ORGANOVO HOLDINGS, INC. CONSULTING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.2
This Consulting Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Organovo Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Organovo, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with their principal place of business at 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, 00000 (Organovo Holdings, Inc. and Organovo, Inc., shall be collectively referred to herein as, the “Company”), and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, an individual with his principal place of business California (“Consultant”) (each herein referred to individually as a “Party,” or collectively as the “Parties”).
WHEREAS, Consultant retired from the Company, effective April 1, 2016 (the “Separation Date”).
WHEREAS, in connection with Consultant’s retirement and separation from the Company, the Company and Consultant entered into a Consulting, Separation Agreement and Release (the “Separation Agreement”).
WHEREAS, contingent upon the Separation Agreement becoming effective pursuant to its terms, the Company agrees to retain Consultant as an independent contractor to perform consulting services for the Company, and Consultant agrees to perform such services, on the terms described below.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein and in the Separation Agreement, the Parties agree as follows:
Contingent upon the Separation Agreement becoming effective pursuant to its terms, Consultant agrees to perform the services described in Exhibit A (the “Services”) for the Company (or its designee), and the Company agrees to pay Consultant the compensation described in Exhibit A for Consultant’s performance of the Services, during the Term (as defined below).
A. Definition of Confidential Information. “Confidential Information” means any information (including any and all combinations of individual items of information) that relates to the actual or anticipated business and/or products, research or development of the Company, its affiliates or subsidiaries, or to the Company’s, its affiliates’ or subsidiaries’ technical data, trade secrets, or know-how, including, but not limited to, research, product plans, business plans, financial, accounting, tax or other information regarding the Company’s, its affiliates’ or subsidiaries’ products or services and markets therefor, customer lists and customers (including, but not limited to, customers of the Company on whom Consultant called or with whom Consultant became acquainted during the Term of this Agreement), software, developments, inventions, discoveries, ideas, processes, formulas, technology, designs, drawings, engineering, hardware configuration information, marketing, finances, and other business information disclosed by the Company, its affiliates or subsidiaries, either directly or indirectly, in writing, orally or by drawings or inspection of premises, parts, equipment, or other property of
Company, its affiliates or subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information shall not include any such information which Consultant can establish (i) was publicly known or made generally available prior to the time of disclosure to Consultant; (ii) becomes publicly known or made generally available after disclosure to Consultant through no wrongful action or inaction of Consultant; or (iii) is in the rightful possession of Consultant, without confidentiality obligations, at the time of disclosure as shown by Consultant’s then-contemporaneous written records; provided that any combination of individual items of information shall not be deemed to be within any of the foregoing exceptions merely because one or more of the individual items are within such exception, unless the combination as a whole is within such exception.
B. Nonuse and Nondisclosure. During and after the Term of this Agreement, Consultant will hold in the strictest confidence, and take all reasonable precautions to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of Confidential Information, and Consultant will not (i) use the Confidential Information for any purpose whatsoever other than as necessary for the performance of the Services on behalf of the Company, or (ii) disclose the Confidential Information to any third party without the prior written consent of an authorized representative of Company, except that Consultant may disclose Confidential Information to the extent compelled by applicable law; provided however, prior to such disclosure, Consultant shall provide prior written notice to Company and seek a protective order or such similar confidential protection as may be available under applicable law. Consultant agrees that no ownership of Confidential Information is conveyed to the Consultant. Without limiting the foregoing, Consultant shall not use or disclose any Company property, intellectual property rights, trade secrets or other proprietary know-how of the Company to invent, author, make, develop, design, or otherwise enable others to invent, author, make, develop, or design identical or substantially similar designs as those developed under this Agreement for any third party. Consultant agrees that Consultant’s obligations under this Section 2.B shall continue after the termination of this Agreement.
C. Other Client Confidential Information. Consultant agrees that Consultant will not improperly use, disclose, or induce the Company to use any proprietary information or trade secrets of any former or concurrent employer of Consultant or other person or entity with which Consultant has an obligation to keep in confidence. Consultant also agrees that Consultant will not bring onto the Company’s premises or transfer onto the Company’s technology systems any unpublished document, proprietary information, or trade secrets belonging to any third party unless disclosure to, and use by, the Company has been consented to in writing by such third party.
