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EXHIBIT 10.44    
  

September 27,
2002 

Mr. James
W. Dennis

48 Bantala Place

Castle Rock, Colorado 80104 

Re:
Consulting Services 

Dear
Jim: 

        On
behalf of myself and the rest of my management team here at HealtheTech, we are thrilled at the opportunity to have you work with us on a regular basis. This letter sets forth our
understanding with respect to your services to HealtheTech, including: 

	1.
	Identifying
and introducing business prospects for the Company, in particular in cardiology-related areas.

	2.
	Conducting
overall identification, assessment, and prioritization of current business issues.

	3.
	Consulting
with HealtheTech CEO on strategic, operational, and general management matters.

	4.
	Assisting
in the identification and qualification of potential acquisition, alliance and joint venture candidates. 

        In
exchange for these services, HealtheTech is granting to you a warrant in the form attached for the purchase of 40,000 shares at an exercise price of $7.50 per share and 36,000 shares
at an exercise price of $10.00 per share. If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please so indicate by counter signing this letter where indicated below. 

Sincerely,

/s/
JAMES R. MAULT 

James
R. Mault, M.D.

Chairman and CEO 

	

 	
 	

ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED:
	

 	
 	

/s/  JAMES W. DENNIS    

James W. Dennis

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EXHIBIT 10.44QuickLinks
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EXHIBIT 10.45    
  

September 26,
2002 

VIA COURIER  

Mr. Larry
Murdock

Vice President, Marketing

SensorMedics

VIASYS Healthcare

22705 Savi Ranch Parkway

Yorba Linda, CA 92887 

Re:
Modifications to July 2000 and August 2001 Agreements 

Dear
Larry: 

        It
was a pleasure speaking with you today. As discussed, we have an immediate need to make certain modifications to the exclusivity provisions of the August 2001 agreement to
avoid termination of that contract. In addition, we would like to work with you over the next month to restructure both the July 2000 and August 2001 agreements. The purpose of this
letter is to set forth our mutual agreement with respect to these matters. 

        Reference
is made to that certain Agreement dated July 6, 2000 by and between HealtheTech, Inc. and SensorMedics Corporation (the "2000 Agreement") and that certain
International Distribution Agreement dated as of August 2001 by and between HealtheTech, Inc. and SensorMedics Corporation (the "2001 Agreement"). Reference is also made to that certain
letter dated August 29, 2002 whereby HealtheTech served notice to SensorMedics of its intent to terminate of the 2001 Agreement effective September 30, 2002 (the "Termination Notice"). 

        Subject
to your execution of this letter below on or before September 30, 2002 indicating the acknowledgement and agreement of SensorMedics with the matters addressed herein,
HealtheTech and SensorMedics agree as follows: 

	1.
	HealtheTech
hereby revokes the Termination Notice as of the date hereof.

	2.
	With
regard to the 2001 Agreement, notwithstanding the definition of Territory contained therein, effective as of September 30, 2002 the Distributor shall no longer have any
rights to distribute, sell or solicit orders for the Products from any of the following:

	(a)
	Hospital-based
dietitians

	(b)
	Physicians
and osteopaths specializing in:

	(i)
	Oncology

	(ii)
	Hospital-based
Nutrition Support Services

	(iii)
	Obstetrics

	(iv)
	Gynecology

	(v)
	Pediatrics

	(vi)
	Bariatric
surgery 

	(c)
	All
current and future HealthSouth facilities (whether owned, managed, operated or branded as such) 

and,
in addition, the definition of Territory contained in the 2001 Agreement shall hereby be amended in accordance with the foregoing. 

	3.
	HealtheTech
will use its commercially reasonable best efforts prior to October 31, 2002 to assist SensorMedics in substituting CE marked HealtheTech devices, disposables and
related items for any or all of its current inventory of such products on terms to be mutually agreed.

	4.
	HealtheTech
and SensorMedics will prior to October 31, 2002 negotiate in good faith to restructure their relationship and replace both the 2000 Agreement and the 2001 Agreement
with a mutually agreed contract. In the event that HealtheTech and SensorMedics do not on or prior to October 31, 2002 enter into a new agreement replacing both the 2000 Agreement and the 2001
Agreement, we agree that both such agreements will automatically terminate on such date. 

