he shall:
(a)
disclose the other Disclosing Party's Confidential Information only to employees
who need to know;
(b)
not
disclose the Disclosing Party's Confidential Information to any third party,
except that the Receiving Party may disclose Confidential Information as
compelled by law if the Disclosing Party is given written notice prior to such
disclosure;
(c)
use
the Disclosing Party's Confidential Information only for the purpose of
fulfilling its Scope Of Services pursuant to the Consulting
Agreement;
(d)
not
reproduce the Disclosing Party's Confidential Information;
(e)
not
reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any intellectual property included
in the Disclosing Party's Confidential Information; and
(f)
not
directly or indirectly export the Disclosing Party's Confidential Information
in
violation of the law.
3.
Ownership. All Confidential Information shall remain the Disclosing Party's
property and shall be returned (or, at the Disclosing Party's option, destroyed)
upon the Disclosing Party's written request. A Disclosing Party does not grant
any license (expressly, by implication, by estoppel or otherwise) to its
trademarks, copyrights or patents pursuant to this Agreement,
4.
Equitable Remedies. The Parties acknowledge that monetary damages may not
adequately remedy an unauthorized use or disclosure of Confidential Information,
and each party may, without waiving any other rights or remedies, seek
injunctive or equitable relief to remedy such a breach.
5.
General. This NDA Agreement is the entire agreement, and supersedes all prior
or
contemporaneous oral or written agreements and understandings, between the
parties regarding the subject matter hereof. The NDA Agreement may be changed
only by a writing signed by both parties. If any provision of this NDA Agreement
is held unenforceable, that provision shall be severed and the remainder of
this
Agreement will continue in full force and effect,
/s/Xxxxx
Xxxx
|
/s/Xxxxxxxx
X’Xxxxx
|
Xxxxx
Xxxx; CEO
|
Xxxxxxxx
X'Xxxxx
|
Tasco
Holdings International
|
CONSULTANT
|
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