D. Third Party Confidential Information. Consultant recognizes that the Company has received and in the future will receive from third parties their confidential or proprietary information subject to a duty on the Company’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. Consultant agrees that at all times during the Term of this Agreement and thereafter, Consultant owes the Company and such third parties a duty to hold all such confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence and not to use it or to disclose it to any person, firm, corporation, or other third party except as necessary in carrying out the Services for the Company consistent with the Company’s agreement with such third party.
A. Assignment of Inventions. Consultant agrees that all right, title, and interest in and to any copyrightable material, notes, records, drawings, designs, inventions, improvements, developments, discoveries, ideas and trade secrets conceived, discovered, authored, invented, developed or reduced to
practice by Consultant, solely or in collaboration with others, during the Term of this Agreement and arising out of, or in connection with, performing the Services under this Agreement and any copyrights, patents, trade secrets, mask work rights or other intellectual property rights relating to the foregoing (collectively, “Inventions”), are the sole property of the Company. Consultant also agrees to promptly make full written disclosure to the Company of any Inventions and to deliver and assign (or cause to be assigned) and hereby irrevocably assigns fully to the Company all right, title and interest in and to the Inventions.
B. Pre-Existing Materials. Subject to Section 3.A, Consultant will provide the Company with prior written notice if, in the course of performing the Services, Consultant incorporates into any Invention or utilizes in the performance of the Services any invention, discovery, idea, original works of authorship, development, improvements, trade secret, concept, or other proprietary information or intellectual property right owned by Consultant or in which Consultant has an interest, prior to, or separate from, performing the Services under this Agreement (“Prior Inventions”), and the Company is hereby granted a nonexclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, transferable, worldwide license (with the right to grant and authorize sublicenses) to make, have made, use, import, offer for sale, sell, reproduce, distribute, modify, adapt, prepare derivative works of, display, perform, and otherwise exploit such Prior Inventions, without restriction, including, without limitation, as part of or in connection with such Invention, and to practice any method related thereto. Consultant will not incorporate any invention, discovery, idea, original works of authorship, development, improvements, trade secret, concept, or other proprietary information or intellectual property right owned by any third party into any Invention without Company’s prior written permission.
C. Moral Rights. Any assignment to the Company of Inventions includes all rights of attribution, paternity, integrity, modification, disclosure and withdrawal, and any other rights throughout the world that may be known as or referred to as “moral rights,” “artist’s rights,” “droit moral,” or the like (collectively, “Moral Rights”). To the extent that Moral Rights cannot be assigned under applicable law, Consultant hereby waives and agrees not to enforce any and all Moral Rights, including, without limitation, any limitation on subsequent modification, to the extent permitted under applicable law.
D. Maintenance of Records. Consultant agrees to keep and maintain adequate, current, accurate, and authentic written records of all Inventions made by Consultant (solely or jointly with others) during the Term of this Agreement, and for a period of three (3) years thereafter. The records will be in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, electronic files, reports, or any other format that is customary in the industry and/or otherwise specified by the Company. Such records are and remain the sole property of the Company at all times and upon Company’s request, Consultant shall deliver (or cause to be delivered) the same.
E. Further Assurances. Consultant agrees to assist Company, or its designee, at the Company’s expense, in every proper way to secure the Company’s rights in Inventions in any and all countries, including the disclosure to the Company of all pertinent information and data with respect thereto, the execution of all applications, specifications, oaths, assignments and all other instruments that the Company may deem necessary in order to apply for, register, obtain, maintain, defend, and enforce such rights, and in order to deliver, assign and convey to the Company, its successors, assigns and nominees the sole and exclusive right, title, and interest in and to all Inventions and testifying in a suit or other proceeding relating to such Inventions. Consultant further agrees that Consultant’s obligations under this Section 3.E shall continue after the termination of this Agreement.
F. Attorney-in-Fact. Consultant agrees that, if the Company is unable because of Consultant’s unavailability, dissolution, mental or physical incapacity, or for any other reason, to secure Consultant’s signature with respect to any Inventions, including, without limitation, for the purpose of applying for or pursuing any application for any United States or foreign patents or mask work or copyright registrations covering the Inventions assigned to the Company in Section 3.A, then Consultant hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as Consultant’s agent and attorney-in-fact, to act for and on Consultant’s behalf to execute and file any papers and oaths and to do all other lawfully permitted acts with respect to such Inventions to further the prosecution and issuance of patents, copyright and mask work registrations with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Consultant. This power of attorney shall be deemed coupled with an interest, and shall be irrevocable.
