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EXHIBIT 10.26
RETAIL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
This Retail Business Management Agreement is made and entered into
effective as of October 1, 1998 by and between Visionary Retail Management,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Retail Business Manager"), and Xx. Xxxx Xxxx &
Associates, PLLC, a Kentucky professional limited liability company (the
"Practice").
R E C I T A L S
A. The Practice is a Kentucky limited liability company duly organized
and validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky which is
engaged in the provision of Professional Eye Care Services (as defined below)
and Optical Services (as defined below) to the general public in the states of
Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee and Missouri (including the states that the
Practice may in the future conduct such services, the "Practice Areas" and each
state a "Practice Area") through individual Professionals (as defined below)
each of whom is licensed to practice optometry and/or ophthalmology in the
Practice Areas in which he or she provides services for the Practice and who are
employed or otherwise retained by the Practice.
B. Retail Business Manager is a business corporation duly organized and
validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
C. The Practice desires to devote substantially all of its energies,
expertise and time to the delivery of Professional Eye Care Services to
patients.
D. The Practice desires to engage Retail Business Manager to provide
facilities, equipment and such management, administrative and business services
as are necessary and appropriate for the day-to-day administration of the retail
optical aspects of the Practice as well as certain personnel and services for
the Practice's professional eye care practice, and Retail Business Manager
desires to provide such, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth,
for the purpose of enhancing the cost-efficiency and quality of services
rendered by the Practice to its patients.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual agreements,
terms, covenants and conditions contained herein and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Retail Business Management Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings ascribed thereto, unless
otherwise clearly required by the context in which such term is used:
1.1 Account. The term "Account" shall mean the bank account described
in Sections 3.9 and 3.10.
1.2 Adjusted Gross Revenue. The term "Adjusted Gross Revenue" shall
mean all revenues for Optical Services, Professional Eye Care Services, or
otherwise, generated by or on behalf of the Practice and/or its Professionals,
or other personnel during the term of this Retail Business Management Agreement,
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calculated on an accrual basis under GAAP, including all technical fees from
ancillary services, all proceeds from key person life and disability insurance
policies purchased by Retail Business Manager, in agreement with the Practice,
in accordance with Section 3.14, all amounts paid by third parties for
contractual liabilities, including, but not limited to, payments under
non-shareholder Professionals' non-competition agreements and compensation
payments under any service agreement between the Practice and another entity,
and all consultant, teaching and expert witness fees minus any allowances for
bad debts, uncollectible accounts, Medicare, Medicaid and other payor
contractual adjustments, discounts, workers' compensation adjustments,
reasonable professional courtesies, and other reductions in collectible revenue
that result from activities that do not result in collectible charges.
1.3 Adjusted Net Revenue. The term "Adjusted Net Revenue" shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 5.2 hereof.
1.4 Bonus. The term "Bonus shall mean the bonus to which the President
may be entitled under the terms of the President's Employment Agreement, not to
exceed Twenty Thousand And No/100 Dollars $20,000 on an annualized basis
1.5 Budget. The term "Budget" shall mean an operating budget and
capital expenditure budget for each fiscal year as prepared in accordance with
Section 3.11(a).
1.6 Capitation Revenues. The term "Capitation Revenues" shall mean all
collections from managed care organizations or third-party payors where such
payment is made periodically on a per member basis for the partial or total
needs of a subscribing patient, less amounts that are payable to other providers
of health care items and services to capitation patients. Capitation Revenues
shall include any co-payments and incentive bonuses received as a result of a
capitation plan.
1.7 Clinical Duties. The term "Clinical Duties " shall mean those
duties of Non-Professional Personnel (as defined below) which entail directly or
indirectly assisting a Professional (as defined below) in the scheduling,
examination or care of patients in the course of providing Professional Eye Care
Services, regardless of whether the performance of such duties requires
licensure under applicable state law.
1.8 Confidential Information. The term "Confidential Information" shall
mean any information of Retail Business Manager or the Practice, as appropriate
(whether written or oral), including all business management or economic
studies, patient lists, proprietary forms, proprietary business or management
methods, marketing data, fee schedules, or trade secrets of the Retail Business
Manager or of the Practice, as applicable, whether or not such Confidential
Information is disclosed or otherwise made available to one Party by the other
Party pursuant to this Retail Business Management Agreement. Confidential
Information shall also include the terms and provisions of this Retail Business
Management Agreement and any transaction or document executed by the Parties
pursuant to this Retail Business Management Agreement. Confidential Information
does not include any information that the receiving party can establish (a) is
or becomes generally available to and known by the public or the optometric or
optical communities (other than as a result of an unpermitted disclosure
directly or indirectly by the receiving party or its affiliates, advisors, or
Representatives); (b) is or becomes available to the receiving party on a
nonconfidential basis from a source other than the furnishing party or its
affiliates, advisors or Representatives, provided that such source is not and
was not bound by a confidentiality agreement with or other obligation of secrecy
to the furnishing party of which the receiving party has knowledge; or (c) has
already been or is hereafter independently acquired or developed by the
receiving party without violating any confidentiality agreement with or other
obligation of secrecy to the furnishing party.
1.9 Dispensary. The term "Dispensary" shall mean all facilities and
locations, or portions thereof, used by the Practice and all business operations
of the Practice related to the Practice's optical
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dispensaries or businesses, which are to be administered by Retail Business
Manager under this Retail Business Management Agreement but excluding all
facilities and locations, or portions thereof, used by the Practice in, and all
business operations related to, the Practice's optometric, clinical and/or
therapeutic optometric practice.
1.10 Dispensary Expense. The term "Dispensary Expense" shall mean all
operating and non-operating expenses incurred by the Retail Business Manager in
the provision of Management Services (as defined below) to the Practice and
shall include all operating and non-operating expenses incurred by the Practice
relating to the items set forth in this Section. The Retail Business Manager
shall be reimbursed by the Practice for any reasonable Dispensary Expense
incurred by the Retail Business Manager in the provision of services to the
Practice, upon request by the Retail Business Manager. Dispensary Expense shall
not include any Retail Business Manager Expense, Practice Expense or Shareholder
Expense or any state, local or federal income or franchise tax.
Without limitation, Dispensary Expense shall include the following expenses:
(a) the salaries, benefits, payroll taxes, and other direct
costs of all employees of Retail Business Manager primarily working at the
Dispensary Practice and the salaries, benefits, payroll taxes, and other direct
costs of the Non-Professional Personnel and non-clinical employees of the
Practice primarily working at the Dispensary, but not the salaries, benefits,
payroll taxes or other direct costs of the Professionals;
(b) the direct cost of any employee or consultant that
provides services at or in connection with the Dispensary for improved
Dispensary performance, such as management, billing and collections, business
office consultation, and accounting and legal services, but only when such
services are coordinated by Retail Business Manager and/or included in the
Budget; provided, however, that Retail Business Manager shall obtain the consent
of the Practice before any consultant may be hired whose charge for services
would result in unbudgeted Dispensary Expenses charged to the Practice of
$5,000.00 or more in any calendar year, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld;
(c) reasonable recruitment costs and out-of-pocket expenses of
Retail Business Manager associated with the recruitment of additional Retail
Business Manager employees primarily located at the Dispensary Practice;
(d) personal property and intangible property taxes assessed
against Retail Business Manager's assets used in connection with the operation
of the Dispensary;
(e) comprehensive general and professional liability insurance
covering the Dispensary, employees of the Practice in connection with the
operation of the Dispensary and employees of Retail Business Manager in
connection with the operation of the Dispensary;
(f) the expense of using, leasing, purchasing or otherwise
procuring and maintaining the Dispensary and Dispensary related equipment;
(g) the cost of capital (whether as actual interest on
indebtedness incurred on behalf of the Practice, or reasonable imputed interest
on capital advanced by Retail Business Manager, which shall be equal to the
average cost of borrowing by Retail Business Manager as reflected on its most
recent published financial statements, or in the absence of either of the
foregoing, eight percent (8%)) to finance or refinance obligations of the
Practice incurred in connection with the Dispensary, or to finance new ventures
of the Practice in connection with the Dispensary; in any such case only as such
cost of capital is set forth in the Budget or otherwise approved in advance by
the Practice Advisory Council;
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(h) the reasonable travel expenses associated with attending
meetings, conferences, or seminars to benefit the Practice so long as such
expenses are related to individuals located at the Dispensary and the Practice's
pro rata share for individuals who are consultants of or employed by Retail
Business Manager who provide material services to the Dispensary;
(i) the cost of Dispensary supplies, inventory and utilities;
(j) billing and collection costs and expenses;
(k) the Practice's pro-rata share of reasonable corporate
overhead charges or other reasonable expenses (including computer and data
processing costs) which are incurred by Retail Business Manager in connection
with corporate headquarters expenses which relate to the provision of benefits
or services by Retail Business Manager on behalf of the Practice as reflected in
the Budget including without limitation direct or indirect costs of the
Executive Dispensary Administrator and other Retail Business Manager personnel;
(l) all other expenses which are set forth in the Budget and
which directly or indirectly benefit the Practice incurred by Retail Business
Manager in carrying out its obligations under this Retail Business Management
Agreement;
(m) reasonable costs and expenses (to the extent not covered
by insurance) of lawsuits or claims against the Retail Business Manager or its
personnel, or the Practice, its Professional(s), or other personnel related to
their performance of duties at the Dispensary or their interest in the leasehold
or other assets used in connection with the Dispensary, provided that if any of
the Retail Business Manager or its personnel, or the Practice, its
Professional(s), or other personnel do not prevail in the lawsuit or claim or
settle the matter with a material payment by the party (the party at "fault"),
such costs and expenses shall be deemed a Retail Business Manager Expense in the
event of Retail Business Manager's fault or the fault of its personnel
(including Clinical Personnel) and a Practice Expense in the event of fault by
the Practice, its Professional(s), or other personnel whereupon the Practice and
such Professional(s) or other personnel shall be jointly responsible for the
immediate reimbursement of the sums advanced by Retail Business Manager;
provided further that Retail Business Manager shall not advance such costs and
expenses from the Account if the Practice Advisory Council concludes that (i) it
is unlikely that the Account will be reimbursed if the party involved will not
prevail in the lawsuit or claim, or (ii) a reasonable third person would believe
that obtaining a reimbursement of the advanced sums will be difficult to
achieve; and the Parties acknowledge that nothing in this Section shall create
any liability on the part of a Professional who would otherwise be shielded from
personal liability by the corporate or limited liability structure of the
Practice; and
(n) key person life and disability insurance premiums related
to policies which the Parties agree to acquire on the life of the Practice's
Shareholders or Professionals, whereupon any proceeds shall be paid to the
Account as Adjusted Gross Revenues, unless the Parties agree to a specific split
of the proceeds. Should only the Practice choose to obtain key person life
insurance, the Practice shall pay all premiums as a Practice Expense and shall
receive all proceeds. Further, if only the Retail Business Manager chooses to
obtain such insurance, Retail Business Manager shall pay all premiums as a
Retail Business Manager Expense and shall receive all proceeds. The Practice
shall cause its Shareholders and Professionals to submit to a medical
examination necessary to obtain such insurance.
In the event that any of the individuals described in Section 1.10(b)
devote a substantial amount of time to serving one or more optometric practices
other than the Practice, which is not prohibited hereunder, or the above
described Dispensary is utilized to a substantial degree by one or more
optometric practices other than the Practice, the Dispensary Expenses shall be
allocated between the Practice and such other
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optometric practices to reflect each practice's pro-rata share of any expenses
or costs relating to such individuals or Dispensary (including the recruitment
costs of such individuals and the comprehensive and general liability insurance
expenses with respect to such individuals). Expenses contemplated in this
paragraph which potentially and primarily relate to Sections 1.10 (b), (c), (d),
(e), (f), (g), (h), (k) and (l) shall be in the Budget or approved by the
Practice Advisory Council, and where reasonably determinable, are intended to be
reasonable and customary based upon similar relationships generally existing
between national practice management companies and practices they manage. The
Practice's pro-rata portion of expenses related to individuals who are
consultants of or employed by Retail Business Manager and who provide services
benefiting more than one practice shall be based upon the actual time expended
by the individuals in performing such services as compared to the time spent by
such individuals with other practices managed by the Retail Business Manager,
or, if not reasonably calculable, as determined by Retail Business Manager,
based upon the estimated proportionate revenue size of the Practice as compared
to the aggregate revenue size as estimated in all of the Budgets of all other
practices managed by the Retail Business Manager which are benefiting from such
individual's services. Likewise, other benefits provided by the Retail Business
Manager to several Practices shall be split pro-rata based upon the use or
benefit derived by each Practice, but if not calculable, shall be based upon the
estimated proportionate revenue size as set forth in the preceding sentence.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, unless an expense is expressly
designated as a Retail Business Manager Expense, a Practice Expense or a
Shareholder Expense in this Retail Business Management Agreement or any exhibit
thereto, all expenses incurred by Retail Business Manager in providing services
pursuant to this Retail Business Management Agreement shall be considered a
Dispensary Expense. Any and all expenses which are incurred by Retail Business
Manager, Professional Business Manager or the Practice shall be allocated to the
appropriate expense category or categories in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Retail Business Management Agreement and the Professional
Business Management Agreement.
1.11 Executive Dispensary Administrator. The term "Executive Dispensary
Administrator" shall mean the employee of Retail Business Manager having
executive authority and responsibility for the general and active management of
the Retail Business Manager.
1.12 GAAP. The term "GAAP" shall mean generally accepted United States
accounting principles.
1.13 Interest Expense. The term "Interest Expense shall mean the
accrued interest on the debt, if any, incurred by the Practice with respect to
the financing of the purchase of Doctor's Assets pursuant to that certain Master
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated August 22, 1998 by and among Eye Care Centers of
America, Inc., a Texas corporation, the Practice, the Companies (as defined
therein) and the Owners (as defined therein), and the interest on any
refinancing thereof.
