Contract
EXHIBIT 10.21
This AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”),
dated as of June 9th, 2010, is made by and between
Medgenics, Inc., located at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxx, XX, 00000 XXX (the “Company”); and
Xxxx
Xxxxx of XxXxxx, Virginia (the “Advisor”).
The
Company wishes to retain the Advisor as a member of the Company’s Scientific
Advisory Board (to be retitled the Strategic Advisory Board) (the “SAB”) and the Advisor desires to perform the
advisory and consulting services described below. Accordingly, the parties agree
as follows:
|
1.
|
Services.
|
|
a.
|
The
Advisor will advise, consult for and on behalf of the Company’s
management, employees and agents, at reasonable times, as requested by the
Company and shall provide the Services set forth on Exhibit
1.
|
|
b.
|
Advisor
will participate in 3-4 SAB meetings per year by phone. Additionally,
consultation of up to 2 hours per month on average may be sought by the
Company by telephone, written correspondence or in person at the Advisor’s
office and will involve reviewing activities and developments in the
Company’s field of activity.
|
|
c.
|
For
purposes of this Agreement, the “Effective Date” shall be the earlier of the
date of this Agreement set forth above, and the date the Company issues a
press release regarding the appointment of
Advisor.
|
|
2.
|
Compensation.
|
|
a.
|
In
connection with the execution of this Agreement, the Company will issue to
Advisor options to purchase 667,397 shares of common stock of the Company,
having $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), exercisable for
10 years at an exercise price to be calculated as the average of the
Applicable Daily Closing Share Price (as defined below) for the 10 trading
days prior to the date of formal approval of the grant of options by the
Board of Directors. The Advisor acknowledges that the Company may be
prohibited by the AIM Rules for Companies (the “AIM Rules”) from granting such options on
the Effective Date, but that, subject to the approval of the Board of
Directors, such options shall be granted as soon as practicable, lawful
and otherwise permitted under the AIM Rules. These options shall vest in
three equal increments over a 3-year period starting from the grant date
of the options; however, vesting will be accelerated in case of a change
of ownership pursuant to the terms set forth in the option grant
agreement.
|
SAB
Advisory Agreement Page 1 of 9
|
b.
|
For
in-person meetings, the Advisor will be issued a number of shares of
Common Stock for each day of meetings equal to the quotient of (x) $1,500,
divided by (y) the average of the Applicable Daily Share Closing Price for
the 10 trading days prior to the date of such in-person
meeting.
|
|
c.
|
For
purposes of Section 2(a) and 2(b) above, the “Applicable Daily Closing Share
Price” shall be calculated
on a given date as (x) if the Common Stock is listed on a U.S. national
securities exchange, the last closing trade price of the Company’s Common
Stock, as reported by Bloomberg, L.P., on that date, or (y) if the Common
Stock is not listed on a U.S. national securities exchange, the closing
price of the Company’s Common Stock as reported on the MEDU ticker listed
on the London Stock Exchange AIM market on that
date.
|
|
d.
|
Reasonable
expenses of the Advisor incurred at the request of the Company (including
phone and other expenses incurred in the normal course of business on
behalf of the Company and travel expenses incurred in connection with
Company related business in accordance with the Company’s travel policy)
will be reimbursed promptly by the Company, subject to customary
verification and prior written
approval.
|
|
3.
|
Term. The term of this
Agreement will begin on the Effective Date of this Agreement and will end
on the third anniversary of this Agreement or upon earlier termination as
provided below (the “Term”); provided that the Term may
be renewed for successive one-year periods. This Agreement may be
terminated at any time upon written notice by either
party.
|
|
4.
|
Confidentiality
and prohibited dealings.
|
|
a.
|
The
Advisor acknowledges that, during the course of performing his services
hereunder, the Company will be disclosing information to the Advisor (“Confidential Information”) which is owned by the Company.