Consultant represents and warrants that Consultant has no agreements, relationships, or commitments to any other person or entity that conflict with the provisions of this Agreement, Consultant’s obligations to the Company under this Agreement, and/or Consultant’s ability to perform the Services. Consultant will not enter into any such conflicting agreement during the Term of this Agreement.
5. Return of Company Materials
Upon the termination of this Agreement, or upon Company’s earlier request, Consultant will immediately deliver to the Company, and will not keep in Consultant’s possession, recreate, or deliver to anyone else, any and all Company property, including, but not limited to, Confidential Information, tangible embodiments of the Inventions, all devices and equipment belonging to the Company, all electronically-stored information and passwords to access such property, those records maintained pursuant to Section 3.D and any reproductions of any of the foregoing items that Consultant may have in Consultant’s possession or control.
6. Reports
Consultant agrees that Consultant will periodically keep the Company advised as to Consultant’s progress in performing the Services under this Agreement when requested by the Company to so do, with a frequency not greater than once a month. Requests by the Company will be in writing, at least one week prior to the required delivery date of any such progress report. \The Company and Consultant agree that the reasonable time expended in preparing such written reports will be considered time devoted to the performance of the Services.
A. Effective Date. Consultant understands that this Agreement shall be null and void and shall not be effective unless and until the Separation Agreement becomes effective in accordance with its terms (the “Effective Date”).
B. Term. The term of this Agreement will begin on the Effective Date of the Separation Agreement and will continue through December 31, 2017 (the “Term”).
C. Termination. This Agreement will terminate upon the expiration of the Term. The Company may terminate the Agreement with or without Cause (as defined below), upon providing Consultant with written notice of such termination pursuant to Section 13.G of this Agreement (the “Termination Notice”). In the event the Company terminates this Agreement without Cause, the Company shall pay Consultant all amounts that would have been paid under the full Term of the Agreement within ten (10) business days of the Termination Notice. For purposes of this Agreement, if the Company undergoes a Change in Control (as defined below) or a Default Event (as defined below), the Company shall be deemed to have terminated the Consultant without Cause on the occurrence of such event. In the event the Company elects to terminate this Agreement for Cause, the Company shall provide Consultant with the basis for such termination in the Termination Notice and provide Consultant with a thirty (30) day cure period, if the basis for such termination for Cause is subject to Cure. In the event of a Termination with Cause, no further payments will be due under the Agreement after the date of the Termination Notice, unless Consultant has cured the basis for such termination for Cause, if possible, within the thirty (30) day cure period.
D. Survival. Upon any termination, all rights and duties of the Company and Consultant toward each other shall cease except:
(1) The Company will pay, within ten (10) days after the effective date of termination, all amounts owing to Consultant for Services completed and accepted by the Company prior to the termination date and related reimbursable expenses, if any, submitted in accordance with the Company’s policies and in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Agreement; and
(2) Section 2 (Confidentiality), Section 3 (Ownership), Section 0 (Conflicting Obligations), Section 5 (Return of Company Materials), Section 7 (Term and Termination), Section 8 (Independent Contractor; Benefits), Section 9 (Indemnification), Section 10 (Nonsolicitation), Section 11 (Limitation of Liability), Section 12 (Arbitration and Equitable Relief), and Section 13 (Miscellaneous) will survive termination or expiration of this Agreement in accordance with their terms.
E. Definitions:
(1) “Cause” means any of the following: (i) the Consultant’s material breach of any term of the Separation Agreement, this Agreement or any other agreement between the Company and Consultant; (ii) the Consultant’s theft, dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty for personal profit, or falsification of any Company documents or records; workplace conduct); (iv) any intentional act by the Consultant which has a material detrimental effect on the Company’s reputation or business; (v) the Consultant’s repeated failure or inability to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from the Company of, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure or inability; and (vi) the Consultant’s conviction (including any plea of guilty or nolo contendere) of any criminal act involving fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or moral turpitude, or which impairs the Consultant’s ability to perform his duties under this Agreement.
(2) “Change in Control” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Company’s Amended and Restated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan.
(3) “Default Event” shall mean the happening of one of the following events: (i) the Company shall (a) discontinue its business, (b) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator of it or any of its property, (c) admit in writing its inability to pay its debts
as they mature, (d) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, (e) the Company or its auditors state in an Annual, Quarterly, or Current Report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, that the Company is at risk of continuing as a “going concern”, or (g) file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, or a petition or an answer seeking reorganization or arrangement with creditors, or to take advantage of any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation laws or statutes, or an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any proceeding under any such law; or (ii) there shall be filed against the Company an involuntary petition seeking reorganization of the Company or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator of the Company or a substantial part of its assets, or an involuntary petition under any bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency law of any jurisdiction.