1.14 Management Fee. The term "Management Fee" shall mean the Retail
Business Manager's compensation established as described in Article V hereof.
1.15 Management Services. The term "Management Services" shall mean the
business, administrative, and management services to be provided for the
Practice and the Dispensary, including, without limitation, the provision of
equipment, inventory and supplies, support services, personnel (excluding
Professionals), management, administration, financial record keeping and
reporting, and other business office services, all as reasonably contemplated by
this Retail Business Management Agreement and which are necessary for the
conduct of the Practice's business.
1.16 Non-Professional Personnel. The term "Non-Professional Personnel"
shall mean those individuals employed primarily at the Practice who are not
Optometrists or Ophthalmologists.
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1.17 Office. The term "Office" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Professional Business Management Agreement (as defined below).
1.18 Office Expense. The term "Office Expense" shall have the meaning
set forth in the Professional Business Management Agreement.
1.19 Optical Services. The term "Optical Services" shall mean the
filling of optical prescriptions, dispensing of optical goods, the fitting of
eyewear, all activities related to any of the foregoing, and the direction,
supervision, and control of those who perform these tasks.
1.20 Optical Laboratory Services. The term "Optical Laboratory
Services" shall mean the fabrication of optical goods, including the grinding of
spectacle lenses and the fabrication of spectacles.
1.21 Optometrist. The term "Optometrist" shall mean each individually
licensed Optometrist, if any, who is employed or otherwise retained by or
associated with the Practice, each of whom shall meet at all times the
qualifications described in Section 4.2 and Section 4.3.
1.22 Ophthalmologist. The term "Ophthalmologist" shall mean each
individually licensed Ophthalmologist, if any, who is employed or otherwise
retained by or associated with the Practice, each of whom shall meet at all
times the qualifications described in Section 4.2 and Section 4.3.
1.23 Parties. The term "Parties" shall mean the Practice and Retail
Business Manager.
1.24 Practice. The term "Practice" shall have the meaning set forth in
the Recitals.
1.25 Practice Advisory Council. The term "Practice Advisory Council"
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6 of this Agreement.
1.26 Practice Areas. The term " Practice Areas" shall have the meaning
set forth in the Recitals.
1.27 Practice Expenses. The term "Practice Expenses" shall mean (a) all
reasonable non-shareholder Professionals' salaries, benefits, payroll taxes and
other direct costs related to their services to the Practice (including
reasonable and customary professional dues, subscriptions, continuing education
and technical training expenses, and severance payments); (b) the cost of
optometric supplies (including, but not limited to drugs, pharmaceuticals,
products, substances, items, or optometric devices); (c) reasonable and
customary professional liability insurance expenses of Professionals; (d) travel
costs for continuing education, technical training, and necessary business
travel for non-shareholder Professionals; (e) to the extent not covered by
insurance and subject to the advance provisions contained herein, the defense
costs and expenses of any litigation or claims brought against the Practice or
its Professionals or other personnel by any third party in which the Practice,
or its Professionals, or other personnel do not prevail or the matter settles
with a material payment and the Practice or its Professionals or other personnel
are at fault, and any liability judgment or material settlement assessed against
the Practice or its Professionals or other personnel; (f) certain equipment
expenses described in Sections 3.2(c) and 3.2(d) of this Retail Business
Management Agreement and 3.2(c) and 3.2(d) of the Professional Business
Management Agreement; (g) interest on any funds advanced to the Practice by
Professional Business Manager to the extent that Professional Business Manager
is a net lender in accordance with the terms of the Professional Business
Management Agreement; (h) interest on any funds advanced to the Practice by
Retail Business Manager to the extent that Retail Business Manager is a net
lender in accordance with the terms of this Retail Business Management
Agreement; and (i) any income taxes or franchise taxes of the Practice; and (j)
consulting, accounting, or legal fees which relate solely to the Practice.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term
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Practice Expenses shall specifically exclude (i) business travel requested by
Professional Business Manager, which shall be an Office Expense; (ii) business
travel requested by Retail Business Manager, which shall be a Dispensary
Expense, (iii) any and all compensation or expenses attributable to
Shareholders, which shall be Shareholder Expenses (except reasonable and
customary expenses for malpractice insurance which shall be a Practice Expense),
(iv) "tail" insurance coverage for Shareholders, which shall be a Shareholder
Expense, or (v) such other items agreed to in advance in writing by the Parties
hereto. During this Retail Business Management Agreement, for so long as a
current Shareholder of the Practice is an employee of, contractor to, or
Shareholder of the Practice, such Shareholder shall be deemed to be a
Shareholder for the purposes of this definition. Such expenses are to be
approved annually in the Budget.
1.28 Professional. The term "Professional" shall mean any Optometrist
or Ophthalmologist.
1.29 Professional Business Management Agreement. The term "Professional
Business Management Agreement" shall mean the instrument made and entered into
as of even date by and between Visionary MSO, Inc. ("Professional Business
Manager") and the Practice whereby Professional Business Manager shall provide
certain facilities, equipment, and management, administrative, and business
services to the Practice in connection with its provision of Professional Eye
Care Services as originally executed and delivered, or, if amended or
supplemented, as so amended or supplemented.
1.30 Professional Business Manager. The term "Professional Business
Manager" shall have the meaning set forth in the Professional Business
Management Agreement
1.31 Professional Eye Care Services. The term "Professional Eye Care
Services" shall mean professional health care items and services, including, but
not limited to, the practice of optometry, and all related professional health
care services provided by the Practice through Optometrists, Ophthalmologists,
and other professional health care providers that are retained by or
professionally affiliated with the Practice. The term shall exclude any and all
business whatsoever in connection with any optical businesses owned or operated,
or to be owned or operated in the future, in whole or in part, by the Practice
or any of its Professionals during the terms of this Retail Business Management
Agreement, except as otherwise required by applicable state law.
1.32 Professional Practice Account. The term "Professional Practice
Account" shall mean the bank account described in Section 3.10 of the
Professional Business Management Agreement.
1.33 Representatives. The term "Representatives" shall mean a Party's
officers, directors, managers, employees, or other agents.
1.34 Retail Business Management Agreement. The term "Retail Business
Management Agreement" shall mean this instrument as originally executed and
delivered, or, if amended or supplemented, as so amended or supplemented.
1.35 Retail Business Manager. The term "Retail Business Manager" shall
have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.
1.36 Retail Business Manager Expense. The term "Retail Business Manager
Expense" shall mean an expense or cost incurred by the Retail Business Manager,
for which the Retail Business Manager is financially liable and is not entitled
to reimbursement from the Practice. Retail Business Manager Expense shall
specifically include: (a) any income or franchise taxes of the Retail Business
Manager, (b) the expense of providing, leasing, purchasing or otherwise
procuring the Dispensary equipment, including depreciation of furniture and
equipment, and (c) any other expenses or costs that are not reasonable and
customary reimbursements based upon a national practice management company's
usual arrangement with a practice.
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1.37 Shareholder. The term "Shareholder" shall mean any current or
future shareholder of the Practice.
1.38 Shareholder Expense. The term "Shareholder Expense" shall be
limited to the following expenses: (a) Shareholders' salaries, Bonus, benefits,
payroll taxes, and other direct costs (including professional dues,
subscriptions, continuing education expenses, severance payments, entertainment,
and travel costs for continuing education or other business travel but excluding
business travel requested by Retail Business Manager, which shall be a
Dispensary Expense and business travel requested by Professional Business
Manager which shall be an Office Expense, and excluding any other expense of a
Shareholder approved as a Dispensary Expense or Office Expense in advance by the
Parties); (b) "tail" coverage malpractice insurance expenses for the
Shareholders and any malpractice insurance expenses of any Professional which
are in excess of those which are customary and reasonable; and (c) consulting,
accounting, or legal fees which relate solely to the Shareholders. The Practice
shall reimburse the Retail Business Manager for any Shareholder Expense incurred
by the Retail Business Manager. Unless expressly designated as a Management Fee,
a Retail Business Manager Expense, a Professional Business Manager Expense, a
Dispensary Expense, an Office Expense, or a Practice Expense in this Retail
Business Management Agreement or in any exhibit hereto or in the Professional
Business Management Agreement or in any exhibit thereto or in any written
agreement of the Parties, any expense incurred by the Practice shall be
considered a Shareholder Expense. Notwithstanding the above, the Practice may
require certain Professionals to pay certain expenses incurred for them
specifically. Nothing in this Section shall create personal liability on the
part of the Practice's Shareholders.
1.39 Term. The term "Term" shall mean the initial and any renewal
periods of duration of this Retail Business Management Agreement as described in
Section 6.1.
ARTICLE II
APPOINTMENT OF RETAIL BUSINESS MANAGER
2.1 Appointment. The Practice hereby appoints Retail Business Manager
as its sole and exclusive agent for the management and administration of the
retail optical aspects of the Practice, including, but not limited to, the
operation of the Dispensary and the provision of Optical Services by the
Practice, and Retail Business Manager hereby accepts such appointment, subject
at all times to the provisions of this Retail Business Management Agreement.
2.2 Authority. Consistent with the provisions of this Retail Business
Management Agreement, Retail Business Manager shall have the responsibility and
commensurate authority to provide Management Services for the Practice. The
Practice shall give Retail Business Manager thirty (30) days' prior notice of
the Practice's intent to execute any agreement creating a binding legal
obligation on the Practice. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Practice,
through its Professionals, shall be responsible for and shall have complete
authority, responsibility, supervision, and control over the provision of all
Professional Eye Care Services and other professional health care services
performed for patients, and that all diagnoses, treatments, procedures, and
other professional health care services shall be provided and performed
exclusively by or under the supervision of Professionals as such Professionals,
in their sole discretion, deem appropriate. Retail Business Manager shall have
and exercise absolutely no control, influence, authority or supervision over the
provision of Professional Eye Care Services.
2.3 Patient Referrals. Retail Business Manager and the Practice agree
that the benefits to the Practice and to Retail Business Manager hereunder do
not require, are not payment for, and are not in any way contingent upon the
referral, admission, or any other arrangement for the provision of any item or
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service offered by Retail Business Manager to patients of the Practice in any
facility, laboratory, center, or health care operation controlled, managed, or
operated by Retail Business Manager or upon the referral, admission, or any
other arrangement for the provision of any item or service offered by the
Practice.
2.4 Internal Decisions of the Practice. Matters involving the
Practice's allocation of professional income among its Shareholders and the
Professional employees of the Practice, tax planning, and pension and investment
planning shall remain the responsibility of the Practice and the Shareholders of
the Practice. The Retail Business Manager may not and shall not directly or
indirectly control or attempt to control, dictate or influence, directly or
indirectly, the professional judgment, including, but not limited to, the level
or type of care or services rendered, the manner of practice, or the practice of
the Practice or any Professional employed by the Practice.
2.5 Practice of Optometry. The Parties acknowledge that Retail Business
Manager is not authorized or qualified to engage in any activity that may be
construed or deemed to constitute the practice of optometry. To the extent any
act or service herein required to be performed by Retail Business Manager should
be construed by a court of competent jurisdiction or by the Board of Optometry
to constitute the practice of optometry, the requirement to perform that act or
service by Retail Business Manager shall be deemed waived and unenforceable.
Although Retail Business Manager shall provide Non-Professional Personnel to the
Practice and Professional Business Manager and Retail Business Manager shall
manage the administrative aspects of their employment, all Non-Professional
Personnel in the performance of any and all Clinical Duties shall be subject
solely to the direction, supervision, and control of the Practice and its
Professionals and, in the performance of Clinical Duties shall not be subject to
any direction or control by, or liability to, Retail Business Manager. Retail
Business Manager may not and shall not control or attempt to control, directly
or indirectly, the professional judgment, the manner of practice, or the
practice of the Practice or any Professional employed by the Practice. In this
regard, Retail Business Manager shall not attempt to dictate, influence, or
control the scope, level, or type of optometric and/or therapeutic optometric
services provided to patients of the Dispensary, the discipline of any
Professionals who are Practice employees, the fees charged for Professional Eye
Care Services provided to patients of the Dispensary (except to the extent
necessary to establish the Budget or negotiate managed care contracts), or any
other matter that impinges on the professional judgment of the Practice or any
Professional employed by the Practice.
2.6 Formation and Operation of the Practice Advisory Council. The
Parties hereby establish a Practice Advisory Council which shall be responsible
for advising Retail Business Manager and the Practice with respect to developing
the Dispensary and implementing management and administrative policies for the
overall operation of the Dispensary and for providing dispute resolution on
certain matters. The Practice Advisory Counsel shall consist of six (6) members.
Retail Business Manager shall designate, in its sole discretion, two (2) members
of the Practice Advisory Council or may have one (1) member with two (2) votes.
The Practice shall designate, in its sole discretion, two (2) members of the
Practice Advisory Council or may have one (1) member with two (2) votes.
Professional Business Manager shall designate, in its sole discretion, two (2)
members of the Practice Advisory Council or may have one member with two (2)
votes. The Practice Advisory Council members selected by the Practice shall be
full-time Professional employees of the Practice. Each Party's representatives
to the Practice Advisory Council shall have the authority to make decisions on
behalf of the respective Party. Except as may otherwise be provided, the act of
a majority of the members of the Practice Advisory Council shall be the act of
the Practice Advisory Council, provided that (i) the affirmative vote of the
Practice member(s) shall be required on all votes of the Practice Advisory
Council; (ii) the affirmative vote of the Retail Business Manager shall be
required on all matters relating to Optical Services or the Dispensary; and
(iii) the affirmative vote of the Professional Business Manager shall be
required on all matters relating to the Office. The decisions, resolutions,
actions, or recommendations of the Practice Advisory Council shall be
implemented by Retail Business Manager, Professional Business Manager, or the
Practice, as appropriate.
