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EXHIBIT 10.10
REFERRAL FEE AGREEMENT
This Referral Fee Agreement (the "Agreement") is made this 28th day of April,
2000 and entered into by and between Solutions America, Inc. ("Solutions"), a
Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 600 Corporate
Pointe, 12th Floor, Culver City, California 90230, and Anthony Vicardo
("Vicardo"), a consultant with his principal place of business at 200 World
Trade Center, Chicago, Illinois 60654. Each of the aforementioned parties is
sometimes referred to individually as a "Party" and collectively they will be
referred to as the "Parties".
Whereas Solutions provides web site design, database development, marketing,
financial services and transaction processing services to banks, corporations
and merchants conducting E-commerce over the Internet;
Whereas Vicardo has relationships with banks, Internet merchants, corporations
and other entities and seeks to introduce such companies requiring E-commerce
services to Solutions;
Whereas Solutions and Vicardo wish to enter into a business relationship whereby
Vicardo refers potential banks, clients and Internet merchants to Solutions;
For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, Solutions and Vicardo do hereby agree as follows:
1. NATURE AND TERM OF ENGAGEMENT
(a) Transaction Processing, Merchant Banking and Web Site Design Services.
Vicardo hereby agrees to introduce banks providing E-commerce merchant
banking services, and banks, Internet merchants and other corporations
requiring E-commerce transaction processing services and/or web site
design services to Solutions. Such banks, Internet merchants and
corporations shall be considered "Vicardo Referrals", unless Solutions
has a preexisting relationship with such bank, Internet merchant or
corporation. On a monthly basis (at the end of each calendar month),
Vicardo shall submit to Solutions a list of each and every bank,
Internet merchant or corporation referred to Solutions during the
previous month. All entities on said list shall be deemed Vicardo
Referrals unless Solutions objects in writing within seven (7) working
days that Solutions has a preexisting relationship. In the event
Solutions has a written contract with an entity referred by Vicardo,
such entity shall be deemed a preexisting client of Solutions. In the
event a written contract is not in existence, Solutions and the entity
referred by Vicardo shall together determine whether such entity has a
preexisting relationship with Solutions.
(b) Multiple Jurisdictions. In the event the entity referred by Vicardo is
an organization with branches, affiliates and subsidiaries in multiple
jurisdictions around the world, Solutions and Vicardo shall jointly
determine the jurisdictions to which the Vicardo Referral would be
extended. Such determination shall be made in writing within (7) working
days.
(c) Term. The term of this Agreement shall be one (1) year from the date
hereof; provided, that this Agreement shall be automatically renewed for
additional one (1) year terms, unless either Party gives the other Party
written notice of its intention not to renew at least thirty (30) days
prior to the last day of the then current term, in which event the last
effective date of this Agreement shall be the lst day of the then
current term. Notwithstanding anything in
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this paragraph to the contrary, all of Solutions' payment obligations to
Vicardo under this Agreement shall survive termination or suspension of
this Agreement.
(d) Exclusivity. This Agreement shall be non-exclusive and nothing shall
preclude either Party from entering similar agreements with other
parties providing similar services.
2. FEES AND PAYMENT
For each and every transaction processed by Solutions (and / or its
agents and assigns) on behalf of a Vicardo Referral, Solutions shall pay
to Vicardo a fee of two and half cents in U.S. dollars ($.025 US) for a
period of three (3) years from the date of the first transaction
processed for each bank or Internet merchant introduced by Vicardo. The
aggregate of such fees shall be paid on a monthly basis (on the 15th day
of each calendar month following the month in which the transactions
occurred).
For each and every web site designed or redesigned by Solutions (and /
or its agents and assigns) on behalf of a Vicardo Referral, Solutions
shall pay to Vicardo ten percent (10%) of the amount charged by
Solutions to the Vicardo Referral on the first fifty thousand dollars
($50,000), and fifteen percent (15%) on the amount charged by Solutions
in excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). The aggregate of such
fees shall be paid within five (5) business days of receipt of payment
by Solutions.
Each Party will be responsible for their own expenses. Provided,
however, that Solutions will reimburse Vicardo for such pre-approved
expenses as it may from time to time incur at the request of Solutions.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; INDEMNITIES
(a) Representations and Warranties. The Parties hereby represent and warrant
that (i) they have the full right to enter into this Agreement; (ii)
that they will act in accordance with all laws and regulations.
(b) Indemnification. Each Party agrees to fully indemnify the other Party
for any damage or loss including reasonable attorney's fees from the
breach or alleged breach of this Agreement or any of the representations
and warranties whether express or implied.
4. GENERAL PROVISION
(a) Relationship Between Parties. The Parties to this Agreement are
independent contractors and nothing in this Agreement shall make them
joint venturers, partners, employees, agents or other representatives of
the other Party hereto. Neither Party shall make any representation that
suggests otherwise. Provided, however, Solutions will be responsible for
managing all client accounts and all activities related thereto.
(b) Assignment. Vicardo may not transfer or assign any of its rights or
duties under this Agreement without the prior written consent of
Solutions, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
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(c) Taxes. Each Party shall report and pay all taxes imposed on its revenues
or income by any jurisdiction.
(d) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of California.
(e) Integration and Amendment. This Agreement, along with any exhibits,
attachments or other documents affixed hereto or referred to herein,
constitutes the entire agreements between the Parties hereto relative to
the various subject matters hereof and may be amended or revoked only by
an instrument in writing signed by both Parties. The Parties hereby
agree that no prior agreement, understanding or representation
pertaining to any matter covered or mentioned in this Agreement shall be
effective for any purpose.
(f) Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement shall be held
invalid or unenforceable to any extent under any applicable law by a
court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Agreement will
not be affected thereby, and each remaining term and provision of this
Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted
by law. To the extent that the provisions of such applicable law may be
waived, they are hereby waived to the end that this Agreement is deemed
to be a valid and binding agreement enforceable in accordance with its
terms.
(g) Waiver. No waiver by either Party of the breach of any covenant,
condition or term of this Agreement shall be construed as a waiver of
any preceding or succeeding breach nor shall the acceptance of any fee
or other payment during any period in which either Party is in default
be deemed to be a waiver of such default. All waivers must be in writing
and signed by the waiving Party.
(h) Attorney's Fees. If suit, action or arbitration is brought to enforce or
interpret any provision of this Agreement, or the rights or obligations
of any Party hereto as they relate to the subject matter of this
Agreement, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover, as an
element of such Party's costs of suit, and not as damages, all
reasonable costs and expenses incurred or sustained by limitation,
attorneys' fees and expenses and court costs.
(i) Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and
warranties of each Party contained herein shall survive the execution
and delivery of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Referral Fee Agreement
effective as of the 28th day of April, 2000.
SOLUTIONS AMERICA, INC. ANTHONY VICARDO
By: By:
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Floyd W. Kephart, Chairman Anthony Vicardo
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