The Advisor acknowledges that the Company’s business is extremely
competitive, dependent in part upon the maintenance of secrecy,
and that any disclosure of the Confidential Information would likely
result in serious harm to the
Company.
|
|
b.
|
The
Advisor agrees that the Confidential Information will be used by the
Advisor only in connection with the advisory and consulting activities
hereunder, and will not be used for any other
purpose.
|
|
c.
|
The
Advisor agrees not to disclose, directly or indirectly, the Confidential
Information to any third person or entity, other than representatives or
agents of the Company. The Advisor agrees not to use the Confidential
Information for any purposes other than explicitly permitted under this
Agreement. The Advisor will treat all such information as confidential and
proprietary property of the
Company.
|
SAB
Advisory Agreement Page 2 of 9
|
d.
|
The
Advisor may disclose any Confidential Information that is required to be
disclosed by law, government regulation or court order. If disclosure is
required, the Advisor will give the Company advance notice so that the
Company may seek a protective order or take other action reasonable in
light of the circumstances.
|
|
e.
|
The
Advisor hereby acknowledges that he is aware that the Company is a company
who’s issued shares have been admitted to trading on the AIM market of the
London Stock Exchange. Information imparted and/or to be imparted by the
Company to the Advisor regarding the Company and/or the Company’s
subsidiary is or may be “inside information” relating to the Company
and/or the securities of the Company within the meaning of the UK’s
Criminal Justice Xxx 0000. As such, the Advisor may hereafter become “an
insider” in relation to the Company. The Advisor hereby agrees to being
made an insider and that, entirely without prejudice to the generality of
the foregoing provisions hereof, that he will
not:
|
|
(i)
|
use
Confidential Information in relation to the Company and/or its subsidiary
to deal or encourage any other person to deal in securities of the
Company. For the purposes of the foregoing the term “deal” is to be
construed in accordance with the UK’s Criminal Justice Xxx 0000;
and
|
|
(ii)
|
(and
will use his best endeavors to procure that none of his related, connected
or associated parties will) without the Company’s prior written consent
directly or indirectly by purchase or otherwise, acquire (conditionally or
otherwise), offer to acquire, or agree to acquire ownership or options to
acquire such ownership or any rights whatsoever in respect of any share
capital in the Company (or otherwise act in concert with any person who so
acquires, offers to acquire or agrees to acquire) whilst any such
information shall be and remain “inside
information”.
|
|
5.
|
Intellectual
Property.
|
|
a.
|
The
Advisor recognizes that the Company is engaged in a continuous program of
research, development, and production with respect to its business. The
Company possesses or has rights to information that has been created,
discovered, developed or otherwise become known to the Company (including
information developed by, discovered by or created by Advisor which arises
out of the advisory and consulting relationship with the Company) that has
commercial value in its business (“Proprietary Information”).
For example, Proprietary Information includes,
without limitation, inventions (whether or not patentable), patent
applications, trade secrets, discoveries, experiments, research, concepts,
ideas, techniques, methods, processes, testing procedures, formulas,
compositions, data, know-how, computer programs, computer code, and
improvements in the foregoing, as well as names and expertise of
employees, consultants, customers and prospects, and technical, business,
financial, marketing, customer and product development plans, forecasts,
strategies and any other information relating to the Company’s business
and/or fields of interest.
|
SAB Advisory
Agreement Page 3 of 9
|
b.
|
The
Advisor understands that the advisory and consulting relationship creates
a relationship of confidence and trust between Advisor and the Company
with respect to any (i) Proprietary Information or (ii) confidential
information applicable to the business of any customer of the Company or
other entity with which the Company does business and that it learns in
connection with the advisory and consulting relationship. At all times,
both during the Term hereunder and after its termination, Advisor will
keep in confidence and trust all such information, and Advisor will not
use or disclose any such information without the written consent of the
Company, except as may be necessary in the ordinary course of performing
its duties to the Company. This obligation shall end whenever such
information enters the public domain and is no longer confidential or
proprietary.
|
|
c.
|
In
addition, the Advisor hereby agrees:
|
|
i.
|
All
Proprietary Information shall be the sole property of the Company and its
assigns, and the Company and its assigns shall be the sole owner of all
patents, copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary rights in
connection therewith. Advisor hereby assigns to the Company any rights it
may have or acquire in such Proprietary Information. Advisor specifically
agrees that the foregoing assignment shall include any and all rights it
may have, had, acquire, or acquired in the Proprietary Information of the
Company and its subsidiaries, if applicable. Additionally, Advisor agrees
to perform all reasonable acts requested by the Company or its
representatives to perfect and enforce such
rights.
|
|
ii.
|
All
documents or other media, records apparatus, equipment and other physical
property whether or not pertaining to Proprietary Information, furnished
to the Advisor by the Company or produced by Advisor or others in
connection with the consulting relationship shall be and remain the sole
property of the Company. Advisor shall return and deliver all such
property of the Company immediately as and when requested by the Company.