If
the foregoing is consistent with our conversation today, please indicate your agreement by signing below and returning one executed copy of this letter to me via facsimile prior to
September 30, 2002 with an original to follow. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ James R. Mault  

James
R. Mault, M.D.

Chairman and CEO

HealtheTech, Inc

523 Park Point Drive, 3rd Floor

Golden, CO 80401 

	 	ACKNOWLEGED AND AGREED:
	

 	
/s/ Larry Murdock
	

 	

Larry Murdock

Vice President, Marketing

SensorMedics

VIASYS Healthcare

October 29,
2002 

VIA FACSIMILE  

Mr. Ed Pulwer

President

SensorMedics

VIASYS Healthcare

22705 Savi Ranch Parkway

Yorba Linda, CA 92887 

	Re:
	Modification
of September 26, 2002 Letter Agreement 

Dear
Ed: 

        Reference
is made to that certain Letter Agreement re: Modifications to July 2000 and August 2001 Agreements dated September 26, 2002 by and between
HealtheTech, Inc. and SensorMedics Corporation (the "Letter Agreement"). By mutual agreement, Paragraph 4 of the Letter Agreement is hereby replaced in its entirety with the following: 

HealtheTech
and SensorMedics will prior to November 30, 2002 negotiate in good faith to restructure their relationship and replace both the 2000 Agreement and the 2001 Agreement with a mutually
agreed contract. In the event that HealtheTech and SensorMedics do not on or prior to November 30, 2002 enter into a new agreement replacing both the 2000 Agreement and the 2001 Agreement, we
agree that both such agreements will automatically terminate on such date. 

        Please
indicate your agreement by signing below and returning one executed copy of this letter to me via facsimile prior to October 31, 2002 with an original to follow. 

Sincerely,

/s/  NOEL JOHNSON      

Noel
Johnson

President and COO

HealtheTech, Inc

523 Park Point Drive, 3rd Floor

Golden, CO 80401 

	 	 	ACKNOWLEGED AND AGREED:
	

 	
 	

/s/  ED PULWER      
	

 	
 	

Ed Pulwer

President

SensorMedics

VIASYS Healthcare

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EXHIBIT 10.45<Page>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                                    AMENDMENT
                                       TO
                             FINDER'S FEE AGREEMENT

      This Amendment to the Finder's Fee Agreement ("Amendment") is dated
October 17, 2002, by and between Illinois River Energy, LLC ("Illinois
River"), a Delaware limited liability company, and Producers Alliance, Inc.
("Producers Alliance"), an Illinois non-profit corporation.

      The parties have previously entered into a Finder's Fee Agreement dated
July 5, 2002 ("Finder's Fee Agreement"). In consideration of the foregoing
and the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties agree to amend the
Finder's Fee Agreement as follows:

      1.    Producers Alliance shall not receive a finder's fee for introducing
            Illinois River to 21st Century Alliance, with which Producers
            Alliance maintains a pre-existing relationship, or Growmark and its
            affiliates, with which Producers Alliance maintains a pre-existing
            relationship.

      2.    Section 3.1 of the Finder's Fee Agreement is hereby amended and
            restated in its entirety, as follows:

3.1   FINDER'S FEES. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Producers
      Alliance Member" shall mean and shall be limited to those members in good
      standing of Producers Alliance listed on its membership roster as of June
      1, 2002. As consideration for the services provided by Producers Alliance
      herein, Illinois River agrees to pay Producers Alliance:

      (a)   a fee in an amount equal to 4.0% of the amounts received by Illinois
            River from any Producers Alliance Member's initial purchase of Units
            (the "Initial Finder's Fee"), which Initial Finder's Fee shall be
            due and payable on or before the date (the "Investment Date") that
            is 30 days after the Financial Closing Date (as hereinafter
            defined); and

      (b)   an annual finder's fee payable on or before the first day of the
            calendar month immediately following each of the first five (5)
            yearly anniversaries of the Investment Date (each, an "Annual
            Finder's Fee Payment"), each of which Annual Finder's Fee
            Payments shall be in an amount equal to 0.8% of the amounts
            received by Illinois River from all Producers Alliance Members'
            initial purchases of Units; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Annual
            Finder's Fee Payment shall not exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars
            ($50,000.00); and

Producers Alliance understands and agrees that no fee of any kind shall be owing
under the foregoing provisions on any amount received by Illinois River from any
initial

                                       1
<Page>

purchase of Units unless and until such amounts become or are available to
Illinois River for expenditure on the Project (i.e., become "at-risk" capital).
For purposes of this Agreement, "Financial Closing Date" shall mean the date
upon which Illinois River secures an executed commitment letter from a lender
for debt financing which, together with the available net proceeds from the
closing on Illinois River's issuance and sale of Units prior to such date, will
be sufficient to finance the Project.