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2.7 Duties and Responsibilities of the Practice Advisory Council. The
Practice Advisory Council shall review, evaluate, make recommendations, and
where specifically authorized herein and permitted by law, make decisions with
respect to the following matters:
(a) Facility Improvements and Expansion. Any renovation and
expansion plans and capital equipment expenditures with respect to the
Practice's facilities shall be reviewed by the Practice Advisory Council which
shall make recommendations to the Practice with respect to proposed changes
therein. Such renovation and expansion plans and capital equipment expenditures
shall be based upon economic feasibility, optometry support, productivity and
then current market conditions.
(b) Marketing and Public Relations. The Practice Advisory
Council shall review and make recommendations to the Practice with respect to
all marketing and public relations services and programs promoting the
Practice's Professional Eye Care Services, Optical Services and ancillary
services.
(c) Patient Fees; Collection Policies. The Practice Advisory
Council shall review and make recommendations to the Practice concerning the fee
schedule and collection policies for all Professional Eye Care Services, Optical
Services and ancillary services rendered by the Practice.
(d) Ancillary Services. The Practice Advisory Council must
approve any new non-professional ancillary services to be rendered by the
Practice, including Optical Services, and the pricing, continuation of, access
to, and quality of such services.
(e) Provider and Payor Relationships. The Practice Advisory
Council shall review and make recommendations to the Practice regarding the
establishment or maintenance of relationships between the Practice and
institutional health care providers and third-party payors, and the Practice
shall review and approve all agreements with institutional health care providers
and third-party payors. The Practice Advisory Council shall also make
recommendations to the Practice concerning discounted fee schedules, including
capitated fee arrangements of which the Practice shall be a party, and the
Practice shall review and approve all such capitated fee arrangements.
(f) Strategic Planning. The Practice Advisory Council may make
recommendations to the Practice concerning development of long-term strategic
planning objectives for the Practice.
(g) Capital Expenditures. The Practice Advisory Council shall
make recommendations to the Practice concerning the priority of major capital
expenditures, and shall review and approve any commitment to make any capital
expenditures, relating to the Dispensary or the Office involving amounts in
excess of $15,000 individually, or $50,000 in the aggregate, in any one fiscal
year, which amounts may be increased from time-to-time by agreement of the
Parties.
(h) Fee Dispute Resolution. At the request of Retail Business
Manager or the Practice, the Practice Advisory Council shall make
recommendations to Retail Business Manager with respect to any dispute
concerning a set off or reduction in Management Fees.
(i) Grievances Referrals. The Practice Advisory Council shall
consider and make recommendations to Retail Business Manager and the Practice
regarding grievances pertaining to matters not specifically addressed in this
Retail Business Management Agreement as referred to it by Retail Business
Manager or the Practice's Board of Directors.
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(j) Termination of Retail Business Manager's Personnel. The
Practice Advisory Council shall review and approve any decision by the Retail
Business Manager to terminate any of Retail Business Manager's personnel
primarily located at the Dispensary who occupy manager or high level positions.
(k) Approval of New Offices or Dispensary. The Practice
Advisory Council shall approve any move of any current Office or Dispensary
location or expansion to an additional Practice location. Additionally, the
Practice Advisory Council shall approve the establishment of any optical
business of the Practice and the move or expansion of any such business.
Except in those specific instances set forth above in which the Practice
Advisory Council has been granted the authority to make decisions binding upon
the Retail Business Manager and the Practice, it is acknowledged and agreed that
recommendations of the Practice Advisory Council are intended for the advice and
guidance of Retail Business Manager and the Practice and that the Practice
Advisory Council does not have the power to bind Retail Business Manager or the
Practice. Where discretion with respect to any matter is vested in Retail
Business Manager or the Practice under the terms of this Retail Business
Management Agreement, Retail Business Manager or the Practice, as the case may
be, shall have ultimate responsibility for the exercise of such discretion,
notwithstanding any recommendations of the Practice Advisory Council. Retail
Business Manager and the Practice shall, however, take such recommendations of
the Practice Advisory Council into account in good faith in the exercise of such
discretion.
2.8 Professional Health Care Decisions. Notwithstanding anything herein
to the contrary, all decisions required by applicable law to be made solely by
health care professionals will be made solely by the appropriate Professionals.
The Practice shall have ultimate and exclusive authority concerning issues
related to:
(a) Types, levels, and scope of Professional Eye Care Services
to be provided (provided, however, that the Practice Advisory Council shall have
the authority set forth in Section 2.7(d) with respect to non-professional
ancillary services);
(b) Recruitment of Professionals to the Practice, including
the specific qualifications and specialties of recruited Professionals;
(c) Any optometric related functions;
(d) Fee schedules;
(e) Frequency and/or volume of patient encounters;
(f) The discipline of any Professionals or Non-Professional
Personnel who are employed by, retained by, or otherwise affiliated with the
Practice with respect to the performance of Professional Eye Care Services or
Clinical Duties, as applicable; and
(g) Any other decisions required by applicable law to be made
solely by Professionals and not by non-Professionals.
2.9 Meetings of the Practice Advisory Council. The Practice Advisory
Council shall meet on a regular basis as mutually agreed by the Parties. A
special meeting of the Practice Advisory Council may be called by Professional
Business Manager, Retail Business Manager or the Practice upon two (2) weeks'
notice, except in the event of an emergency, in which case a special meeting may
be called by Professional
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Business Manager, Retail Business Manager or the Practice upon three (3)
business days' notice. Meetings may be held telephonically or by any other means
agreeable to the Parties.
ARTICLE III
OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF RETAIL MANAGER
3.1 Management Services. Retail Business Manager shall provide all
Management Services necessary and appropriate for the day-to-day operation of
the Dispensary and such personnel and services as set forth herein for the
operation of the Office, pursuant to the terms of this Retail Business
Management Agreement. Retail Business Manager shall operate in a reasonable and
customary manner with due consideration to the Practice's past business
practices and shall operate in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and
regulations which are necessary and material to the Retail Business Manager's
performance of the Management Services. Retail Business Manager will provide in
good faith and with due diligence its services consistent with management
services generally provided in operations of an optical dispensary similar in
size, type and operations in the Practice Areas. All reasonable costs and
expenses related to Retail Business Manager's duties contained in this Article
III shall be Dispensary Expenses unless limited or excluded as a Dispensary
Expense pursuant to the terms of this Retail Business Management Agreement.
Retail Business Manager hereby consents and agrees to provide all Management
Services to all Dispensary facilities and locations; provided, however, that
during the Term of this Retail Business Management Agreement, and except for its
obligations pursuant to this Retail Business Management Agreement, the Practice
shall not establish, operate, or provide Optical Services at any new Dispensary
facility or location without the consent and approval of the Practice Advisory
Council; and provided further that during the Term of this Agreement the
Practice shall not engage any individual or entity other than Retail Business
Manager to provide Management Services to the Practice without the consent and
approval of the Practice Advisory Council.
3.2 Dispensary, Facilities and Equipment.
(a) Retail Business Manager shall procure for or on behalf of
the Practice one or more Dispensaries that are deemed by the Parties to be
reasonable, necessary and appropriate, and the expense associated therewith
shall be a Dispensary Expense. Retail Business Manager shall consult with the
Practice regarding the condition, use and needs of Dispensary facilities,
offices and improvements. The Practice shall pay when due all rents and expenses
of the Dispensary, including without limitation expenses for leasehold or
facility improvements. Such rents and expenses shall be Dispensary Expenses.
(b) Retail Business Manager shall negotiate and administer all
leases of and agreements for Dispensary facilities or locations on behalf of the
Practice, provided, however, that Retail Business Manager shall consult with the
Practice on all professional or clinical matters relating thereto and that the
Practice shall consent to any lease negotiated by Retail Business Manager, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(c) Retail Business Manager shall provide all equipment,
fixtures, office supplies, furniture and furnishings as are reasonable and
approved in the Budget for the operation of the Dispensary and the provision of
Optical Services. If the Practice wishes to choose additional equipment, which
the Retail Business Manager determines not to acquire or lease, the Practice may
acquire or lease such equipment, and the expense related thereto shall be deemed
a Practice Expense.
(d) Retail Business Manager shall provide, finance, or cause
to be provided or financed optical related equipment as reasonably required by
the Practice. The Practice shall have final authority in all health care
equipment selections; provided, however, that if the Practice chooses to acquire
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health care equipment which is not in the Budget and which Retail Business
Manager reasonably chooses not to acquire, expenses related thereto shall be
treated as a Practice Expense and such equipment shall be owned by the Practice;
provided further that following such acquisition or lease by the Practice, if
the Practice Advisory Council determines after a period of six months of use
that such equipment is reasonably certain to result in material profit to Retail
Business Manager (taking into account the cost or expense and anticipated
revenues associated with such equipment), then Retail Business Manager shall
acquire such equipment from the Practice by either (at Retail Business Manager's
option), paying cash or by assuming the liability associated with such
equipment, or if such equipment is then being leased by the Practice, by
assuming such lease. In the event of such an acquisition by Retail Business
Manager, it shall reimburse the Practice for previous expenses applied thereto.
Except for equipment which Retail Business Manager elects not to acquire or
lease which are acquired or leased by the Practice pursuant to Section 3.2(c) or
(d), all optical and non-optical equipment, other than Professional-owned
automobiles, acquired for the use of the Practice shall be owned by Retail
Business Manager and the depreciation and related capital charge shall be a
Retail Business Manager Expense. Retail Business Manager may make
recommendations to the Practice on the relationship between its health care
equipment decisions and the overall administrative and financial operations of
the Practice.
(e) Retail Business Manager shall be responsible for the
repair and maintenance of the Dispensary, consistent with the Practice's
responsibilities under the terms of any lease or other use arrangement, and for
the prompt repair, maintenance, and replacement of all equipment other than such
repairs, maintenance and replacement necessitated by the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of the Practice, its Professionals or other personnel
employed by the Practice, the repair or replacement of which shall be a Practice
Expense and not a Dispensary Expense. Replacement equipment shall be acquired
where Retail Business Manager in good faith determines, in consultation with the
Practice, that such replacement is necessary or where the Budget has made
allowances for such replacement.
3.3 Optical Supplies. Retail Business Manager shall order, procure,
purchase and provide on behalf of and as agent for the Practice all reasonable
optical supplies unless otherwise prohibited by federal and/or state law.
Furthermore, Retail Business Manager shall ensure that the Dispensary is at all
times adequately stocked with the optical supplies that are necessary and
appropriate for the operation of the Dispensary and required for the provision
of Optical Services. All costs and expenses relating to such supplies shall be a
Dispensary Expense.
3.4 Optical Laboratory Services. Retail Business Manager shall procure,
provide, or otherwise obtain for or on behalf of and as agent for the Practice
all Optical Laboratory Services necessary to the operation of the Dispensary.
3.5 Support Services. Retail Business Manager shall provide or arrange
for all printing, stationery, forms, postage, duplication or photocopying
services, and other support services as are reasonably necessary and appropriate
for the operation of the Dispensary and the provision of Optical Services
therein.
3.6 Licenses and Permits. Retail Business Manager shall, on behalf of
and in the name of the Practice, coordinate all development and planning
processes, and apply for and use reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain all
federal, state and local licenses and regulatory permits required for or in
connection with the operation of the Dispensary and the equipment (existing and
future) located at the Dispensary. The expenses and costs associated with
obtaining and maintaining permits with respect to the Dispensary shall be deemed
a Dispensary Expense.
3.7 Personnel.
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(a) Selection and Retention of Retail Business Manager's
Personnel. Except as specifically provided in Section 4.2 of this Retail
Business Management Agreement, Retail Business Manager shall, in consultation
with the Practice, employ or otherwise retain and shall be responsible for
selecting, hiring, training, supervising, and terminating, all management,
administrative, technical, clerical, secretarial, bookkeeping, accounting,
payroll, billing and collection and other personnel (excluding Professionals) as
Retail Business Manager deems reasonably necessary and appropriate for the
operation of the Dispensary and Office and for Retail Business Manager's
performance of its duties and obligations under this Retail Business Management
Agreement, provided that, where required by applicable state law, Retail
Business Manager personnel while engaged in providing Optical Services shall be
under the direction, supervision, and control of the Practice and its
Professionals. Consistent with reasonably prudent personnel management policies,
Retail Business Manager shall seek and consider the advice, input, and requests
of the Practice in regard to personnel matters. Retail Business Manager shall
have sole responsibility for determining the salaries and providing fringe
benefits, and for withholding, as required by law, any sums for income tax,
unemployment insurance, social security, or any other withholding required by
applicable law or governmental requirement. Retail Business Manager reserves the
right to change the number, composition or employment terms of such personnel in
the future at Retail Business Manager's discretion; provided, however, that the
termination of any of Retail Business Manager's personnel who occupy manager or
high level positions, and are primarily located at the Office or Dispensary must
receive the approval of the Practice Advisory Council. Retail Business Manager
and the Practice recognize and acknowledge that Retail Business Manager and
personnel retained by Retail Business Manager may from time-to-time perform
services for persons other than the Practice. This Retail Business Management
Agreement shall not be construed to prevent or prohibit Retail Business Manager
from performing such services for others or restrict Retail Business Manager
from using its personnel to provide services to others. Retail Business Manager
hereby disclaims any liability relating to the effect of its employees on the
qualification of the Practice's retirement plans under the Internal Revenue
Code, and all liabilities for such classification shall be solely the
responsibility of the Practice.
(b) Termination of Retail Business Manager's Personnel. If the
Practice is dissatisfied with the services of any employee of Retail Business
Manager or any personnel under Retail Business Manager's direction, supervision,
and control, the Practice shall consult with Retail Business Manager. Retail
Business Manager shall in good faith determine whether the performance of that
employee could be brought to acceptable levels through counsel and assistance,
or whether such employee should be relocated or terminated. All of Retail
Business Manager's determinations regarding Retail Business Manager's personnel
shall be governed by the overriding principle and goal of providing high quality
Optical Services and optometric and/or therapeutic optometric support services.
