EXHIBIT 10.3
CONSULTING AGREEMENT
THIS IS A CONSULTING AGREEMENT ("Agreement") made and entered into as of
the 1st day of May, 1999, by and between DIANON Systems, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("DIANON"), and A. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx ("Xxxxxxx").
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, DIANON has acquired substantially all of the assets and business
of Kyto Meridien Diagnostics, L.L.C., a New York limited liability company
("Kyto Meridien"), pursuant to the terms of an Asset Purchase Agreement dated as
of April 7, 1999, by and among DIANON, Kyto Meridien, Kyto Diagnostics, L.P.,
Meridien Diagnostics Labs, Inc., Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx, M.D. (the "Asset Purchase Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, DIANON desires to retain Xxxxxxx for a period commencing as of
the Closing Date ("Closing Date") of the Asset Purchase Agreement and ending
three years from that date and Xxxxxxx desires to be so retained by DIANON for
such period on the terms and conditions hereinafter provided; and
WHEREAS, Xxxxxxx'x position with Kyto Meridien has given him access to and
familiarity with the confidential information and business of Kyto Meridien
acquired by DIANON and his consultation with DIANON will give him access to and
familiarity with the confidential information and business of DIANON; and
WHEREAS, DIANON would be irreparably harmed if Xxxxxxx should disclose any
of the confidential information which Xxxxxxx has acquired and will acquire or
by entering into any activity competing with DIANON or the business of Kyto
Meridien acquired by DIANON.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, terms and
conditions of this Agreement, Xxxxxxx and DIANON agree as follows:
1. CONSULTATION. DIANON hereby retains the services of Xxxxxxx to aid
in the transition (including, without limitation, assuring the timely payment of
accounts payable and current liabilities retained by Sellers under Subsection
2(e) of the Asset Purchase Agreement) and stabilization and to advise and
consult with respect to the growth of the business acquired by DIANON pursuant
to the Asset Purchase Agreement and to advise and consult in such other areas
within his experience, knowledge and expertise. Such services shall be performed
by Xxxxxxx in person at DIANON's facility in Woodbury New York, or, with his
consent, at its headquarters in Connecticut. Xxxxxxx shall make himself
available to DIANON for the performance of such services no more than two days
per week forty-eight weeks per year as requested by DIANON during the term
hereof. In providing such consulting services, Xxxxxxx shall in good faith
render advice and provide information to DIANON, fully reflecting the range of
his knowledge, information and experience in the areas of consultation. During
the term of this Agreement, Xxxxxxx shall at all times conduct himself and
perform his services in a proficient and professional manner, in accordance with
the applicable standards of care and the highest standards of ethics.
2. COMPENSATION. As full consideration for the services rendered by
Xxxxxxx pursuant to this Agreement, together with Xxxxxxx'x undertakings
pertaining to the preservation of confidential information and the restrictive
covenant set forth, respectively, in Sections 4 and 5 below, DIANON shall,
during the term of this Agreement, compensate Xxxxxxx as follows:
(a) _DIANON shall render monthly payments of nineteen thousand
three hundred and nineteen ($19,319) dollars to Xxxxxxx.;
(b) DIANON shall reimburse the reasonable business expenses of
Xxxxxxx in performing his duties hereunder in accordance with such policies
regarding expenses as DIANON may have in effect from time to time;
(c) At no cost to Xxxxxxx, XXXXXX shall, for a period of at least
six months from and after the Closing Date, make available for the use of
Xxxxxxx his current office located at 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx xx Xxxxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxx; provided that DIANON may terminate such rights effective at any time after
such six month period by the provision of three month's prior written notice.
3. TERM. Unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 9 below,
the term of this Agreement shall commence on the Closing Date of the Asset
Purchase Agreement and end on the third anniversary thereof.
4. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. From and after the date hereof, Xxxxxxx
will not, directly or indirectly, use for his own benefit or purposes, or
disclose to, or use for the benefit or purpose of any person or entity other
than DIANON, any confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the
business or operations of DIANON or those acquired by DIANON from Kyto Meridien.