8. Independent Contractor; Benefits; Company Policies
A. Independent Contractor. It is the express intention of the Company and Consultant that Consultant perform the Services as an independent contractor to the Company. Nothing in this Agreement shall in any way be construed to constitute Consultant as an agent, employee or representative of the Company. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Consultant is not authorized to bind the Company to any liability or obligation or to represent that Consultant has any such authority. Consultant agrees to furnish (or reimburse the Company for) all tools and materials necessary to accomplish this Agreement and shall incur all expenses associated with performance, except as expressly provided in Exhibit A. Consultant acknowledges and agrees that Consultant is obligated to report as income all compensation received by Consultant pursuant to this Agreement. Consultant agrees to and acknowledges the obligation to pay all self-employment and other taxes on such income.
B. Benefits. The Company and Consultant agree that Consultant will receive no Company-sponsored benefits from the Company where benefits include, but are not limited to, paid vacation, sick leave, medical insurance and 401k participation. If Consultant is reclassified by a state or federal agency or court as the Company’s employee, Consultant will become a reclassified employee and will receive no benefits from the Company, except those mandated by state or federal law, even if by the terms of the Company’s benefit plans or programs of the Company in effect at the time of such reclassification, Consultant would otherwise be eligible for such benefits.
C. Company Policies. Consultant acknowledges and agrees that during the Term consultant shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s Code of Conduct and any other policies applicable to Consultants.
Consultant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its affiliates and their directors, officers and employees from and against all taxes, losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees and other legal expenses, arising directly or indirectly from or in connection with (i) any negligent, reckless or intentionally wrongful act of Consultant or Consultant’s assistants, employees, contractors or agents, (ii) a determination by a court or agency that the Consultant is not an independent contractor, (iii) any breach by the Consultant or Consultant’s assistants, employees, contractors or agents of any of the covenants contained in this Agreement and corresponding Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement, (iv) any failure of Consultant to perform the Services in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, or (v) any violation or claimed violation of a
third party’s rights resulting in whole or in part from the Company’s use of the Inventions or other deliverables of Consultant under this Agreement.
In addition to Consultant’s obligations under the Separation Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, from the Effective Date of this Agreement until twelve (12) months after the termination of this Agreement for any reason (the “Restricted Period”), Consultant will not, without the Company’s prior written consent, directly or indirectly, solicit any of the Company’s employees to leave their employment, or attempt to solicit employees of the Company, either for Consultant or for any other person or entity. Consultant agrees that nothing in this Section 10 shall affect Consultant’s continuing obligations under this Agreement during and after this twelve (12) month period, including, without limitation, Consultant’s obligations under Section 2.
IN NO EVENT SHALL COMPANY BE LIABLE TO CONSULTANT OR TO ANY OTHER PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR DAMAGES FOR LOST PROFITS OR LOSS OF BUSINESS, HOWEVER CAUSED AND UNDER ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHER THEORY OF LIABILITY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER COMPANY WAS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES AND NOTWITHSTANDING THE FAILURE OF ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ANY LIMITED REMEDY. IN NO EVENT SHALL COMPANY’S LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT EXCEED THE AMOUNTS PAID BY COMPANY TO CONSULTANT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FOR THE SERVICES, DELIVERABLES OR INVENTION GIVING RISE TO SUCH LIABILITY.