Employee assignments shall be made to assure consistent and continued rendering
of high quality Optical Services and optometric and/or therapeutic optometric
support services. The Retail Business Manager shall maintain established working
relationships wherever possible, and Retail Business Manager shall make every
effort consistent with sound business practices to honor the specific requests
of the Practice with regard to the assignment of employees. Notwithstanding that
which is contained in this Section 3.7(b), the Practice shall have the right and
obligation to determine the direction, supervision and control of any personnel
while said personnel are involved in the performance of Clinical Duties, and
where applicable state law so requires while involved in providing Optical
Services, including prohibiting said personnel from being involved in the
performance of Clinical Duties and, where applicable state law so dictates, in
the provision of Optical Services.
3.8 Contract Negotiations. Retail Business Manager shall evaluate,
assist in negotiations and administer on behalf of the Practice contracts that
do not relate to the provision of Professional Eye Care Services as set forth in
this Retail Business Management Agreement and/or as approved in the Budget. To
the extent permitted by law, Retail Business Manager shall evaluate, assist in
negotiations, administer and execute on the Practice's behalf, all contractual
arrangements with third parties as are reasonably necessary and appropriate for
the Practice's operation of the Dispensary or the provision of Optical Services.
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3.9 Billing and Collection. As an agent on behalf of and for the
account of the Practice, Retail Business Manager shall establish and maintain
credit and billing and collection services, policies and procedures, and shall
use reasonable efforts to timely xxxx and collect all fees for all billable
Professional Eye Care Services and Optical Services provided by the Practice,
the Professionals, or other personnel employed or otherwise retained by the
Practice. In connection with the billing and collection services to be provided
hereunder, and throughout the Term (and thereafter as provided in Section 6.3),
the Practice hereby grants to Retail Business Manager an exclusive special power
of attorney and appoints Retail Business Manager as the Practice's exclusive
true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact (which shall be deemed revoked in the
event of termination for cause by the Practice), and Retail Business Manager
hereby accepts such special power of attorney and appointment, for the following
purposes:
(a) To xxxx the Practice's patients, in the Practice's name
using the Practice's tax identification number and on the Practice's behalf, for
all billable Professional Eye Care Services and Optical Services provided by the
Practice to patients.
(b) To xxxx, in the Practice's name using the Practice's tax
identification number and on the Practice's behalf, all claims for reimbursement
or indemnification from health maintenance organizations, self-insured
employers, insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid, and all other third-party
payors or fiscal intermediaries for all covered billable Professional Eye Care
Services and Optical Services provided by the Practice to patients.
(c) To collect and receive, in the Practice's name and on the
Practice's behalf, all accounts receivable generated by such xxxxxxxx and claims
for reimbursement, to administer such accounts including, but not limited to,
extending the time of payment of any such accounts; suing, assigning or selling
at a discount such accounts to collection agencies; or taking other measures to
require the payment of any such accounts; provided, however, that the Practice
shall review and approve (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) any
decision by Retail Business Manager to undertake extraordinary collection
measures, such as filing lawsuits, discharging or releasing obligors, or
assigning or selling accounts at a discount to collection agencies. Retail
Business Manager shall act in a professional manner and in compliance with all
federal and state fair debt collection practices laws in rendering billing and
collection services.
(d) To deposit all amounts collected on behalf of the Practice
into the Account which shall be and at all times remain in the Practice's name.
The Practice covenants to transfer and deliver to the Account all funds received
by the Practice from patients or third-party payors for billable Professional
Eye Care Services and Optical Services. Upon receipt by Retail Business Manager
of any funds from patients or third-party payors or from the Practice pursuant
hereto for billable Professional Eye Care Services and Optical Services, Retail
Business Manager shall immediately deposit the same into the Account. On the
first day of each calendar month during the Term of this Retail Business
Management Agreement, Retail Business Manager shall pay to Professional Business
Manager for deposit into the Professional Practice Account all amounts collected
during the previous month on behalf of the Practice for billable Professional
Eye Care Services, less any refunds, adjustments, or reductions in revenue then
owed to, on behalf of, or in connection with the Practice's patients by the
Practice in connection with its provision of Professional Eye Care Services.
Retail Business Manager shall administer, be responsible for, and be obligated
to pay for all Dispensary Expenses; provided, however, that Retail Business
Manager shall only be liable for Dispensary Expenses to the extent of funds in
the Account. Retail Business Manager shall disburse funds from the Account to
creditors and other persons on behalf of the Practice, maintaining records of
such receipt and disbursement of funds.
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(e) To take possession of, endorse in the name of the
Practice, and deposit into the Account any notes, checks, money orders,
insurance payments, and any other instruments received in payment of accounts
receivable of the Practice.
(f) To sign checks on behalf of the Practice, and to make
withdrawals from the Account for payments specified in this Retail Business
Management Agreement. Upon request of Retail Business Manager, the Practice
shall execute and deliver to the financial institution wherein the Account is
maintained, such additional documents or instruments as may be necessary to
evidence or effect the special power of attorney granted to Retail Business
Manager by the Practice pursuant to this Section 3.9. The special power of
attorney granted herein shall be coupled with an interest and shall be
irrevocable except with Retail Business Manager's written consent. The
irrevocable power of attorney shall expire when this Retail Business Management
Agreement has been terminated, all accounts receivable payable to Retail
Business Manager pursuant to this Retail Business Management Agreement have been
collected, and all Management Fees due to Retail Business Manager have been
paid. If Retail Business Manager assigns this Retail Business Management
Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Practice shall execute a power of
attorney in favor of the assignee in a form acceptable to Retail Business
Manager.
3.10 Maintenance of Account.
(a) Power of Attorney. Retail Business Manager shall have
access to the Account solely for the purposes stated herein. In connection
herewith and throughout the term of this Retail Business Management Agreement,
the Practice hereby grants to Retail Business Manager an exclusive special power
of attorney for the purposes stated herein and appoints Retail Business Manager
as the Practice's exclusive, true, and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, and
Retail Business Manager hereby accepts such special power of attorney and
appointment, to deposit into the Account all funds, fees, and revenues collected
by Retail Business Manager for billable Professional Eye Care Services and
Optical Services rendered to patients of the Practice, and for all other
Practice services and to make withdrawals from the Account for payments
specified in this Retail Business Management Agreement and as requested from
time-to-time by the Practice. Notwithstanding the exclusive special power of
attorney granted to Retail Business Manager hereunder, the Practice may, upon
reasonable advance notice to Retail Business Manager, draw checks on the
Account; provided, however, that the Practice shall neither draw checks on the
Account nor request Retail Business Manager to do so if the balance remaining in
the Account after such withdrawal would be insufficient to enable Retail
Business Manager to pay on behalf of the Practice any Dispensary Expense
attributable to the operations of the Dispensary or to the provision of Optical
Services at the Dispensary, and/or any other obligations of the Practice. Limits
on authority to sign checks and purchase orders shall be mutually agreed upon by
Retail Business Manager and the Practice.
(b) Payments from the Account. From the funds collected and
deposited by the Retail Business Manager in the Account, the Retail Business
Manager shall pay in the following order of priority and in accordance with
applicable requirements under law or contract:
(i) any refunds owed to patients by the Practice;
(ii) funds to be deposited into the Professional Practice
Account pursuant to Section 3.9(d) hereof;
(iii) all Dispensary Expenses;
(iv) any unpaid or past due compensation owed to the
Retail Business Manager pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof;
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(v) the current Base Management Fee compensation owed to
the Retail Business Manager pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof;
(vi) the current Supplemental Management Fee compensation
owed to Retail Business Manager pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof; and
(vii) all other Shareholder Expenses and Interest Expense.
(c) Additional Documents. Upon request of Retail Business
Manager, the Practice shall execute and deliver to the financial institution
wherein the Account is maintained, such additional documents or instruments as
may be necessary to evidence or effect the special power of attorney granted to
Retail Business Manager by the Practice pursuant to this Section 3.10. The
special power of attorney granted herein shall be coupled with an interest and
shall be irrevocable except with Retail Business Manager's written consent. The
irrevocable power of attorney shall expire when this Retail Business Management
Agreement has been terminated, all accounts receivable payable to Retail
Business Manager pursuant to this Retail Business Management Agreement have been
collected, and all Management Fees due to Retail Business Manager have been
paid. If Retail Business Manager assigns this Retail Business Management
Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Practice shall execute a power of
attorney in favor of the assignee in a form acceptable to Retail Business
Manager. Retail Business Manager shall not make any withdrawal from the
Practice's account unless expressly authorized in this Agreement.
3.11 Fiscal Matters.
(a) Annual Budget. The initial Annual Budget shall be agreed
upon by the parties before the execution of this Retail Business Management
Agreement. Thereafter, annually and at least thirty (30) days prior to the
commencement of each fiscal year of the Practice, the Retail Business Manager,
in consultation with the Practice, shall prepare and deliver to the Practice a
proposed Budget, setting forth an estimate of the Practice's revenues and
expenses for the upcoming fiscal year. The Practice shall review the proposed
Budget and either approve the proposed Budget or request any changes within
twenty-one (21) days after receiving the proposed Budget. Disputes concerning
the Budget shall, at the request of either party hereto, be submitted to the
Practice Advisory Council. In the event the Parties are unable to agree on a
Budget by the beginning of the fiscal year, until an agreement is reached, the
Budget for the prior year shall be deemed to be adopted as the Budget for the
current year, with each line item in the Budget (with the exception of the
Management Fee which shall be established pursuant to the terms of this Retail
Business Management Agreement) increased or decreased by one of the following,
whichever is most appropriate relative to the particular item of income or
expense, (i) the percentage by which the Adjusted Gross Revenue in the current
year, excluding any damages paid by any Professional to the Practice under any
Restrictive covenant or otherwise, has increased or decreased compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year; (ii) the increase or decrease from the
prior year in the Consumer Price Index - Health/Medical Services for the
relevant region; and (iii) the proportionate increase or decrease in mutually
agreed upon personnel costs as measured by the increase or decrease in
full-time-equivalent personnel. The Practice Advisory Council may revise or
modify the Budget from time to time during the applicable fiscal year to reflect
changing circumstances affecting the Practice. Additionally, notwithstanding the
above, no change in an adopted Budget shall be contrary to the terms and spirit
of this Agreement nor shall it have any effect on the Management Fee expressly
agreed to herein, unless approved in advance in writing by the Parties hereto.
(b) Obligations of Retail Business Manager. Retail Business
Manager shall use commercially reasonable efforts to manage and administer the
operations of the Dispensary as herein provided so that the actual revenues,
costs and expenses of the operation and maintenance of the Dispensary during any
applicable period of the Practice's fiscal year shall be consistent with the
Budget.
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(c) Accounting and Financial Records. Retail Business Manager
shall establish and administer accounting procedures, controls, and systems for
the development, preparation, and safekeeping of administrative or financial
records and books of account relating to the business and financial affairs of
the Dispensary and the provision of Optical Services, all of which shall be
prepared and maintained in accordance with GAAP. The Practice shall have the
right to inspect such records and books of account at its expense at any time,
upon reasonable notice to Retail Business Manager. Retail Business Manager shall
prepare and deliver to the Practice (i) within sixty (60) days of the end of
each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters in each fiscal year, and (ii) within
ninety (90) days of the end of each fiscal year, a balance sheet and a profit
and loss statement reflecting the financial status of the Practice in regard to
the provision of Optical Services as of the end of such period, all of which
shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied. In addition,
Retail Business Manager shall prepare or assist in the preparation of any other
financial statements or records the Practice may reasonably request.
(d) Sales and Use Taxes. Retail Business Manager and the
Practice acknowledge and agree that to the extent that any of the services to be
provided by Retail Business Manager hereunder may be subject to any state sales
and use taxes, Retail Business Manager may have a legal obligation to collect
such taxes from the Practice and to remit the same to the appropriate tax
collection authorities. The Practice agrees to have applicable state sales and
use taxes attributable to the services to be provided by Retail Business Manager
hereunder treated as a Dispensary Expense.
3.12 Reports and Records.
(a) Health Care Records. All files and records relating to the
operation of the Dispensary, including without limitation, accounting, billing
and collection, and patient records shall at all times be and remain the
property of the Practice and shall remain under its possession, custody, and
control. Subject to the foregoing and to the extent permitted by applicable law,
Retail Business Manager shall, in consultation with the Practice, establish,
monitor, and maintain procedures and policies for the timely, appropriate, and
efficient preparation, filing, retrieval, and secure storage of such records.
Patient records shall be located at Dispensary facilities so that they are
readily accessible for patient care. Patient records shall not be removed from
Dispensary premises without the express written consent of the Practice, except
as specified herein. Patient records for patients not seen within the last three
years may be stored in a commercial storage facility or other location Retail
Business Manager shall designate, provided that Retail Business Manager shall
notify the Practice of the location of said records. All such health care
records shall be retained and maintained by the Practice, and the Retail
Business Manager as agent for the Practice in accordance with all applicable
state and federal laws relating to the confidentiality and retention thereof. In
this regard, Retail Business Manager shall use its best efforts to preserve the
confidentiality of patient records and shall use information contained in such
records only as the agent for the Practice and for the limited purposes
necessary to perform the services set forth herein.
(b) Other Reports and Records. Retail Business Manager shall
timely create, prepare, and file such additional reports and records as are
reasonably necessary and appropriate for the Practice's provision of Optical
Services, and shall be prepared to analyze and interpret such reports and
records upon the request of the Practice.