Such information, knowledge or data includes, but is not limited to, secret or
confidential matters not published or generally known in the industry, such as
information regarding pricing, costs, purchasing, profits, financing, markets,
sales or customer lists, future developments, audits, investigations,
enforcement actions, regulatory compliance, laboratory procedures and marketing
and expansion plans. Any and all materials which may be produced or created by
Xxxxxxx or others, or which may come into his possession in the course of his
employment, or which relate in any manner to the business or prospective
business of DIANON are and shall be the exclusive property of DIANON and Xxxxxxx
shall not have any right, title or interest in any such materials. Upon
termination of his employment, Xxxxxxx shall not have the right to remove any
such materials from the offices of DIANON and shall promptly return to DIANON
all things of whatever nature that belong to DIANON, including all materials and
records in any form, format or medium containing or related to the confidential
information of DIANON, and he shall neither make nor retain any part or copy
thereof for his personal use or the use of third parties.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, confidential information shall not
include any information that is: (i) demonstrably developed independently by
Xxxxxxx; (ii) publicly disclosed by DIANON or otherwise in the public domain
without violation of this Agreement by Xxxxxxx; or (iii) rightfully received by
Xxxxxxx from a third party, which, by disclosing to Xxxxxxx, does not breach any
obligation or duty to DIANON. Notwithstanding this Section 4, Xxxxxxx may make
such disclosures of confidential information as are duly compelled by court
order or as required by law.
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5. RESTRICTIVE COVENANT. In consideration of this Agreement and the
purchase of the assets and business of Kyto Meridien by DIANON, for a period of
three years from and after the Closing Date and for any renewal period or
extension of the term hereof, and notwithstanding any earlier termination of
this Agreement, except upon the express written consent of DIANON (which consent
may be unreasonably withheld), Xxxxxxx shall not, for his own account, on behalf
of, or jointly with, any other person, directly or indirectly, own, manage,
operate, join, control, finance, invest in, perform services for, advise (or
advise others with respect to), or otherwise participate in, or be connected
with, or become or act as a partner, manager, member, director, officer,
employee, consultant, representative or agent of any business (other than
DIANON), individual, partnership, firm, proprietorship, professional practice,
corporation, limited liability company or other entity that provides clinical
laboratory or anatomic or surgical pathology services within a one hundred and
fifty mile radius of New York City; provided however, that Xxxxxxx may purchase
or own, solely as an inactive investor, the securities of any entity that is
publicly traded on a national securities exchange where Xxxxxxx'x aggregate
holdings of such securities do not exceed two percent of the voting power or of
any class of stock of such entity.
In addition to the foregoing, during the same three-year period and for
any renewal period or extension of the term hereof, Xxxxxxx shall not, on his
own behalf, or on behalf of any other person or entity: (i) solicit the
customers, suppliers or employees of DIANON or any affiliated entity; (ii)
solicit or seek to hire any employee of DIANON or any affiliated entity; or
(iii) attempt in any manner, directly or indirectly, to influence, induce or
encourage any such employee to leave the employment of DIANON or any affiliated
entity. Xxxxxxx shall not take any action intended, or which may reasonably be
expected, directly or indirectly, to impair the goodwill, reputation or good
name of DIANON or Kyto Meridien, or otherwise to be detrimental to the interests
of DIANON, including any action intended, or which may reasonably be expected,
directly or indirectly, to benefit a competitor of DIANON.
6. SCOPE OF RESTRICTIONS. Xxxxxxx agrees that the restrictions set
forth in Section 5 are reasonable. If, however, a court determines that any
provision of Section 5 is unreasonable, either in geographic scope, length of
time or otherwise, then Section 5 shall be interpreted and enforced to the
maximum extent permitted by law and Xxxxxxx consents and agrees that such scope
may be judicially modified accordingly in any proceeding brought to enforce such
restriction.
7. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. Xxxxxxx acknowledges that irreparable harm would
be suffered by DIANON in the event that any of the provisions of Sections 4 or 5
were not performed fully in accordance with the terms specified therein and that
monetary damages are an inadequate remedy for breach thereof because of the
difficulty of ascertaining and quantifying the amount of damage that will be
suffered by DIANON in the event that such undertakings and provisions were
breached or violated. Accordingly, Xxxxxxx agrees that DIANON shall be entitled
to an injunction or injunctions to restrain, enjoin and prevent breaches or
threatened breaches of the covenants, undertakings and provisions of those
sections and to enforce specifically the provisions therein in any court of the
United States or any state having jurisdiction over the matter, it being
understood that any such remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of,
any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity and shall not be
deemed exclusive of any common law or other rights of DIANON in connection with
the matters covered hereby.
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8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. Xxxxxxx agrees to assign, and hereby
does assign to DIANON, all of his right, title and interest in and to all
inventions, improvements, discoveries and technical developments, whether or not
patentable, which he solely or jointly with others, may conceive, develop or
reduce to practice during the term of this Agreement, which are related, in
whole or in part, directly or indirectly, to the business of, or services or
products of the type, provided by DIANON, or which may reasonably be provided or
used by DIANON, or which are otherwise developed, in whole or in part, at
DIANON's expense.
