CONSULTING AGREEMENT
THIS CONSULTING AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), is entered into as
of November 18, 1997, by and between Variflex, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, an individual ("CONSULTANT").
WHEREAS, Consultant has for many years provided valuable services
to the Company in his capacity as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to engage Consultant and Consultant
desires to act as an independent consultant on the terms and conditions set
forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the conditions and covenants
contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. TERM AND COMPENSATION.
(a) Consultant will assist the Company in the capacity as an
independent consultant for a period of two (2) years commencing on the date
hereof, by rendering advice and assistance on such matters as the Company may
specifically request, including providing advice and assistance consistent with
Consultant's past areas of responsibility; provided that Consultant shall not be
required to render services for more than twenty (20) hours per month.
(b) During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay
Consultant the following as compensation for the services to be provided
hereunder: (i) a salary of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) per year,
payable in bi-weekly installments; (ii) the amounts due under the automobile
leases for each of the two (2) automobiles currently leased by Consultant and
identified on EXHIBIT A attached hereto, as well as the premiums due under the
automobile insurance policies for each automobile identified on EXHIBIT A
attached hereto as in effect on the date hereof; and (iii) the premiums due
under Consultant's health insurance policy as in effect on the date hereof. As
additional compensation for the services to be provided hereunder, the Company
has granted to Consultant a warrant to purchase Two Hundred Thousand (200,000)
shares of Common Stock of the Company at a price of Five and 10/100 Dollars
($5.10) per share and on such additional terms as are contained in that certain
warrant agreement of even date herewith. The payments and warrant described
herein shall constitute full payment for Consultant's services to the Company
during the term of this Agreement, and Consultant shall not receive any
additional benefits or compensation for consulting services, except that the
Company will reimburse Consultant for reasonable and customary expenses incurred
at the Company's request in connection with such consulting.
2. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. Consultant shall be an independent
contractor and shall not be deemed to be an employee of the Company.
3. LOCATION. Consultant shall provide the services to be rendered
hereunder in Southern California at the Company's office facilities,
Consultant's home or such other locations as the Company or Consultant may
reasonably request.
4. OTHER EMPLOYMENT PERMITTED. Subject to Section 1, nothing in
this Agreement shall preclude Consultant from securing and performing employment
during the term of this Agreement.
5. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Consultant agrees to keep
confidential any information which is identified as proprietary to the Company
that may be obtained by him in the course of rendering consulting services to
the Company pursuant hereto and to refrain from publishing, revealing or
otherwise disclosing any such information without the prior written consent of
the Company. The parties agree that equitable relief would be appropriate for
breach of this paragraph 5.
6. TERMINATION BY DEATH. This Agreement shall automatically
terminate upon the Consultant's death. In such event, the Company shall be
obligated to pay the Consultant's estate or beneficiaries only the accrued but
unpaid fees and expenses due as of the date of death.
7. FREE EXECUTION. Consultant represents and agrees that he has
carefully read and understands this Agreement and agrees that none of the
Company's officers, agents or employees has made any representations other than
those contained herein. Further, Consultant expressly agrees that Consultant has
entered into this Agreement freely and voluntarily and without pressure or
coercion by any of the Company's officers, agents, employees or anyone else
acting on their behalf.
8. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
(a) AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS. Amendments, waivers, demands, consents
and approvals under this Agreement must be in writing and designated as such. No
failure or delay in exercising any right will be deemed a waiver of such right.
(b) INTEGRATION. This Agreement is the entire agreement between
the parties pertaining to its subject matter, and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings of the parties in connection with such subject
matter.
(c) INTERPRETATION; GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement is to be
construed as a whole and in accordance with its fair meaning. This Agreement is
to be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
(d) HEADINGS. Headings of Sections and subsections are for
convenience only and are not a part of this Agreement.
(e) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, all of which constitute one agreement.
(f) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement may not be assigned or
transferred by Consultant without the prior written consent of the Company. All
rights, covenants and agreements of the parties contained in this Agreement
shall, except as otherwise provided herein, by binding upon and inure to the
benefit of their respective successors and assigns. Nothing in this Agreement,
express or implied, is intended to confer any rights or remedies upon any other
person.
(g) REPRESENTATION BY COUNSEL; INTERPRETATION. Each party
acknowledges that it has been represented by counsel in connection with this
Agreement. Any rule of law, including, but not limited to, Section 1654 of the
California Civil Code, or any legal decision that would require interpretation
of any claimed ambiguities in this Agreement against the party that drafted it,
has no application and is expressly waived.
(h) SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Agreement are severable.
The invalidity, in whole or in part, of any provision of this Agreement shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of any other of its provisions. If one
or more provisions hereof shall be so declared invalid or unenforceable, the
remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and shall be
construed in the broadest possible manner to effectuate the purposes hereof. The
parties further agree to replace such void or unenforceable provisions of this
Agreement with valid and enforceable provisions which will achieve, to the
extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of the void or
unenforceable provisions.
(i) NOTICES. All notices, demands and requests required by this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given for all
purposes (i) upon personal delivery, (ii) one (1) business day after being sent,
when sent by professional overnight courier service for next business day
delivery from and to locations within the continental United States, (iii) five
(5) days after posting when sent by registered or certified mail, or (iv) on the
date of receipt by the sending party of confirmation of the successful
transmission of the facsimile, as printed by the facsimile machine, when sent by
facsimile. Any party hereto may from time to time by notice in writing served
upon the others as provided herein, designate a different mailing address or a
different party to which such notices or demands are thereafter to be addressed
or delivered.
(j) FURTHER ACTIONS. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, each of the parties agrees to use all commercially reasonable efforts
to take, or cause to be taken, all action necessary, proper or advisable to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed by itself or its duly authorized officers as of the day
and year first above written.
VARIFLEX, INC.
By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Address: 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxx.
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
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XXXXXXX X. XXXX
Address: -------------------------
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Facsimile: -------------------------
EXHIBIT A
AUTOMOBILE LEASES
1. 1997 JAGUAR XJ6
Serial Number: XXXXX0000XX000000
Lessor: Desert European Motorcars
Lease Date: 2/5/97
Lease Term: 24 months
Monthly Payment: $695.74
2. 1996 GMC YUKON
Serial Number: 0XXXX00X0XX000000
Lessor: Xxxxxxx GMC Buick Inc.
Lease Date: 3/7/96
Lease Term: 48 months
Monthly Payment: $486.07