3.13 Confidential and Proprietary Information. Retail Business Manager
agrees that it shall not disclose any Confidential Information of the Practice
to other persons without the Practice's express written authorization, such
Confidential Information shall not be used in any way detrimental to the
Practice, and Retail Business Manager will keep such Confidential Information
confidential and will ensure that its affiliates and advisors who have access to
such Confidential Information comply with these nondisclosure obligations;
provided, however, that Retail Business Manager may disclose Confidential
Information to those of its Representatives who need to know Confidential
Information for the purposes of this Retail
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Business Management Agreement, it being understood and agreed by Retail Business
Manager that such Representatives will be informed of the confidential nature of
the Confidential Information, will agree to be bound by this Section, and will
be directed by Retail Business Manager not to disclose to any other person any
Confidential Information.
3.14 Retail Business Manager's Insurance. Throughout the Term, Retail
Business Manager shall, as a Dispensary Expense, obtain and maintain with
commercial carriers, through self-insurance or some combination thereof,
appropriate workers' compensation coverage for Retail Business Manager's
employed personnel provided pursuant to this Retail Business Management
Agreement, and professional, casualty and comprehensive general liability
insurance covering Retail Business Manager, Retail Business Manager's personnel,
and all of Retail Business Manager's equipment in such amounts, on such basis
and upon such terms and conditions as Retail Business Manager deems appropriate
but which insurance is consistent with the insurance which is maintained by the
Practice pursuant to Section 4.5 of this Retail Business Management Agreement.
Retail Business Manager shall cause the Practice to be named as an additional
insured on Retail Business Manager's professional, casualty and comprehensive
general liability policy. Upon the request of the Practice, Retail Business
Manager shall provide the Practice with a certificate evidencing such insurance
coverage. Retail Business Manager, in agreement with the Practice, may also
carry, as a Dispensary expense, key person life and disability insurance on any
Shareholder or Professional employee of the Practice in amounts determined
reasonable and sufficient by the Retail Business Manager. Retail Business
Manager shall be the owner and beneficiary of any such insurance, although the
Parties hereby agree that the proceeds of any such insurance shall be paid to
the Account as Adjusted Gross Revenues unless the Parties agree to a specific
split of the proceeds. Should only the Practice choose to obtain key person life
and disability insurance, the Practice shall pay all premiums as a Practice
Expense and shall receive all proceeds. Further, if only the Retail Business
Manager chooses to obtain such insurance, Retail Business Manager shall pay all
premiums as a Retail Business Manager Expense and shall receive the proceeds.
The Practice shall cause its Professionals to submit to a medical examination
necessary to obtain such insurance.
3.15 No Warranty or Representations. The Practice acknowledges that
Retail Business Manager has not made and will not make any express or implied
warranties or representations that the Management Services provided by Retail
Business Manager will result in any particular amount or level of income to the
Practice. Specifically, Retail Business Manager has not represented that its
Management Services will result in higher revenues, lower expenses, greater
profits, or growth in the number of patients receiving Optical Services at the
Dispensary.
3.16 Marketing and Public Relations. Retail Business Manager
acknowledges that the Practice desires a public relations program to enhance its
optical practice and to extend the Dispensary's ability to provide Optical
Services to patients. Subject to the Practice's approval, Retail Business
Manager shall design and implement an appropriate public relations program on
behalf of the Practice, with appropriate emphasis on public awareness of the
availability of Optical Services at the Dispensary. The public relations program
shall be conducted in compliance with applicable laws and regulations governing
advertising by the optical and optometric professions.
3.17 Acquisition of Services and Supplies. In obtaining services,
supplies and personnel for or on behalf of the Practice pursuant to this Retail
Business Management Agreement, Retail Business Manager shall be authorized to
obtain such services, supplies and personnel from an affiliate of Retail
Business Manager; provided that the Dispensary Expenses which are incurred by or
on behalf of the Retail Business Manager shall be consistent with the expenses
of optical dispensaries similar in size, type, and operations in the Practice
Areas.
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3.18 Coordination of Obligations and Responsibilities. Retail Business
Manager shall, in good faith, coordinate all of its obligations and
responsibilities under this Retail Business Management Agreement with
Professional Business Manager's performance of its obligations and
responsibilities under the Professional Business Management Agreement. Any
dispute, conflict or disagreement between Professional Business Manager and
Retail Business Manager regarding their respective obligations and
responsibilities shall be referred to the Practice Advisory Council for
resolution.
ARTICLE IV
OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRACTICE.
4.1 Professional Services. The Practice shall diligently conduct the
business of an optometric and/or therapeutic optometric practice, including
utilizing its capacities to the greatest extent practicable to provide
Professional Eye Care Services and Optical Services to patients of the Office
and the Dispensary. The Practice shall retain that number of Professionals as
are reasonably necessary and appropriate in the sole discretion of the Practice
for the provision of Professional Eye Care Services and Optical Services and
shall determine their assignment and scheduled hours of practice at Office and
Dispensary locations. The Practice shall provide professional services to the
Office's and the Dispensary's patients in compliance at all times with ethical
standards, laws and regulations applying to the optometric and/or therapeutic
optometric and optical professions. The Practice shall ensure that each
Professional associated with or employed by the Practice to provide Professional
Eye Care Services and Optical Services to the Office's and the Dispensary's
patients is licensed in each Practice Area in which he or she provides such
services.. The Practice shall establish and implement a program to monitor the
quality of Professional Eye Care Services and Optical Services provided at the
Office and the Dispensary (the "Continuous Quality Improvement Program"). The
Continuous Quality Improvement Program shall be designed to promote and maintain
quality care consistent with accepted practices prevailing from time to time in
the area where each Office and Dispensary facility is situated.
4.2 Employment of Professionals. The Practice shall be responsible for
the hiring, compensation, supervision, evaluation, and termination of all
Professionals. At the request of the Practice, Retail Business Manager shall be
available to consult with the Practice respecting such matters. The Practice
shall be responsible for the payment of such Practice employees' salaries and
wages, payroll taxes, benefits, and all other taxes and charges now or hereafter
applicable to them. The Practice shall employ and contract only with licensed
Professionals who meet applicable credentialing guidelines established by the
Practice. The Practice shall not in any fiscal year contract in the aggregate
with Professionals for an amount (including the cost of associated benefits,
payroll expense, and professional liability coverage) which is greater than the
amount provided for such purpose in the Budget for such fiscal year. The
Practice represents, warrants and covenants that, if requested by the Retail
Business Manager, on or before ninety (90) days from the date of such request,
it will use its best efforts to obtain, shall in the future obtain, and shall
enforce formal written employment agreements from each of its present full-time
(an average of thirty (30) or more hours per week) Professionals, except for the
President of the Practice, and those employed in the future in substantially the
form attached hereto as Exhibit 4.2A ("Employment Agreement") and containing a
restrictive covenant (the "Restrictive Covenant"). It is agreed that the Retail
Business Manager has not requested that such employment agreements and
Restrictive Covenants be entered into as of the execution of this Agreement. The
Practice further represents, warrants and covenants that the President of the
Practice has entered into an employment agreement substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit 4.2B (the "President's Employment Agreement"), which
agreement is currently and shall remain in force and effect during the term of
this Agreement unless terminated in accordance therewith.
4.3 Professional Standards. As a continuing condition of Retail
Business Manager's obligations hereunder each Professional and any other
Professional personnel retained by the Practice to
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provide Professional Eye Care Services and Optical Services must (i) have and
maintain a valid and unrestricted license to practice optometry or ophthalmology
in the Practice Areas in which such Professional is providing services, (ii)
comply with, be controlled and governed by and provide Professional Eye Care
Services and Optical Services in accordance with applicable federal, state and
municipal laws, rules, regulations, ordinances and orders, and the ethics and
standard of care of the optometric and optical communities wherein the principal
Office and Dispensary of the Practice is located, and (iii) provide on a
continual basis, quality care to its patients.
4.4 Practice's Insurance. The Practice shall, as a Practice Expense,
obtain and maintain with commercial carriers chosen by the Practice appropriate
workers' compensation coverage for the Practice's employed personnel, if any,
and professional and comprehensive general liability insurance covering the
Practice and each of the Professionals involved in the provision of Professional
Eye Care Services. The comprehensive general liability coverage with respect to
each of the Professionals shall be in the minimum amount of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000) and professional liability coverage shall be in the minimum amount
of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) for each occurrence and One Million Dollars
($1,000,000) annual aggregate. The insurance policy or policies shall provide
for at least thirty (30) days' advance written notice to the Practice from the
insurer as to any alteration of coverage, cancellation, or proposed cancellation
for any cause. Upon the termination of this Retail Business Management Agreement
for any reason, the Practice shall continue to carry professional liability
insurance in the amounts specified herein for the shorter period of (i) the
period set forth in each Practice Area's statute of repose (or if no statute of
repose exists, each Practice Area's statute of limitations) for bringing
professional malpractice claims based upon injuries which are not immediately
discoverable plus any applicable tolling periods, or (ii) ten (10) years after
termination; or if the Practice dissolves or ceases to practice optometry, the
Practice shall obtain and maintain as a Practice Expense "tail" professional
liability coverage, in the amounts specified in this Section for the shorter
period of (i) the period set forth in each Practice Area's statute of repose (or
if no statute of repose exists, each Practice Area's statute of limitations) for
bringing professional malpractice claims based upon injuries which are not
immediately discoverable plus any applicable tolling periods, or (ii) ten (10)
years. The Practice shall be responsible for paying all premiums for Shareholder
"tail" insurance coverage and such coverage shall be a Shareholder Expense;
provided, however, that the Practice may cause its Professionals to be
responsible for paying the premiums for such "tail" insurance coverage.
4.5 Confidential and Proprietary Information. The Practice agrees that
it shall not disclose any Confidential Information of the Retail Business
Manager to other persons without Retail Business Manager's express written
authorization, such Confidential Information shall not be used in any way
detrimental to Retail Business Manager, and the Practice will keep such
Confidential Information confidential and will ensure that its affiliates and
advisors who have access to such Confidential Information comply with these
nondisclosure obligations; provided, however, that the Practice may disclose
Confidential Information to those of its Representatives who need to know
Confidential Information for the purposes of this Retail Business Management
Agreement, it being understood and agreed by the Practice that such
Representatives will be informed of the confidential nature of the Confidential
Information, will agree to be bound by this Section, and will be directed by the
Practice not to disclose to any other person any Confidential Information.
4.6 Non-Competition. The Practice hereby recognizes, acknowledges, and
avers that Retail Business Manager will incur substantial costs in providing the
equipment, support services, personnel, management, administration, and other
items and services that are the subject matter of this Retail Business
Management Agreement and that in the process of providing services under this
Retail Business Management Agreement, the Practice will be privy to financial
and Confidential Information, to which the Practice would not otherwise be
exposed. The Parties also recognize that the services to be provided by Retail
Business Manager will be feasible only if the Practice operates an active
practice to which the Professionals associated with the Practice devote their
full time and attention. The Practice agrees,
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acknowledges, and avers that the non-competition covenants described hereunder
are necessary for the protection of Retail Business Manager, and that Retail
Business Manager would not have entered into this Retail Business Management
Agreement without the following covenants.
(a) Except as specifically agreed to by Retail Business
Manager in writing, the Practice covenants and agrees that during the Term of
this Retail Business Management Agreement and for a period of one (1) year from
the date this Retail Business Management Agreement is terminated, other than if
terminated by the Practice for cause, or expires the Practice shall not directly
or indirectly own (excluding ownership of less than one percent (1%) of the
equity of any publicly traded entity and excluding ownership of the common stock
of Retail Business Manager), manage, operate, control, contract with, lend funds
to, lend its name to, maintain any interest whatsoever in, or be employed by,
any enterprise (i) having to do with the provision, distribution, promotion, or
advertising of any type of management or administrative services or products to
third parties in competition with Retail Business Manager, within a 10 mile
radius of any Dispensary of the Practice; and/or (ii) offering any type of
service(s) or product(s) to third parties substantially similar to those offered
by Retail Business Manager to the Practice in competition with Retail Business
Manager within a 10 mile radius of any Dispensary of the Practice; and/or (iii)
providing Optical Services in competition with Retail Manager within a ten (10)
mile radius of any Dispensary of the Practice.
(b) Restrictive Covenants by Optometrists. Under the
Restrictive Covenant, to the extent then required by the Retail Business
Manager, the non-shareholder Professionals agree not to practice optometry
and/or therapeutic optometry or provide Optical Services within a certain
radius, as set forth in Exhibit 4.6A, of any Dispensary location at which such
Professionals performed services on a regular basis for sixteen (16) or more
hours per week or one thousand (1,000) hours during the last twelve months of
such non-Shareholder Professionals' employment with the Practice. The
Restrictive Covenant shall be effective for a period of one (1) year following
termination of employment with the Practice and may be subject to a liquidated
damages provision as authorized hereafter.
(c) Liquidated Damages. The Practice represents, warrants and
covenants that the Restrictive Covenant described above, if then required by the
Retail Business Manager, contains a liquidated damages provision, consistent
with the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, mandating the payment of
$25,000.00 in liquidated damages. Any liquidated damage amount collected by the
Practice through enforcement of the Restrictive Covenant shall be delivered
immediately to Retail Business Manager for deposit in the Account and included
in the Adjusted Gross Revenue. The Practice hereby stipulates and agrees that
Retail Business Manager will suffer severe harm if the Practice fails or refuses
to obtain and enforce the Restrictive Covenant, including the aforesaid
liquidated damages provision. The Practice further stipulates and agrees that
the parties may be unable to quantify such severe harm, and, accordingly, the
Practice shall pay to Retail Business Manager the amount of $25,000.00, as
agreed upon stipulated damages in the event of such failure or refusal to obtain
and enforce the Restrictive Covenant. Any liquidated damage amount collected
from the Practice as a result of its failure or refusal to enforce the
Restrictive Covenant shall be immediately paid to Retail Business Manager and
shall not be included in the Adjusted Gross Revenue for the Practice.