Xxxxxxx shall disclose promptly to DIANON's Chief Executive Officer, all
such ideas, discoveries and improvements conceived by him alone or in
collaboration with others, and shall cooperate fully with DIANON both during and
after the term of this Agreement, with respect to the procurement of patents for
the establishment and maintenance of DIANON's rights and interests in said
inventions, improvements, discoveries or developments, and shall sign all papers
which DIANON may reasonably deem necessary or desirable for the purpose of
vesting it with such rights.
9. TERMINATION. (a) This Agreement shall terminate on the
occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) Upon the death of Xxxxxxx;
(ii) Upon the sending of written notice from DIANON describing the
activities constituting an act of default falling within any one or more of the
following categories:
(A) Xxxxxxx'x breach of any material promise or agreement set
forth herein, including, without limitation, those set forth
in Sections 4, 5 and 8 above, or his failure to provide
substantially all of the services reasonably required by
Section 1; or
(B) Xxxxxxx'x commission of an act of gross negligence or
willful misconduct, or acts showing a pattern of negligence,
in the performance of his services or obligations hereunder or
otherwise injurious to DIANON;
Provided that no such termination under this subsection 9(a)(ii) shall be
effective unless Xxxxxxx has first been afforded an opportunity to correct the
alleged default, but such default continues, recurs or can not otherwise be
corrected, in the good faith judgment of DIANON, within thirty days after
delivery of such written notice of default to Xxxxxxx;
(iii) Upon the occurrence of an event or the commission of an act
under which Xxxxxxx is or may become subject to mandatory or permissive
exclusion from Medicare and State health care programs, including those set
forth in sections 1128, 1156 and 1892 of the Social security Act and any
regulations promulgated thereunder; and
(iv) Upon the passage of thirty (30) days after written notice of
termination without cause from DIANON to Xxxxxxx.
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(b) In the event of a termination of this Agreement pursuant to
subsections 9(a)(i) or 9(a)(iv) above, DIANON shall continue to pay the
compensation set forth in Section 2(a) above until the third anniversary of the
Closing Date of the Asset Purchase Agreement.
(c) Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 12 and 14 of this Agreement shall survive, in
accordance with their terms, any termination of this Agreement, whether such
termination be with or without cause. No termination of this Agreement shall
relieve Xxxxxxx of his obligations to DIANON with respect to the restrictive
covenant in Section 5 and the preservation of confidential information under
Section 4. Should Xxxxxxx violate any of the requirements of Sections 4 or 5 of
this Agreement, DIANON may, in addition to any other remedies provided to DIANON
under this Agreement, at law or in equity, immediately terminate any further
post-termination payments to Xxxxxxx hereunder that otherwise may have been
required.
10. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. Xxxxxxx'x services hereunder shall be
rendered in the capacity of an independent contractor of DIANON, and Xxxxxxx is
not in any respect or circumstances an employee of DIANON. Neither Xxxxxxx nor
DIANON has the authority to enter into contracts or assume any obligations for
or on behalf of the other or to make any warranties or representations for or on
behalf of the other. Xxxxxxx shall be solely responsible for any taxes imposed
on the performance of his consulting services or the payment therefore,
including withholding of state and federal income or estimated tax payments,
sales or ad valorem taxes, unemployment compensation, worker's compensation,
obligations under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, Federal Unemployment
Tax Act and other taxes, costs and expenses incurred in the performance of his
engagement hereunder, except as expressly assumed by DIANON under this
Agreement. Xxxxxxx expressly indemnifies and holds DIANON harmless from any such
liabilities.
11. WAIVER. The failure of either party at any time to require
performance by the other party of any provision hereof shall not affect in any
way the full right to require such performance at any time thereafter, nor shall
a waiver by either party of a breach of any provision hereof be taken or held to
be a waiver of the provision itself.
12. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if
delivered by hand, by nationally recognized overnight delivery service, or
mailed by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, and addressed as
follows:
If to Xxxxxxx: A. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
If to DIANON: DIANON Systems, Inc.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: President
13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the Asset Purchase Agreement
set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties concerning the
subject matter hereof.
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This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument signed by both
parties, which instrument must make specific reference to this Agreement and the
intention to modify it.
14. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York without reference to the
conflicts of laws provisions of that state.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day
first above written.
/s/ A. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
--------------------
A. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------
By: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Its: President & CEO
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