CONSULTING AGREEMENT

EX-10.1 2 dex101.htm CONSULTING AGREEMENT Consulting Agreement

Exhibit 10.1

CONSULTING AGREEMENT

Consulting Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of April 11, 2008 between The Providence Service Corporation and its assignees (collectively, the “Company”), and Steven I. Geringer (the “Consultant”).

WHEREAS, the Consultant served on the Company’s Board of Directors since 2002 and resigned from the Company’s Board of Directors in April 2008 for personal reasons; and

WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that the Consultant possesses knowledge and expertise in the healthcare business and will provide valuable assistance to the Company; and

WHEREAS, the Consultant is desirous of committing himself to serve the Company on the terms provided herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the respective covenants and agreements of the parties contained in this Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Engagement and Duties of Consultant. The Company hereby engages the Consultant, and the Consultant hereby agrees to be engaged as a consultant to the Company for period commencing on April 11, 2008 until May 31, 2010 (the “Term”), unless sooner terminated by the Company, to perform such consulting services as requested from time to time by the Board of Directors and management of the Company including, without limitation, evaluating opportunities in the healthcare industry (the “Business”) and assisting the Company with developing services applicable to the Business (the “Services”). The Company shall have the right at any time, exercisable upon thirty (30) calendar days advance written notice, to terminate this Agreement. In the event the Company terminates this Agreement, the Consultant shall be entitled to receive the balance of the monthly payments through the end of the Term and all options and restricted shares granted pursuant to this Agreement shall immediately vest. The services described in this Section 1 shall be rendered by Consultant without any direct supervision by the Company and at such time and place and in such manner (whether by conference, telephone, letter or otherwise) as Consultant may determine.

2. Time Commitment of the Consultant. During the term of this Agreement, the Consultant shall make himself available for and at such times as may be required by the Company for the business of the Company, and shall perform the duties of his engagement as provided herein, promptly, with fidelity, and to the best of his ability.

3. Compensation. As compensation for the Consultant’s services, the Company hereby agrees to pay the Consultant, and the Consultant agrees to accept as full compensation for his services, an monthly fee of $6,666.67 to be paid in advance for each such month on the 15th day of each calendar month during the Term, less such deductions or amounts to be withheld as shall be required by applicable law and regulations. These payments will terminate upon the death of the Consultant.

The Company shall not be required to reimburse the Consultant for expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties hereunder. In addition, upon execution of this Agreement the


Consultant shall receive an award of 1,334 shares of the Company’s “restricted” common stock (“initial award”) pursuant to the Company’s 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”). The initial award shall vest in two equal installments on each of January 2, 2009 and January 3, 2010. In addition, subject to stockholder approval of an amendment to increase the number of shares of the Company’s common stock available for issuance under the 2006 Plan, the Consultant will receive under the 2006 Plan the following awards: (A) on the date of such stockholder approval, (i) non-qualified stock options to purchase 6,666 shares of the Company’s common stock, which shall vest in two equal installments on January 1, 2009 and January 1, 2010, respectively and (ii) an award of 1,334 shares of the Company’s “restricted” common stock, which shall vest in two equal installments on January 1, 2009 and January 1, 2010, respectively, and (B) on the first business day of 2009 (i) non-qualified stock options to purchase 3,334 shares of the Company’s common stock, and (ii) an award of 667 shares of “restricted” common stock. The awards referred to in (B) above will vest on the first anniversary of the date of grant. The terms and conditions of such options and restricted stock awards shall be consistent with awards made pursuant to the Company’s 2006 Plan generally as reflected in an option agreement and a restricted stock agreement among the parties.

4. Confidentiality; Use of Name. Consultant shall not divulge or disclose to third parties, without the written consent of the Company, any material information obtained from or through the Company in connection with Consultant’s performance of his obligations under this Agreement which can reasonably be determined to be proprietary or confidential, unless (a) such information is known by Consultant prior to obtaining it from the Company, (b) such information is already available in the public domain or (c) the information is obtained by Consultant from a third party who, to the knowledge of Consultant, did not receive it directly or indirectly from the Company (“Confidential Information”). Consultant acknowledges that he may have access to confidential, proprietary and sensitive information and materials regarding the Company and agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all such information and materials and to use any such materials solely for the purpose of his performance of his obligations under this Agreement. The foregoing notwithstanding, Consultant may disclose Confidential Information to the extent required by applicable federal, state or local law, regulation, court order, or other legal process, provided he has given the Company prior written notice of such required disclosure and, to the extent reasonably possible, has given the Company an opportunity to contest such required disclosure at the Company’s expense.

The Consultant further acknowledges that the Company is a public company and that the Consultant will not purchase or sell any of the Company’s securities while in possession of any material non-public information acquired as a result of the Services performed pursuant to this Agreement without the prior consent of the Company’s General Counsel.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Consultant may not use the Company’s name in his marketing and promotional materials without the Company’s written consent.

5. Ownership of Property. The ownership of the materials, information and techniques used or developed in connection with the Services shall be as follows:

 

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(a) The materials, information and techniques supplied by the Company for use by the Consultant, and all summaries and extracts of any of them shall be the exclusive property of the Company. The Consultant shall return to the Company any materials provided by the Company promptly upon request and will not retain any copies in any form of any such information.

(b) Any written materials developed or prepared by the Consultant in connection with the Services shall be the property of the Company.

(c) All forms, computer programs, formulae, methods, techniques and other non-written materials (whether similar or dissimilar to any of the foregoing) used in connection with the Services shall be the exclusive property of Company.

6. No Third party Participation. The Consultant shall not utilize the services of persons to assist the Consultant under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld by the Company. Unless otherwise agreed to, the obligations for compensation to any approved third persons shall be solely the responsibility of the Consultant.

7. Relationship. Nothing contained herein shall create or be deemed to create any agency, partnership or joint venture between the Consultant and the Company. The Consultant shall not make any representations, warranties or commitments which purport to bind the Company without the prior written consent of the Company. The Company shall not make any representations, warranties or commitments which purport to bind Consultant without the prior written consent of the Consultant.

The Consultant and the Company agree that the Consultant is an independent contractor and not an employee of the Company notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary and shall be subject to Company’s direction only as to specific areas of the Company’s interests with respect to which the Company desires the benefit of the Consultant’s services and advice. The Consultant shall perform his duties hereunder as an independent contractor to the Company and nothing herein shall constitute the Consultant as an employee or agent of the Company.

8. Assignments. The Agreement is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, and the assigns of the Company. The Company may assign this Agreement to any affiliate of the Company. The Consultant may not assign his interest in this Agreement.

9. Waiver, Modification or Amendment. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or modification or amendment of the same shall be effective, binding or enforceable unless in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

10. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and administered in accordance with the laws of the State of Arizona applicable to agreements made and to be entirely performed therein.

11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, and Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement and the Restricted Stock Agreement referenced herein, sets forth the entire agreement

 

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and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements arrangements and understandings, written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof. The Consultant specifically acknowledges that he has previously received all equity awards and other compensation as a result of his prior services as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. No representation, promise or inducement has been made by either party that is not embodied in this Agreement, and neither party shall be bound by or liable for any alleged representation, promise or inducement not so set forth.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

THE PROVIDENCE SERVICE CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Michael N. Deitch
  Name:   Michael N. Deitch
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

CONSULTANT
/s/ Steven I. Geringer
Steven I. Geringer