(d) The Practice understands and acknowledges that Retail
Business Manager shall suffer severe harm in the event that the foregoing
non-competition covenants in Section 4.6 are violated, and accordingly, if the
Practice breaches any obligation of Section 4.6, in addition to any other
remedies available under this Retail Business Management Agreement, at law or in
equity, Retail Business Manager shall be entitled to enforce this Retail
Business Management Agreement by injunctive relief and by specific performance
of the Retail Business Management Agreement, such relief to be without the
necessity of posting a bond, cash or otherwise. Additionally, nothing in this
Section 4.6(d) shall limit Retail Business Manager's right to recover any other
damages to which it is entitled as a result of the Practice's breach. The time
period for which the non-competition covenant is effective shall be extended day
for day for the time
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period the Practice is in violation of the non-competition covenant. If any
provision of the covenants is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
unenforceable due to an excessive time period, geographic area, or restricted
activity, the covenant shall be reformed to comply with such time period,
geographic area, or restricted activity that would be held enforceable.
Following termination of this Retail Business Management Agreement pursuant to
Section 6.2(b) hereof, the Practice shall not amend, alter or otherwise change
any term or provision of the Restrictive Covenants or liquidated damages
provisions of the Employment Agreements or the President's Employment Agreement
with the Professionals. Following termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 6.2(a) hereof, the Practice and the Professionals shall be relieved of
the restrictions imposed by this Section 4.6.
4.7 Name, Trademark. The Practice represents and warrants that on and
after sixty (60) days from the effective date of this Retail Business Management
Agreement, the Practice shall conduct its professional practice under the name
of, and only under the names of Xx. Xxxxx'x VisionWorld, Xx. Xxxxx'x Vision
World, Doctor's ValuVision and the Eye Surgery Center and that such names are
duly registered, qualified, or licensed under the laws of the Practice Areas in
which they are being used, and that, to the Practice's knowledge, the Practice
is the sole and absolute owner of the names in the Practice Areas. The Practice
covenants and promises that, without the prior written consent of the Retail
Business Manager, the Practice will not:
(a) take any action that is reasonably likely to result in the
loss of registration, qualification or licensure of the name;
(b) fail to take any reasonably necessary action that will
maintain the registration, qualification, or licensure current;
(c) license, sell, give, or otherwise transfer the name or the
right to use the name to any optometry practice, Optometrist, professional
corporation, optical dispensary or any other entity; or
(d) cease conducting the professional practice of the Practice
under the name.
4.8 Billing Information and Assignments; Establishment of Fees. The
Practice shall promptly provide the Retail Business Manager with all billing and
other information reasonably requested by the Retail Business Manager to enable
it to xxxx and collect the Dispensary's fees and other charges and reimbursement
claims pursuant to Section 3.9, and the Practice shall use its best efforts to
procure consents to assignments and other approvals and documents necessary to
enable the Retail Business Manager to obtain payment or reimbursement from third
parties for such fees, other charges and claims.
4.9 Provider Agreements. The Practice shall have ultimate authority
with regard to all contractual arrangements with third parties for the
Practice's provision of Optical Services, and the Practice may at its sole
discretion reject or otherwise refuse to enter into any such contractual
arrangement.
4.10 Tax Matters. The Practice shall prepare or arrange for the
preparation by an accountant selected by the Practice of all appropriate
corporate tax returns and reports required of the Practice including such
returns and reports required with respect to the Account. All costs and expenses
relating to the preparation of such returns and reports shall be deemed a
Practice Expense.
4.11 Shareholders' Undertaking to Enforce Certain Provisions of
Agreement. The Practice shall cause to be executed by all Shareholders of the
Practice an undertaking in the form of Exhibit 4.11 by such Shareholders to
ensure that the covenants not to compete described in Section 4.6 of this Retail
Business Management Agreement are enforced by the Practice against any
individuals violating such covenants.
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4.12 Limitations on Actions of the Practice. The Practice shall not
take any of the following actions without the express prior written consent of
Retail Business Manager:
(a) Any action leading to or intended to result in the merger,
combination or consolidation of the Practice or Dispensary with, or acquisition
of the Practice, the Dispensary, or their businesses by, any other entity;
(b) Mortgage or encumber any of the Practice's real, personal
or mixed property as security for any indebtedness which is not contemplated by
the Budget;
(c) Pay any dividend or make any other distribution, whether
in cash or in kind, to Shareholders of the Practice, if any compensation owed by
the Practice to Retail Business Manager hereunder has not been paid in full, and
if any and all monetary obligations of the Practice to Retail Business Manager
have not been fully paid in accordance with the terms of any and all documents
governing such obligations, provided, however, that the foregoing shall not
prevent payment of Shareholders' Salary, Bonus, payroll taxes thereon, and
certain Shareholder Expenses as set forth in Section 3.10(b) of the Professional
Business Management Agreement;
(d) Dissolve or liquidate the Practice, or take any action
with a view to or likely to have the result of the dissolution or liquidation of
the Practice; or
(e) Authorize the provision of professional services such that
the income derived therefrom is not owned by the Practice; provided that no such
consent is necessary for (i) professional services performed by Professionals
during said Professionals' vacation time, or (ii) professional services
performed in connection with duties and responsibilities as a member of the
Reserves or National Guard.
4.13 Leases of Dispensary Locations. The Practice shall maintain and
fulfill all of its obligations under leases of Dispensary facilities or
locations.
ARTICLE V
RETAIL MANAGER'S COMPENSATION.
5.1 Base Management Fee. The Practice and Retail Business Manager agree
to the compensation set forth herein as being paid to Retail Business Manager in
consideration of a substantial commitment made by Retail Business Manager
hereunder and that such fees are fair and reasonable. Each month Retail Business
Manager shall be paid that percentage set forth in Exhibit 5.1 of Adjusted Gross
Revenue.
5.2 Supplemental Management Fee. In consideration of the improved
efficiencies expected to be effected by Retail Business Manager, as an incentive
to Retail Business Manager to effect those efficiencies, and as additional
compensation for the services provided by Retail Business Manager, Retail
Business Manager shall be paid each month, during the Term of this Retail
Business Management Agreement, that percentage set forth in Exhibit 5.2 of
Adjusted Net Revenue. Adjusted Net Revenue shall be calculated as the amount
remaining after subtracting from Adjusted Gross Revenue (i) Dispensary Expenses,
(ii) Office Expenses, (iii) Practice Expenses, and (iv) the following
Shareholder Expenses: (A) Shareholder's salary not to exceed One Hundred Ninety
Thousand And No/100 Dollars ($190,000.00) on an annualized basis; (B) the amount
of the Bonus with respect to such period as set forth in the President's
Employment Agreement not to exceed Twenty Thousand And No/100 Dollars ($20,000)
on an annualized basis; (C) payroll taxes related to Shareholder's salary and
the Bonus; and (D) other Shareholder Expenses not to exceed Five Thousand And
No/100 Dollars ($5,000) unless otherwise agreed to by the Retail Business
Manager.
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5.3 Reasonable Value. Payment of the Management Fee is not intended to
be and shall not be interpreted or applied as permitting Retail Business Manager
to share in the Practice's fees for Professional Eye Care Services and Optical
Services or any other services, but is acknowledged as the Parties' negotiated
agreement as to the reasonable fair market value of Retail Business Manager's
commitment to pay all Dispensary Expenses and the fair market value of the
equipment, contract analysis and support, other support services, purchasing,
personnel, management, administration, strategic management and other items and
services furnished by Retail Business Manager pursuant to the Retail Business
Management Agreement, considering the nature and volume of the services required
and the risks assumed by Retail Business Manager. The Practice and Retail
Business Manager recognize and acknowledge that Retail Business Manager will
incur substantial costs and business risks in undertaking to pay all Dispensary
Expenses and in providing the support services, personnel, marketing,
management, administration, and other items and services that are the subject
matter of this Retail Business Management Agreement. It is the intent of the
Parties that the Management Fee reasonably compensate Retail Business Manager
for the value to the Practice of Retail Business Manager's administrative
expertise, given the considerable business risk to Retail Business Manager in
providing the Management Services that are the subject of this Retail Business
Management Agreement.
5.4 Payment of Management Fee. To facilitate the payment of the
Management Fee as provided in Section 5.1 hereof, the Practice hereby expressly
authorizes Retail Business Manager to make withdrawals of the Management Fee
from the Account as such fee becomes due and payable during the Term in
accordance with Section 3.10(a) and after termination as provided in Section
6.3. Retail Business Manager shall deliver to the Practice an invoice for the
Management Fee accompanied by a reasonably detailed statement of the information
upon which the Management Fee calculation is based.
5.5 Disputes Regarding Fees.
(a) It is the Parties' intent that any disputes regarding
performance standards of the Retail Business Manager be resolved to the extent
possible by good faith negotiation. To that end, the Parties agree that if the
Practice in good faith believes that Retail Business Manager has failed to
perform its obligations, and that as a result of such failure, the Practice is
entitled to a set-off or reduction in its Management Fees, the Practice shall
give Retail Business Manager notice of the perceived failure and request in the
notice a set-off or reduction in Management Fees. Retail Business Manager and
the Practice shall then negotiate the dispute in good faith, and if an agreement
is reached, the Parties shall implement the resolution without further action.
At the request of Retail Business Manager or the Practice, the Practice Advisory
Council shall make recommendations to Retail Business Manager with respect to
any dispute concerning a set off or reduction in Management Fees.
(b) If the Parties cannot reach a resolution within a
reasonable time, the Parties shall submit the dispute to mediation to be
conducted in accordance with the American Arbitration Association's Commercial
Mediation Rules.
(c) If the mediation process fails to resolve the dispute, the
dispute shall be submitted by either Party to binding arbitration under Section
8.7.
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ARTICLE VI
TERM AND TERMINATION
6.1 Initial and Renewal Term. The Term of this Retail Business
Management Agreement will be for an initial period of forty (40) years after the
effective date, and shall be automatically renewed for successive five (5) year
periods thereafter, provided that neither Retail Business Manager nor the
Practice shall have given notice of termination of this Retail Business
Management Agreement at least one hundred twenty (120) days before the end of
the initial term or any renewal term, or unless otherwise terminated as provided
in Section 6.2 of this Retail Business Management Agreement.
6.2 Termination.
(a) Termination by the Practice. The Practice may immediately
terminate this Retail Business Management Agreement at its discretion, upon
written notice pursuant to Section 8.3, as follows:
(i) If Retail Business Manager becomes insolvent by reason
of its inability to pay its debts as they mature; is adjudicated bankrupt or
insolvent; files a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding
under the bankruptcy laws of the United States or shall have such a petition
filed against it which is not discharged within thirty (30) days; has a receiver
or other custodian, permanent or temporary, appointed for its business, assets
or property; makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; has its
bank accounts, property or accounts attached; has execution levied against its
business or property; or voluntarily dissolves or liquidates or has a petition
filed for corporate dissolution and such petition is not dismissed with thirty
(30) days;
(ii) If the Retail Business Manager fails to comply with
any material provision of this Agreement, and does not correct such failure
within ninety (90) days after written notice of such failure to comply is
delivered by the Practice specifying the nature of the breach in reasonable
detail; or
(iii) Retail Business Manager commits any act of fraud,
misappropriation or embezzlement, or any other felony and as a result the Retail
Business Manager is unable to substantially perform under the terms of this
Retail Business Management Agreement.
(b) Termination by Retail Business Manager Retail Business
Manager may immediately terminate this Retail Business Management Agreement at
its discretion, upon written notice pursuant to Section 8.3, as follows:
(i) The revocation, suspension, cancellation or
restriction of any Shareholder's license to practice optometry in any of the
Practice Areas if, in the reasonable discretion of the Retail Business Manager,
the Practice will not be financially viable after such revocation, suspension,
cancellation, or restriction;
(ii) If the Practice becomes insolvent by reason of its
inability to pay its debts as they mature; is adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;
files a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding under the
bankruptcy laws of the United States or shall have such a petition filed against
it which is not discharged within thirty (30) days; has a receiver or other
custodian, permanent or temporary, appointed for its business, assets or
property; makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; has its bank
accounts, property or accounts attached; has execution levied against its
business or property; or
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voluntarily dissolves or liquidates or has a petition filed for corporate
dissolution and such petition is not dismissed with thirty (30) days;
(iii) If the Practice fails to comply with any material
provision of this Agreement, or any other agreement with Retail Business
Manager, and does not correct such failure within ninety (90) days after written
notice of such failure to comply is delivered by Retail Business Manager
specifying the nature of the breach in reasonable detail;
(iv) The Practice or any of the Practice Professionals
commit any act of fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement, or any other felony
and as a result the Practice as an entire entity is unable to substantially
perform under the terms of this Retail Business Management Agreement; or
(v) Any of the material representations of the Practice
are false or incorrect when made or hereafter become materially false or
incorrect or any warranty of the Practice is materially breached.
(c) Termination by Agreement. In the event the Practice and
Retail Business Manager shall mutually agree in writing, this Retail Business
Management Agreement may be terminated on the date specified in such written
agreement.
(d) Legislative, Regulatory or Administrative Change. In the
event there shall be a change in the Medicare or Medicaid statutes, federal
statutes, state statutes, case law, administrative interpretations, regulations
or general instructions, the adoption of new federal or state legislation, or a
change in any third-party reimbursement system, or any finding, ruling, or
decree of any regulatory body concerning this Retail Business Management
Agreement, any of which are reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect
the manner in which either Party may perform or be compensated for its services
under this Retail Business Management Agreement or which shall make this Retail
Business Management Agreement or any related agreements unlawful or
unenforceable, or which would be reasonably likely to subject either Party to
this Retail Business Management Agreement, or any member, shareholder, officer,
director, employee, agent or affiliated organization to any civil or criminal
penalties or administrative sanctions, the Parties shall immediately use their
best efforts to enter into a new service arrangement or basis for compensation
for the services furnished pursuant to this Retail Business Management Agreement
that complies with the law, regulation, policy, finding, ruling, or decree, or
which minimizes the possibility of such penalties, sanctions or
unenforceability, and that approximates as closely as possible the economic
position of the Parties prior to the change. If the Parties are unable to reach
a new agreement within sixty (60) days, this Retail Business Management
Agreement shall be terminated upon ninety (90) days written notice by either
Party to the other.