      3.    All references in Section 3.2 of the Finder's Fee Agreement to the
            "Growmark Finder's Fee" and any payment obligations of Illinois
            River with respect thereto are hereby deleted and eliminated.

      4.    The reference in Section 3.3 of the Finder's Fee Agreement to
            "Prospective Members" shall be deleted and replaced with the words
            "Producers Alliance Members."

      5.    Except to the extent specifically amended as set forth above, all
            other terms of the Finder's Fee Agreement remain in full force and
            effect.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment to the Finder's Fee Agreement is
effective as of the date first set forth above.

ILLINOIS RIVER ENERGY, LLC:               PRODUCERS ALLIANCE, INC.:

By:   /s/ Floyd Schultz                   By:   /s/ Stanley Blunier
   ---------------------------------         -----------------------------------

Print Name:   Floyd Schultz               Print Name:   Stanley Blunier
           -------------------------                 ---------------------------

Title:   President                        Title:     President
      ------------------------------              ------------------------------

                                       2

<Page>

                             FINDER'S FEE AGREEMENT

        This Finder's Fee Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into by and
among Illinois River Energy, LLC ("Illinois River"), a Delaware limited
liability company, and Producers Alliance ("Producers Alliance"), an Illinois
cooperative association, on this 5th day of July, 2002.

                            1. MUTUAL UNDERSTANDINGS

1.1     ILLINOIS RIVER'S PURPOSE. Illinois River was formed to develop, own and
operate a dry mill, ethanol plant in the State of Illinois, to process corn into
ethanol, distillers grains, CO2, and other by-products (the "Project").
Feedstocks will be primarily corn and farmers will be the primary intended
beneficiaries.

1.2     PRODUCERS ALLIANCE'S PURPOSE. Producers Alliance's membership consists
primarily of farmers and other agribusiness people and its purpose is to
facilitate the development of value-added agricultural ventures.

1.3     CONFIDENTIALITY. Both Illinois River and Producers Alliance agree to
treat as confidential any information that the other party expressly identifies
as confidential. Producers Alliance further agrees to treat as confidential any
information it receives regarding the Project, and to use such information for
the sole purposes provided herein.

                      2. OBLIGATIONS OF PRODUCERS ALLIANCE

2.1     FINDER'S SERVICES. Producers Alliance shall assist Illinois River in
attempting to locate a person or persons (a "Potential Investor") who may be
interested in making an investment in limited liability company units of
Illinois River (the "Units") by: (i) providing to Illinois River a list of all
members of Producers Alliance who are in good standing as of June 1, 2002, who
may thereafter be contacted by Illinois River regarding a potential investment
in the Units; (ii) introducing Illinois River to 21st Century Alliance, an
agricultural cooperative with which Producers Alliance maintains a pre-existing
relationship; and (iii) introducing Illinois River to Growmark and its
affiliates, with which Producers Alliance maintains a pre-existing relationship.
Producers Alliance shall not provide, and is not authorized by Illinois River to
provide, any services to Illinois River or Potential Investors other than those
set forth in this SECTION 2.1, in connection with the issuance and sale of the
Units. The right of Illinois River to use the list of Producers Alliance's
members shall terminate on the Investment Date (as hereinafter defined).