The Advisor shall return and deliver all such property (including any
copies thereof) upon request and, even without any request, upon
termination of the consulting
relationship.
|
|
d.
|
Advisor
will promptly disclose to the Company all improvements, inventions, works
of authorship, trade secrets, computer programs, designs, formulas, mask
works, ideas, processes, techniques, know-how and data, whether or not
patentable (“Inventions”) that relate to the subject matter of my advising
and that are conceived, developed or learned by the Advisor, either alone
or jointly with others, during the term of the advisory
relationship.
|
SAB Advisory Agreement Page 4 of 9
|
e.
|
All
Inventions that Advisor conceives, develops or learns (in whole or in
part, either alone or jointly with others) in connection with performance
of its advising for the Company or that uses the Company’s Proprietary
Information shall be the sole property of the Company and its assigns (and
to the extent permitted by law shall be works made for hire). The Company
and its assigns shall be the sole owner of all trade secret rights,
patents, copyrights and other proprietary rights anywhere in the world in
connection therewith, and Advisor hereby assigns to the Company any rights
it may have or acquire in such Inventions. Advisor specifically agrees
that the foregoing assignment shall include any and all rights, title and
interest Advisor may have, had, acquired or acquire in Inventions made,
conceived, developed, acquired or first reduced to practice by Advisor (in
whole or in part, either alone or jointly with others) while Advisor was
rendering services to the Company or its subsidiaries or
affiliates.
|
|
f.
|
With
regard to Inventions described in (f) above, Advisor will assist the
Company or its assigns in every proper way (but at the Company’s expense)
to obtain and from time to time enforce patents, copyrights on the
Inventions in any and all countries, and to that end Advisor will execute
all appropriate documents. This obligation shall continue beyond the
termination of the consulting relationship, but the Company shall then
compensate Advisor at a reasonable rate for time spent. If the Company is
unable for any reason whatsoever to secure signature to any such document
(including renewals, extensions, continuations, divisions or continuations
in part), Advisor hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company
and its duly authorized officers and agents, as its agents and
attorneys-in-fact to act for and in my behalf and instead of Advisor, but
only for the purpose of executing and filing such documents and doing all
other lawful permitted acts to accomplish the foregoing with the same
legal force and effect as if done by
Advisor.
|
|
g.
|
As
a matter of record Advisor attaches hereto (as Exhibit 2) a list of
existing inventions or improvements relevant to the subject matter of the
advisory relationship with the Company that have been made or conceived or
first reduced to practice by Advisor alone, or jointly with others, prior
to rendering services as an advisor to the Company that Advisor desires to
remove from the operation of the Agreement, and Advisor covenants that
such list is complete.
|
|
h.
|
Advisor
represents that execution of the Agreement, the advisory relationship with
the Company and the performance by Advisor of the Services will
not violate any obligations the Advisor may have to any person or
entity, including the obligation to keep confidential any proprietary
information of that person or entity. Advisor has not entered into any
agreement in conflict with this Agreement or the advisory relationship
with the Company. Advisor represents that the Advisor will not disclose to
the Company or induce the Company to use any confidential or proprietary
information or material belonging to any previous employers, clients, or
others.
|
SAB Advisory Agreement Page 5 of
9
|
6.
|
Non-Compete;
Non-Solicitation.
|
|
a.
|
During
the Term, the Advisor will not engage in providing advisory services to
other entities in the field of ex
vivo genetic modification of autologous
tissue.
|
|
b.
|
During
the Term and for twelve (12) months after the termination of the Term for
any reason, the Advisor will not solicit any employee of the Company to
leave the Company for any reason or to devote less than all of any such
employee’s full efforts to the affairs of the
Company.
|
7.
Use of
Name. It is
understood that the name of the Advisor and Advisor’s affiliation with the
Advisor’s current employer will appear in disclosure documents required by
securities laws, and in other regulatory and administrative filings; and in the
ordinary course of the Company’s business.