6.3 Effects of Termination.
(a) Obligation After Termination. Upon termination of this
Retail Business Management Agreement, as hereinabove provided, neither Party
shall have any further obligations hereunder except for
(i) obligations accruing prior to the date of termination,
including, without limitation, payment of the Management Fee relating to
services provided prior to the termination of this Retail Business Management
Agreement;
(ii) obligations, promises, or covenants set forth herein
that are expressly made to extend beyond the Term, including, without
limitation, insurance, indemnities and non-competition provisions, which
provisions shall survive the expiration or termination of this Retail Business
Management Agreement;
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(iii) the obligation of the Practice described in Section
6.4; and
(iv) the obligation of the Practice to repay amounts
advanced by Retail Business Manager to the Practice.
(b) Receipt of Collections After Termination. In effectuating
the provisions of this Section 6.3, the Practice specifically acknowledges and
agrees that if this Retail Business Management Agreement terminates pursuant to
Sections 6.2(b) or (d), Retail Business Manager shall continue for a period not
to exceed ninety (90) days to exclusively collect and receive on behalf of the
Practice all cash collections from accounts receivable in existence at the time
this Retail Business Management Agreement is terminated, it being understood
that
(i) such cash collections will represent compensation to
Retail Business Manager to the extent of any outstanding obligations to Retail
Business Manager by the Practice pursuant to this Retail Business Management
Agreement for Management Services already rendered;
(ii) Retail Business Manager shall not be entitled to
collect accounts receivable after the termination date if this Agreement is
terminated pursuant to Section 6.2(a);
(iii) the Retail Business Manager shall deduct from such
cash collections any other amounts owed to Retail Business Manager under this
Retail Business Management Agreement, including, without limitation, ten percent
(10%) of such cash collections as its Management Fee during any period after the
termination of this Retail Business Management Agreement while such collections
are taking place and any reasonable costs incurred by Retail Business Manager in
carrying out the post termination procedures and transactions contemplated
herein; and
(iv) Retail Business Manager shall remit remaining amounts
from such collection activities, if any, to the Practice.
(c) Surrender of Books After Termination. Upon the expiration
or termination of this Retail Business Management Agreement for any reason or
cause whatsoever, Retail Business Manager shall surrender to the Practice all
books and records pertaining to the Dispensary.
6.4 Purchase Obligation. Upon expiration of this Retail Business
Management Agreement in accordance with Section 6.1 or termination of this
Retail Business Management Agreement by Retail Business Manager, as set forth in
Sections 6.2(b) or 6.2(d) above, the Practice shall upon Retail Business
Manager's demand:
(a) Purchase from Retail Business Manager at book value all of
the assets, tangible and intangible, including without limitation equipment,
furniture, goodwill, intellectual property, inventory, and supplies, used in, or
related to, the operations of the Dispensary and all replacements and additions
thereto made by Retail Business Manager pursuant to the performance of its
obligations under this Retail Business Management Agreement, set forth on the
books of Retail Business Manager as adjusted through the last day of the month
most recently ended prior to the date of such termination in accordance with
GAAP to reflect operations of the Dispensary, depreciation, amortization, and
other adjustments of assets shown on the books of Retail Business Manager;
(b) Assume all contracts and leases and the Practice's pro
rata share of all debts and payables that are obligations of Retail Business
Manager and that relate principally to the performance of Retail Business
Manager's obligations under this Retail Business Management Agreement; provided,
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however, that the Practice shall only be obligated to assume such contracts and
leases if a reasonable third person would conclude that the Practice will be
able to enjoy the benefits of the contracts and leases following such
assumption; and
(c) Cause to be executed by Shareholders of the Practice such
security agreements reasonably required by Retail Business Manager in connection
with the purchase described in this Section 6.4. All current Shareholders of the
Practice shall on or before the effective date of this Retail Business
Management Agreement, and all individuals who become Shareholders of the
Practice after the effective date of commencement of this Retail Business
Management Agreement shall upon becoming a Shareholder of the Practice, execute
and deliver to Retail Business Manager an undertaking to comply with this
Section 6.4 which shall be in the form of Exhibit 6.4.
6.5 Closing of Purchase. When the Practice purchases the assets
pursuant to Section 6.4, the Practice shall pay cash or deliver a note payable
in equal monthly installments over five (5) years at an interest rate not to
exceed "prime" plus one (1%) percent ("prime" being the commercial lending rate
of NationsBank, N.A.) per annum for the purchased assets. The amount of the
purchase price shall be reduced by the amount of debt and liabilities of Retail
Business Manager, if any, assumed by the Practice, by any payment the Retail
Business Manager has failed to make under this Retail Business Management
Agreement, and by any unpaid portion of any promissory notes payable by Retail
Business Manager to any Shareholder of the Practice. The Practice and all
Shareholders of the Practice shall execute such documents as may be required to
assume the liabilities set forth in Section 6.4(b) and to remove Retail Business
Manager from any liability with respect to such purchased assets. The closing
date for the purchase shall be determined by the Parties, but shall in no event
occur later than the expiration date of this Retail Business Management
Agreement if this Agreement expires in accordance with Section 6.1, or sixty
(60) days from the date of the notice of termination for cause. The termination
of this Retail Business Management Agreement shall become effective upon the
closing of the sale of the assets if the assets are purchased, and all Parties
shall be released from any restrictive covenants provided for in Section 4.6 on
the closing date. From and after any termination, each Party shall provide the
other Party with reasonable access to the books and records then owned by it to
permit such requesting Party to satisfy reporting and contractual obligations
that may be required of it.
6.6 Limitation of Liability. IN NO EVENT SHALL RETAIL BUSINESS MANAGER
BE LIABLE TO THE PRACTICE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR
LOST PROFITS, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE PERFORMANCE OR
BREACH THEREOF, EVEN IF RETAIL BUSINESS MANAGER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY THEREOF; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE FOREGOING SHALL NOT PREVENT
RECOVERY OF ACTUAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS RETAIL BUSINESS
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.
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ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION; THIRD PARTY CLAIMS
7.1 Indemnification by the Practice. The Practice shall indemnify and
hold harmless Retail Business Manager and Retail Business Manager's
shareholders, directors, officers, agents and employees, from and against all
claims, demands, liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, resulting in any manner, directly or indirectly,
from the negligent or intentional acts or omissions of the Practice or its
members, Shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents or independent
contractors, including but not limited to any such claims, demands, liabilities,
losses, damages, costs and expenses which accrued or arose prior to the date of
execution of this Retail Business Management Agreement.
7.2 Indemnification by Retail Business Manager. Retail Business Manager
shall indemnify and hold harmless the Practice, and the Practice's members,
Shareholders, directors, officers, agents and employees, from and against any
and all claims, demands, liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses,
including reasonable attorneys' fees, resulting in any manner, directly or
indirectly, from the negligent or intentional acts or omissions of Retail
Business Manager or its shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents or
independent contractors.
7.3 Notice of Claim for Indemnification. No claims for indemnification
under this Retail Business Management Agreement relating to claims solely
between the Parties shall be valid unless notice of such claim is delivered to
the Practice (in the case of a claim by Retail Business Manager) or Retail
Business Manager (in the case of a claim by the Practice) within one (1) year
after the Party making such claim first obtained knowledge of the facts upon
which such claim is based. Any such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail,
to the extent known by the Party giving such notice, the facts on which such
claim is based and the resulting estimated amount of damages.
7.4 Matters Involving Third Parties.
(a) If the Practice or Retail Business Manager receives notice
or acquires knowledge of any matter which may give rise to a claim by another
person and which may then result in a claim for indemnification under this
Retail Business Management Agreement, then: (i) if such notice or knowledge is
received or acquired by the Practice, the Practice shall promptly notify Retail
Business Manager; and (ii) if such notice or knowledge is received or acquired
by Retail Business Manager, the Retail Business Manager shall promptly notify
the Practice; except that no delay in giving such notice shall diminish any
obligation under this Retail Business Management Agreement to provide
indemnification unless (and then solely to the extent) the Party from whom such
indemnification is sought is prejudiced.
(b) Any Party from whom such indemnification (the
"Indemnifying Party") is sought shall have the right to defend the Party seeking
such indemnification (the "Indemnified Party") against such claim by another
person (the "Third Party Claim") with counsel of the Indemnifying Party's choice
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party so long as: (i) within fifteen
(15) days after the Indemnified Party has given notice of the Third Party Claim
to the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party
that the Indemnifying Party will indemnify the Indemnified Party from and
against all adverse consequences the Indemnified Party may suffer caused by,
resulting from, arising out of or relating to such Third Party Claim; (ii) the
Indemnifying Party provides the Indemnified Party with evidence reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Party that the Indemnifying Party has the
financial resources necessary to defend against the Third Party Claim and
fulfill its indemnification obligations; (iii) the Third Party Claim seeks money
damages; (iv) settlement of, or an adverse judgment with respect to, the Third
Party Claim (other than an optometric malpractice claim) is not, in the good
faith judgment of the
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Indemnified Party, likely to establish a precedential custom or practice adverse
to the continuing business interests of the Indemnified Party; and (v) the
Indemnifying Party conducts the defense of the Third Party Claim actively and
diligently.
(c) So long as the Indemnifying Party is conducting the
defense of the Third Party Claim in accordance with Section 7.4(b): (i) the
Indemnified Party may retain separate co-counsel at its sole cost and expense
and participate in the defense of the Third Party Claim; (ii) the Indemnified
Party shall not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement with respect to the Third Party Claim without the prior consent of
the Indemnifying Party; and (iii) the Indemnifying Party shall not consent to
the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect to the Third
Party Claim without the prior consent of the Indemnified Party.
(d) If any of the conditions specified in Section 7.4(b) is
not satisfied, however; (i) the Indemnified Party may defend against, and
consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect
to, the Third Party Claim in any manner it may deem advisable (and the
Indemnified Party need not consult with, or obtain any consent from, any
Indemnifying Party in connection therewith); (ii) the Indemnifying Party shall
reimburse the Indemnified Party promptly and periodically for the costs of
defending against the Third Party Claim (including reasonable attorneys' and
accountants' fees and expenses); and (iii) the Indemnifying Party shall remain
responsible for any adverse consequences the Indemnified Party may suffer caused
by, resulting from, arising out of or relating to such Third Party Claim to the
fullest extent provided in this Agreement.
7.5 Settlement. Except as permitted by Section 7.4, a Party shall not
compromise or settle any claim for which the other Party is obligated to
indemnify it without the written consent of such Party.
7.6 Cooperation. The Indemnified Party shall make available all
information and assistance that the Indemnifying Party may reasonably request in
conjunction with assessing, defending and settling said claim.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
8.1 Administrative Services Only. Nothing in this Retail Business
Management Agreement is intended or shall be construed to allow Retail Business
Manager to exercise control, authority or direction over the manner or method by
which the Practice and its Professionals perform Professional Eye Care Services
or other professional health care services. The rendition of all Professional
Eye Care Services, including, but not limited to, the prescription or
administration of medicine and drugs, shall be the sole responsibility of the
Practice and its Professionals, and Retail Business Manager shall not interfere
in any manner or to any extent therewith. Nothing contained in this Retail
Business Management Agreement shall be construed to permit Retail Business
Manager to engage in the practice of optometry, it being the sole intention of
the Parties hereto that the services to be rendered to the Practice by Retail
Business Manager are solely for the purpose of providing non-optometric
management and administrative services (including, where permitted by applicable
state law, Optical Services) to the Dispensary so as to enable the Practice to
devote its full time and energies to the professional conduct of its
professional eye care practice and provision of Professional Eye Care Services
to its patients.
8.2 Status of Independent Contractor. It is expressly acknowledged that
the Parties hereto are "independent contractors," and nothing in this Retail
Business Management Agreement is intended and nothing shall be construed to
create an employer/employee, partnership, or joint venture relationship, or to
allow either to exercise control or direction over the manner or method by which
the other performs the
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services that are the subject matter of this Retail Business Management
Agreement; provided always that the services to be provided hereunder shall be
furnished in a manner consistent with the standards governing such services and
the provisions of this Retail Business Management Agreement. Each Party
understands and agrees that (i) the other will not be treated as an employee for
federal tax purposes, (ii) neither will withhold on behalf of the other any sums
for income tax, unemployment insurance, social security, or any other
withholding pursuant to any law or requirement of any governmental body or make
available any of the benefits afforded to its employees, (iii) all of such
payments, withholdings, and benefits, if any, are the sole responsibility of the
Party incurring the liability, and (iv) each will indemnify and hold the other
harmless from any and all loss or liability arising with respect to such
payments, withholdings, and benefits, if any.
8.3 Notices. Any notice, demand, or communication required, permitted,
or desired to be given hereunder shall be deemed effectively given when in
writing and personally delivered or mailed by prepaid certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:
The Practice: Xx. Xxxx Xxxx & Associates, PLLC
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxx, O.D., President
Retail Business Manager: Visionary Retail Management, Inc.
00000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
with a copy to: Xxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
000 X. Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx.
or to such other address, or to the attention of such other person or officer,
as any party may by written notice designate.
8.4 Governing Law. This Retail Business Management Agreement shall in
all respects be governed, interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws
of the Commonwealth of Kentucky without giving effect to principles of comity or
conflicts of laws thereof.