2.2     PROHIBITED CONDUCT. Notwithstanding any terms to the contrary set forth
herein, Producers Alliance shall not, and shall not allow any third party
(whether a representative, consultant, advisor or otherwise) acting on its
behalf to:

                                        3
<Page>

        (a)    Discuss with any Potential Investor the advantages or
        disadvantages of investments in general or of an investment in the
        Units;

        (b)    Provide any advice or analyses or make any recommendations to
        Potential Investors with respect to an investment in the Units;

        (c)    Take part in any negotiations between Illinois River and a
        Potential Investor or such Potential Investor's representative;

        (d)    Assist any Potential Investor in making a decision whether to
        purchase Units;

        (e)    Deliver any offering document of Illinois River to a Potential
        Investor;

        (f)    Receive or handle any Potential Investor's subscription agreement
        or any funds used by a Potential Investor in purchasing Units;

        (g)    Maintain any discretion with respect to the Illinois River's
        acceptance or rejection of a Potential Investor's subscription to
        purchase Units;

        (h)    Participate in any advertisement, endorsement or general
        solicitation regarding an investment in the Units;

        (i)    Participate in the preparation of materials (including financial
        data or sales literature) relating to the sale or purchase of Units or
        in the distribution of these materials to any Potential Investor;

        (j)    Perform any independent analysis of the sale of Units by Illinois
        River or engage in any due diligence activities;

        (k)    Engage in any other communication with a Potential Investor
        regarding a possible investment in Units.

2.3     NO AGENCY. Producers Alliance is not and shall not be an agent of
Illinois River. Unless specifically authorized to do so in writing, Producers
Alliance shall not have the power to act on behalf of Illinois River or to bind
Illinois River by any representation, promise or commitment, and Producers
Alliance shall make no representation to the contrary to any third party. The
relationship which Producers Alliance holds as to Illinois River is that of an
independent contractor, and this agreement is not intended to create, and shall
not be construed as creating, between Producers Alliance and Illinois River the
relationship of principal and agent, joint venturer, copartners, or any other
similar relationship, the existence of which is hereby expressly denied.

2.4     COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Producers Alliance shall comply with all
applicable laws and regulations in the performance of its obligations under this
Agreement.

                                        4
<Page>

2.5     EXCLUSIVITY. Other than the Project, Producers Alliance or its
affiliates and its officers and directors will not discuss, solicit, negotiate,
promote or enter into any discussion or agreement in connection with any ethanol
project or facility or plant for the period from the date of this Agreement
until April 30, 2003.

                  3. OBLIGATIONS OF ILLINOIS RIVER ENERGY, LLC

3.1     FINDER'S FEES. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Prospective
Member" shall mean and shall be limited to 21st Century Alliance and to those
members in good standing of Producers Alliance listed on its membership roster
as of June 1, 2002. As consideration for the services provided by Producers
Alliance herein, Illinois River agrees to pay Producers Alliance:

        (a)    a fee in an amount equal to 4.0% of the amounts received by
        Illinois River from any Prospective Member's initial purchase of Units
        (the "Initial Finder's Fee"), which Initial Finder's Fee shall be due
        and payable on or before the date (the "Investment Date") that is 30
        days after the Financial Closing Date (as hereinafter defined);

        (b)    an annual finder's fee payable on or before the first day of the
        calendar month immediately following each of the first five (5) yearly
        anniversaries of the Investment Date (each, an "Annual Finder's Fee
        Payment"), each of which Annual Finder's Fee Payments shall be in an
        amount equal to 0.8% of the amounts received by Illinois River from all
        Prospective Members' initial purchases of Units; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
        the Annual Finder's Fee Payment shall not exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars
        ($50,000.00); and

        (c)    a fee equal to 2.0% of the amounts received by Illinois River
        from Growmark's initial purchase of Units ("Growmark Finder's Fee"),
        which Growmark Finder's Fee shall be due and payable on or before the
        Investment Date.

Producers Alliance understands and agrees that no fee of any kind shall be owing
under the foregoing provisions on any amount received by Illinois River from any
initial purchase of Units unless and until such amounts become or are available
to Illinois River for expenditure on the Project (i.e., become "at-risk"
capital). For purposes of this Agreement, "Financial Closing Date" shall mean
the date upon which Illinois River secures an executed commitment letter from a
lender for debt financing which, together with the available net proceeds from
the closing on Illinois River's issuance and sale of Units prior to such date,
will be sufficient to finance the Project.