12. Arbitration and Equitable Relief
A. Arbitration. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ANY AND ALL DISPUTES ARISING OUT OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, THEIR INTERPRETATION, AND ANY OF THE MATTERS HEREIN RELEASED, SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, BEFORE JUDICIAL ARBITRATION & MEDIATION SERVICES (“JAMS”), PURSUANT TO ITS EMPLOYMENT ARBITRATION RULES & PROCEDURES (“JAMS RULES”). THE ARBITRATOR MAY GRANT INJUNCTIONS AND OTHER RELIEF IN SUCH DISPUTES. THE ARBITRATOR SHALL ADMINISTER AND CONDUCT ANY ARBITRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALIFORNIA LAW, INCLUDING THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, AND THE ARBITRATOR SHALL APPLY SUBSTANTIVE AND PROCEDURAL CALIFORNIA LAW TO ANY DISPUTE OR CLAIM, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY CONFLICT-OF-LAW PROVISIONS OF ANY JURISDICTION. TO THE EXTENT THAT THE JAMS RULES CONFLICT WITH CALIFORNIA LAW, CALIFORNIA LAW SHALL TAKE PRECEDENCE. THE DECISION OF THE ARBITRATOR SHALL BE FINAL, CONCLUSIVE, AND BINDING ON THE PARTIES TO THE ARBITRATION. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT THE PREVAILING PARTY IN ANY ARBITRATION SHALL BE ENTITLED TO INJUNCTIVE RELIEF IN ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO ENFORCE THE ARBITRATION AWARD. THE PARTIES TO THE ARBITRATION SHALL EACH PAY AN
EQUAL SHARE OF THE COSTS AND EXPENSES OF SUCH ARBITRATION, AND EACH PARTY SHALL SEPARATELY PAY FOR ITS RESPECTIVE COUNSEL FEES AND EXPENSES; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE ARBITRATOR SHALL AWARD ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS TO THE PREVAILING PARTY, EXCEPT AS PROHIBITED BY LAW. THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE TO WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN THEM RESOLVED IN A COURT OF LAW BY A JUDGE OR JURY. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THIS SECTION WILL NOT PREVENT EITHER PARTY FROM SEEKING INJUNCTIVE RELIEF (OR ANY OTHER PROVISIONAL REMEDY) FROM ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE PARTIES AND THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THEIR DISPUTE RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE AGREEMENTS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. SHOULD ANY PART OF THE ARBITRATION AGREEMENT CONTAINED IN THIS PARAGRAPH CONFLICT WITH ANY OTHER ARBITRATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES, THE PARTIES AGREE THAT THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT SHALL GOVERN.
B. Voluntary Nature of Agreement. Consultant acknowledges and agrees that he/she is executing this Agreement voluntarily and without any duress or undue influence by the Company or anyone else. Consultant further acknowledges and agrees that he/she has carefully read this Agreement and that Consultant has asked any questions needed for Consultant to understand the terms, consequences and binding effect of this Agreement and fully understand it, including that Consultant is waiving his/her right to a jury trial. Finally, Consultant agrees that he/she has been provided an opportunity to seek the advice of an attorney of Consultant’s choice before signing this Agreement.
A. Governing Law; Consent to Personal Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to the conflicts of law provisions of any jurisdiction. To the extent that any lawsuit is permitted under this Agreement, the Parties hereby expressly consent to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in California.
B. Assignability. This Agreement will be binding upon Consultant’s heirs, executors, assigns, administrators, and other legal representatives, and will be for the benefit of the Company, its successors, and its assigns. There are no intended third-party beneficiaries to this Agreement, except as expressly stated. Consultant may not sell, assign or delegate any rights or obligations under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Company may assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of Company’s relevant assets, whether by merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, sale of assets or stock, change of control or otherwise.
C. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Separation Agreement, constitute the entire agreement and understanding between the Parties with respect to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior written and oral agreements, discussions, or representations between the
Parties. Consultant represents and warrants that he/she is not relying on any statement or representation not contained in this Agreement. To the extent any terms set forth in any exhibit or schedule conflict with the terms set forth in this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall control unless otherwise expressly agreed by the Parties in such exhibit or schedule.
D. Headings. Headings are used in this Agreement for reference only and shall not be considered when interpreting this Agreement.
E. Severability. If a court or other body of competent jurisdiction finds, or the Parties mutually believe, any provision of this Agreement, or portion thereof, to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permissible so as to effect the intent of the Parties, and the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect.
F. Modification, Waiver. No modification of or amendment to this Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this Agreement, will be effective unless in a writing signed by the Parties. Waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement will not operate as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.
G. Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted by this Agreement to be given to a Party shall be in writing and shall be deemed given (i) if delivered personally or by commercial messenger or courier service, (ii) when sent by confirmed facsimile, or (iii) if mailed by U.S. registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), to the Party at the Party’s address written below or at such other address as the Party may have previously specified by like notice. If by mail, delivery shall be deemed effective three business days after mailing in accordance with this Section 13.G.
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If to the Company, to: |
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Attention: General Counsel |
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Suite 110 |
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Organovo, Inc. |
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0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx |
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Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 |
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The one exception to the notice requirement will be the delivery of invoices, or requests for expense reimbursement, by the Consultant to the Company. Invoices and requests for expense reimbursement will be delivered by the Consultant via e-mail to: XX@xxxxxxxx.xxx with a copy to Xxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx.