8.5 Jurisdiction and Venue. Retail Business Manager and the Practice
hereby consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal
courts in the judicial circuit where the Practice has its principal corporate
office, and do hereby waive all questions of personal jurisdiction and venue,
including, without limitation, the claim or defense that such courts constitute
an inconvenient forum.
8.6 Assignment. Except as may be herein specifically provided to the
contrary, this Retail Business Management Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the Parties hereto and their respective legal
representatives, successors, and assigns; provided, however, that the Practice
may not assign this Retail Business Management Agreement without the prior
written consent of Retail Business Manager, which consent may be withheld.
Retail Business Manager may assign or transfer its rights and obligations under
this Retail Business Management Agreement only in the following situations: (a)
pursuant
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to a merger of Retail Business Manager into another entity or the sale of
substantially all of the assets of Retail Business Manager; (b) pursuant to the
sale and/or assignment of this Retail Business Management Agreement with the
Practice's consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld; (c) pursuant to a
transfer or assignment of this Agreement to one of Retail Business Manager's
subsidiaries; or (d) pursuant to any transfer or assignment to or by any
financial lender of the Retail Business Manager, and this Retail Business
Management Agreement is subordinate to the rights of such lender. After such
assignment and transfer, the Practice agrees to look solely to such assignee or
transferee for performance of this Retail Business Management Agreement.
8.7 Arbitration. Any and every dispute of any nature whatsoever that
may arise between the Parties, whether sounding in contract, statute, tort,
fraud, misrepresentation, discrimination or any other legal theory, including,
but not limited to, disputes relating to or involving the construction,
performance or breach of this Agreement or any other agreement between the
Parties, whether entered into prior to, on, or subsequent to the date of this
Agreement, or those arising under any federal, state or local law, regulation or
ordinance, shall be determined by binding arbitration in accordance with the
then -- current commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration
Association, to the extent such rules do not conflict with the provisions of
this paragraph. If the amount in controversy in the arbitration exceeds Two
Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000), exclusive of interest, attorneys'
fees and costs, the arbitration shall be conducted by a panel of three (3)
neutral arbitrators. Otherwise, the arbitration shall be conducted by a single
neutral arbitrator. The Parties shall endeavor to select neutral arbitrators by
mutual agreement. If such agreement cannot be reached within thirty (30)
calendar days after a dispute has arisen which is to be decided by arbitration,
any Party or the Parties jointly shall request the American Arbitration
Association to submit to each Party an identical panel of fifteen (15) persons.
Alternate strikes shall be made to the panel, commencing with the Party bringing
the claim, until the names of three (3) persons remain, or one (1) person if the
case is to be heard by a single arbitrator. The Parties may, however, by mutual
agreement, request the American Arbitration Association to submit additional
panels of possible arbitrators. The person(s) thus remaining shall be the
arbitrator(s) for such arbitration. If three (3) arbitrators are selected, the
arbitrators shall elect a chairperson to preside at all meetings and hearings.
The arbitrator(s), or a majority of them, shall have the power to determine all
matters incident to the conduct of the arbitration, including without limitation
all procedural and evidentiary matters and the scheduling of any hearing. The
award made by a majority of the arbitrators shall be final and binding upon the
Parties thereto and the subject matter thereof. The arbitration shall be
governed by the United States Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Sections 1-16, and
judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered by any
court having jurisdiction thereof. The arbitrators shall have no authority to
award punitive or exemplary damages or any statutory multiple damages, and shall
only have the authority to award compensatory damages, arbitration costs,
attorney's fees, declaratory relief, and permanent injunctive relief, if
applicable. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the arbitration shall be
held in Louisville, Kentucky. This Section 8.7 shall not prevent either Party
from seeking a temporary restraining order or temporary or preliminary
injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction in order to protect its
rights under this Agreement. In the event a Party seeks such injunctive relief
pursuant to this Agreement, such action shall not constitute a waiver of the
provisions of this Section 8.7, which shall continue to govern any and every
dispute between the Parties, including without limitation the right to damages,
permanent injunctive relief and any other remedy, at law or in equity.
8.8 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT WAIVES
ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY DISPUTE OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER THAT MAY
ARISE BETWEEN THEM, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE DISPUTES RELATING TO,
OR INVOLVING IN ANY WAY, THE CONSTRUCTION, PERFORMANCE OR BREACH OF THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES, THE PROVISIONS OF ANY
FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL LAW, REGULATION OR ORDINANCE NOTWITHSTANDING. By
execution of this Agreement, each of the parties hereto
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acknowledges and agrees that it has had an opportunity to consult with legal
counsel and that he/she/it knowingly and voluntarily waives any right to a trial
by jury of any dispute pertaining to or relating in any way to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the provisions of any federal, state or local
law, regulation or ordinance notwithstanding.
8.9 Waiver of Breach. The waiver by either Party of a breach or
violation of any provision of this Retail Business Management Agreement shall
not operate as, or be construed to constitute, a waiver of any subsequent breach
of the same or another provision hereof.
8.10 Enforcement. In the event either Party resorts to legal action to
enforce or interpret any provision of this Retail Business Management Agreement,
the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover the costs and expenses of such
action so incurred, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees.
8.11 Gender and Number. Whenever the context of this Retail Business
Management Agreement requires, the gender of all words herein shall include the
masculine, feminine, and neuter, and the number of all words herein shall
include the singular and plural.
8.12 Additional Assurances. Except as may be herein specifically
provided to the contrary, the provisions of this Retail Business Management
Agreement shall be self-operative and shall not require further agreement by the
Parties; provided, however, at the request of either Party, the other Party
shall execute such additional instruments and take such additional acts as are
reasonable and as the requesting Party may deem necessary to effectuate this
Retail Business Management Agreement.
8.13 Consents, Approvals, and Exercise of Discretion. Whenever this
Retail Business Management Agreement requires any consent or approval to be
given by either Party, or either Party must or may exercise discretion, and
except where specifically set forth to the contrary, the Parties agree that such
consent or approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and that such
discretion shall be reasonably exercised.
8.14 Force Majeure. Neither Party shall be liable or deemed to be in
default for any delay or failure in performance under this Retail Business
Management Agreement or other interruption of service deemed to result, directly
or indirectly, from acts of God, civil or military authority, acts of public
enemy, war accidents, fires, explosions, earthquakes, floods, failure of
transportation, strikes or other work interruptions by either Party's employees,
or any other similar cause beyond the reasonable control of either Party unless
such delay or failure in performance is expressly addressed elsewhere in this
Retail Business Management Agreement. Notwithstanding the same, the Parties
hereto agree to continue this Retail Business Management Agreement to the best
degree they can so long as reasonably possible and the Practice shall not be
excused from its obligations under Sections 4.1, 6.4 and 6.5 pursuant to this
Section 8.14.
8.15 Severability. The Parties hereto have negotiated and prepared the
terms of this Retail Business Management Agreement in good faith with the intent
that each and every one of the terms, covenants and conditions herein be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the respective Parties. Accordingly, if any one
or more of the terms, provisions, promises, covenants or conditions of this
Retail Business Management Agreement or the application thereof to any person or
circumstance shall be adjudged or rendered to any extent invalid, unenforceable,
void or voidable for any reason whatsoever by a court of competent jurisdiction,
an arbitration tribunal, a regulatory agency, or statute such provision shall be
reformed, construed and enforced as if such unenforceable provision had not been
contained herein, and each and all of the remaining terms, provisions, promises,
covenants and conditions of this Retail Business Management Agreement or their
application to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and
shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. To the
extent this Retail Business
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Management Agreement is in violation of applicable law, then the Parties agree
to negotiate in good faith to amend the Retail Business Management Agreement, to
the extent possible consistent with its purposes, to conform to law.
8.16 Press Releases and Public Announcements. Except as otherwise
required by law or by applicable rules of any securities exchange or association
of securities dealers, neither the Practice nor the Retail Business Manager
shall issue any press release, make any public announcement or otherwise
disclose any information for the purpose of publication by any print, broadcast
or other public media, relating to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, without the prior approval of the other Party.
8.17 Divisions and Headings. The division of this Retail Business
Management Agreement into articles, sections, and subsections and the use of
captions and headings in connection therewith are solely for convenience and
shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Retail
Business Management Agreement.
8.18 Amendments and Execution. This Retail Business Management
Agreement and any amendments hereto shall be in writing and executed in multiple
copies on behalf of the Practice by its President, and on behalf of Retail
Business Manager by its President. Each multiple copy shall be deemed an
original, but all multiple copies together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
8.19 Licenses, Permits and Certificates. Retail Business Manager and
the Practice shall each obtain and maintain in effect, at all times during the
term of this Retail Business Management Agreement, all licenses, permits and
certificates required by law which are applicable to the performance of their
respective obligations pursuant to this Retail Business Management Agreement.
8.20 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as otherwise provided herein,
this Retail Business Management Agreement shall not confer any rights or
remedies upon any person other than Retail Business Manager and the Practice and
their respective successors and permitted assigns.
8.21 Compliance with Applicable Laws. Retail Business Manager and the
Practice shall comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws,
regulations, rules and restrictions in the conduct of their obligations under
this Retail Business Management Agreement.
8.22 Language Construction. The Practice and Retail Business Manager
acknowledge that each Party hereto and its counsel have reviewed and revised
this Retail Business Management Agreement and agree that the normal rule of
construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the
drafting Party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Retail
Business Management Agreement.
8.23 Entire Retail Business Management Agreement. With respect to the
subject matter of this Retail Business Management Agreement, this Retail
Business Management Agreement supersedes all previous contracts and constitutes
the entire agreement between the Parties. Neither Party shall be entitled to
benefits other than those specified herein. No prior oral statements or
contemporaneous negotiations or understandings or prior written material not
specifically incorporated herein shall be of any force and effect, and no
changes in or additions to this Retail Business Management Agreement shall be
recognized unless incorporated herein by amendment as provided herein, such
amendment(s) to become effective on the date stipulated in such amendment(s).
The Parties specifically acknowledge that, in entering into and executing this
Retail Business Management Agreement, the Parties rely solely upon the
representations and agreements contained in this Retail Business Management
Agreement and no others.
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8.24 Authority. Retail Business Manager and the Practice hereby warrant
and represent to each other that they have the requisite corporate authority to
execute and deliver this Retail Business Management Agreement in their
respective names.
(The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Practice and Retail Business Manager have
caused this Retail Business Management Agreement to be executed by their duly
authorized representatives, all as of the day and year first above written.
XX. XXXX XXXX & ASSOCIATES, PLLC
"The Practice"
By: /s/ XXXX X. XXXX
-------------------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxx, O.D., President
VISIONARY RETAIL MANAGEMENT, INC.
"Retail Business Manager"
By: /s/ XXXX XXXXXXX
-------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Vice President,
Secretary and Treasurer
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EXHIBIT 4.2A
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (PROFESSIONAL)
SEE ATTACHED
39
EXHIBIT 4.2B
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (PRESIDENT OF PRACTICE)
SEE ATTACHED
40
EXHIBIT 4.6A
COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE
Radius From Miles
----------- -----
Kentucky Offices 5
Missouri Offices 5
Indiana Offices 5
Tennessee Offices 5
All Other Offices 5
41
EXHIBIT 4.11
SHAREHOLDERS' UNDERTAKING TO MAINTAIN PRACTICE'S
CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND ENFORCEMENT OF COVENANTS
NOT TO COMPETE
As an inducement to the Retail Business Manager to enter into this
Retail Business Management Agreement with the Practice or as required in the
Retail Business Management Agreement, each of the undersigned person(s), having
an ownership interest in the Practice, irrevocably and unconditionally covenants
and agrees to maintain in good standing the existence of the Practice under the
laws of the States of Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, and Kentucky and to cause
the Practice to use its best efforts to enforce employment agreements (including
the Restrictive Covenant described in Section 4.6), to the extent then required
by Retail Business Manager, against any individuals violating such employment
agreements. The undersigned persons further unconditionally covenant and agree
to indemnify and hold harmless Retail Business Manager from and against any and
all claims requirements, demands, liabilities, losses, damages, costs and
expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, resulting in any manner from the
failure of the Practice to remain in good standing under the laws of the States
of Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, and Kentucky or the failure of the Practice to
use its best efforts to enforce the aforesaid employment agreements and the
Restrictive Covenants described in Section 4.6 of such Retail Business
Management Agreement, a copy of which has been delivered to the undersigned for
his review, to the extent then required by Retail Business Manager. This
Undertaking may be assumed by a successor to Shareholder or Shareholders,
whereupon the undersigned shall be released to the extent of such assumption,
provided that any such successor Shareholder executes a form similar to this.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned(s) have executed this Shareholders'
Undertaking as of the day and year written opposite such shareholder's name.
Date: October 1, 1998 /s/ XX. XXXX XXXX
---------------------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxx, O.D.
42
EXHIBIT 6.4
SHAREHOLDERS' UNDERTAKING TO CARRY OUT
PRACTICE'S PURCHASE OBLIGATION
As an inducement to the Retail Business Manager to enter into this
Retail Business Management Agreement with the Practice or as required in Retail
Business Management Agreement, each of the undersigned person(s), having an
ownership interest in the Practice, irrevocably and unconditionally covenants
and agrees subject to the limitations contained in the Retail Business
Management Agreement to (i) cause the Practice to carry out the purchase
obligation described in Section 6.4 of the Retail Business Management Agreement,
(ii) personally execute and deliver the security agreements referred to in
Section 6.4(c) of such Retail Business Management Agreement, a copy of which has
been delivered to the undersigned for his review, and (iii) execute the
documents described in Section 6.5. The undersigned acknowledges that he or she
has received adequate consideration for the execution hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned(s) have executed this Shareholders'
Undertaking as of the day and year written opposite such shareholder's name.
Date: October 1, 1998 /s/ XX. XXXX X. XXXX
---------------------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxx, O.D.