8.
No
Conflict: Valid and Binding. The Advisor represents
that neither the execution of this Agreement nor the performance of the
Advisor’s obligations under this Agreement will result in a violation or breach
of any other agreement by which the Advisor is bound. The Company represents
that this Agreement has been duly authorized and executed and is a valid and
legally binding obligation of the Company, subject to no conflicting
agreements.
9.
Notices. Any
notice provided under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been effectively given (i) upon receipt when delivered personally, (ii) one
day after sending when sent by private express mail service (such as Federal
Express), or (iii) 5 days after sending when sent by regular mail to the
following address:
In the
case of the Company:
POB 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, 00000 XXXXXX
Office x000-0-0000000
Fax x000-0-0000000
Attention: Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Chief Executive Officer
SAB Advisory Agreement Page 6 of
9
With a
copy to:
Xxxxx Xxxxx Zedek Xxxxxx, LLP
0000 Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Tel: 000-000-0000
Fax: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxx
In the
case of the Advisor:
Xxxx Xxxxx
0000 Xxxx Xxxx
XxXxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
or to
other such address as may have been designated by the Company or the Advisor by
notice to the other given as provided herein.
|
10.
|
Independent
Contractor. Withholding. The Advisor will at all times be an
independent contractor, and as such will not have authority to bind the
Company. Advisor will not act as an agent nor shall he be deemed to be an
employee of the Company for the purposes of any employee benefit program,
unemployment benefits, or otherwise. The Advisor recognizes that no amount
will be withheld from his compensation for payment of any federal, state,
or local taxes and that the Advisor has sole responsibility to pay such
taxes, if any, and file such returns as shall be required by applicable
laws and regulations. Advisor shall not enter into any agreements or incur
any obligations on behalf of the
Company.
|
|
11.
|
Assignment. Due to the
personal nature of the services to be rendered by the Advisor, the Advisor
may not assign this Agreement. The Company may assign all rights and
liabilities under this Agreement to a subsidiary or an affiliate or to a
successor to all or a substantial part of its business and assets without
the consent of the Advisor. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement will
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each of the heirs, assigns and
successors of the respective
parties.
|
|
12.
|
Severability. If
any provision of this Agreement
shall be declared invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall
be severed and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and
effect.
|
|
13.
|
Remedies. The Advisor
acknowledges that the Company would have no adequate remedy at law to
enforce the provisions of Sections 4, 5 and 6 above. In the event of a
violation by the Advisor of such Sections, the Company shall have the
right to obtain injunctive or other similar relief, as well as any other
relevant damages, without the requirement of posting bond or other similar
measures.
|
SAB Advisory Agreement Page 7 of
9
14.
|
Governing
Law; Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement shall
be governed by the substantive laws of New York and under the exclusive
jurisdiction of the New York courts. This Agreement represents the entire
agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior oral or written agreements between the Company and
Advisor. No provision of this Agreement may be amended other than by an
instrument in writing signed by the Company and Advisor. No waiver shall
be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized
representative of the waiving
party.
|
15.
|
Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be
considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when
counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered by facsimile
transmission or by an e-mail which contains a portable document format
(.pdf) file of an executed signature page, such signature page shall
create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose
behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if
such signature page were an original
thereof.
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
ADVISOR:
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
|
Xxxx
Xxxxx
|
|||
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
|
SAB Advisory
Agreement Page 8 of 9
EXHIBIT
1
Description
of Services
Advising
the Company including:
|
1)
|
Participating
as a member of the SAB;
|
|
2)
|
Guiding
the general scientific, business, laboratory, and medical direction of the
Company;
|
|
3)
|
Reviewing
the goals and plans of the Company and developing strategies for achieving
them;
|
|
4)
|
Identifying
and developing relationships with potential strategic
partners;
|
|
5)
|
Interacting
with potential investors, stockholders, and strategic or corporate
partners;
|
|
6)
|
Identifying
and reviewing promising scientific developments and intellectual
property;
|
|
7)
|
Providing
advice and guidance in the Company’s scientific research and product
development activities; and
|
|
8)
|
Other
functions as may be agreed with the
Company.
|
SAB Advisory Agreement Page 9 of
9