(2) If to Consultant, to the address for notice on the signature page to this Agreement or, if no such address is provided, to the last address of Consultant provided by Consultant to the Company.
H. Attorneys’ Fees. In any court action at law or equity that is brought by one of the Parties to this Agreement to enforce or interpret the provisions of this Agreement, the prevailing Party will be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees, in addition to any other relief to which that Party may be entitled.
I. Signatures. This Agreement may be signed in two counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, with the same force and effectiveness as though executed in a single document.
J. Applicability to Past Activities
Consultant agrees that if and to the extent that Consultant provided any services or made efforts on behalf of or for the benefit of Company, or related to the current or prospective business of Company after the Separation Date and prior to the Effective Date in anticipation of Consultant’s involvement with the Company, that would have been “Services” if performed during the Term of this Agreement (the “Prior Consulting Period”) and to the extent that during the Prior Consulting Period: (i) Consultant received access to any information from or on behalf of Company that would have been “Confidential Information” if Consultant received access to such information during the Term of this Agreement; or (ii) Consultant (a) conceived, created, authored, invented, developed or reduced to practice any item (including any intellectual property rights with respect thereto) on behalf of or for the benefit of Company, or related to the current or prospective business of Company in anticipation of Consultant’s involvement with Company, that would have been an Invention if conceived, created, authored, invented, developed or reduced to practice during the Term of this Agreement; or (b) incorporated into any such item any pre-existing invention, improvement, development, concept, discovery or other proprietary information that would have been a Prior Invention if incorporated into such item during the Term of this Agreement; then any such information shall be deemed Confidential Information hereunder and any such item shall be deemed an Invention or Prior Invention hereunder, and this Agreement shall apply to such activities, information or item as if disclosed, conceived, created, authored, invented, developed or reduced to practice during the Term of this Agreement. Consultant further acknowledges that Consultant has been fully compensated for all services provided during any such Prior Consulting Period.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Consulting Agreement as of the date first written above.
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ORGANOVO, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
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By: |
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Name: |
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
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Name: |
Xxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Title: |
Consultant |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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Address for Notice: |
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SERVICES AND COMPENSATION
1. Contact. Consultant’s principal Company contact: Xxxxx Xxxxxx, CEO
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
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Title: |
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Consultant |
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2. Services. The Services will include, but will not be limited to, the following:
Consultant will make himself available, at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice, to advise the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer and/or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company(or their designees) for up to five days per month on matters including, but not limited to, the onboarding and transition of responsibilities to the Company’s new Chief Financial Officer, the Company’s filing of its Form 10-K and Proxy Statement for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, any other finance, accounting or tax-related projects as may arise during the Term, and will continue to serve as a Director of Samsara Sciences, Inc. It is the intention such services will be generally be performed by Consultant at his place of business, with the exception of Samsara Board meetings which may be conducted at Samsara’s offices. The Company will endeavor in good faith not to provide Consultant with material non-public information about the Company, unless providing such information to Consultant is reasonably necessary to enable Consultant to perform the Services.
3. Compensation.
A. The Company will pay Consultant a quarterly retainer of $74,000, to be invoiced on a quarterly basis and paid in advance.
B. The Company will reimburse Consultant, in accordance with Company policy, for all reasonable expenses incurred by Consultant in performing the Services pursuant to this Agreement, if Consultant receives written consent from an authorized agent of the Company prior to incurring such expenses and submits receipts for such expenses to the Company in accordance with Company policy.
Consultant shall submit to the Company a written invoice for Services and expenses, and such statement shall be subject to the approval of the contact person listed above or other designated agent of the Company. The Company will remit payment for properly submitted and approved invoices within thirty (30) days following invoice submission. In order to help prevent adverse tax consequences to Consultant under Section 409A (as defined below), in no event will any payment under Section 3.A. of this Exhibit be made later than the later of (1) March 15th of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such payment was earned, or (2) the 15th day of the third (3rd) month following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which such payment was earned.
All payments and benefits provided for under this Agreement are intended to be exempt from or otherwise comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance thereunder (together, “Section 409A”) so that none of the severance payments and benefits to be provided hereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed
under Section 409A, and any ambiguities or ambiguous terms herein will be interpreted to be exempt or so comply. Each payment and benefit payable under this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations.
This Exhibit A is accepted and agreed upon as of March 30, 2016.
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CONSULTANT |
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ORGANOVO, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
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By: |
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
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Xxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Title: |
Consultant |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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