3.2     PAYMENT OF FEES. Subject to the provisions of this SECTION 3.2, in lieu
of receiving a cash payment of the Initial Finder's Fee and the Growmark
Finder's Fee under SECTIONS 3.1(a) and (b) hereof (but not any Annual Finder's
Fee Payment), Producers Alliance may elect at its discretion to receive all or a
part of such Initial Finder's Fee and Growmark Finder's Fee, if any, owing to it
in the form of Illinois River Class A Common Units,

                                        5
<Page>

provided that Producers Alliance meets the membership eligibility criteria
established in or pursuant to Illinois River's organic documents and limited
liability company agreement. Producers Alliance shall receive one (1) Illinois
River Class A Unit for every $1.00 in Initial Finder's Fees and Growmark
Finder's Fees it elects to receive in the form of Illinois River Class A Units.
The minimum number of Illinois River Class A Units that Producers Alliance may
elect to receive in lieu of a cash payment of the Initial Finder's Fee and the
Growmark Finder's Fee is Twenty-Five Thousand (25,000), and Producers Alliance
may only elect to forego cash payment of the Initial Finder's Fee and Growmark
Finder's Fee in favor of Illinois River Class A Units in increments of one
thousand dollars. In the event that Producers Alliance elects to receive all or
a part of the Initial Finder's Fee and the Growmark Finder's Fee owing to it
hereunder in the form of Illinois River Class A Units, Producers Alliance must
notify Illinois River of such election prior to the Financial Closing Date and
must execute and deliver to Illinois River, on or before the Financial Closing
Date, such subscription agreements and other agreements as Illinois River deems
necessary or desirable for membership in Illinois River and purchase of the
Illinois River Class A Units. Producers Alliance understands that Illinois River
will issue Producers Alliance a Form 1099 for the payment of fees to Producers
Alliance under this Agreement regardless of whether such fees are paid in cash
or by the issuance of Illinois River Class A Units. Producers Alliance further
understands that its ownership of Illinois River Class A Units may from time to
time require it to make filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

3.3     NO SOLICITATION OF SUBSCRIBERS. Illinois River will retain sole
responsibility and authority to solicit potential subscribers and members. In
addition, any negotiation between Illinois River and Potential Investors is the
sole responsibility of Illinois River and its authorized officers and directors.
Producers Alliance is not authorized to provide or distribute any information
regarding Illinois River. Producers Alliance is not authorized to give any
information or to make any oral or written statements or representations with
respect to Illinois River or participation in Illinois River. Producers Alliance
and its officers, directors and representatives (i) may not solicit potential
subscribers for membership or participation in Illinois River, (ii) may not
handle funds in connection with any subscription for membership or participation
in Illinois River, (iii) may not extend credit or other financial accommodations
necessary to allow any prospective subscriber or member to participate in
Illinois River; and (iv) may not make any recommendations to any party regarding
the advisability of participating in Illinois River or subscribing to acquire
any interest in Illinois River. Instead, Producers Alliance's authorized scope
of activity includes only those actions intended to introduce Illinois River to
Prospective Members residing in the area in which Producers Alliance conducts
its operations. Producers Alliance will not be actively involved in any
negotiations between Illinois River and prospective members or subscribers.
Producers Alliance shall send all Potential Investors' questions concerning a
purchase or potential purchase of Units, and all requests for information, to
Illinois River. When introducing Illinois River to Potential Investors,
Producers Alliance shall inform the Potential Investors that such introduction
is being done pursuant to a finder's agreement and that Illinois River will be
the provider of any and all securities services.

                                        6
<Page>

3.4     MUTUAL INDEMNIFICATION. Illinois River hereby agrees to indemnify
Producers Alliance and hold Producers Alliance harmless with respect to the
costs and expenses of any third party claims, demands, or actions arising from
or relating to any offering of Illinois River securities or any project or
operation of Illinois River, except any claim, demand, or action which occurs as
a result of or is caused by statements, action or other activities of Producers
Alliance or its representatives that are a breach of this agreement. If a claim,
demand or suit is made against Illinois River as a result of a breach by
Producers Alliance of this agreement, Producers Alliance shall indemnify
Illinois River for any costs or expenses of third party claims, demands, or
actions arising from or relating to Producers Alliance's breach of this
agreement. Cost and expenses of third party claims, demands or actions include,
but are not limited to, costs and attorneys fees related to the claim, demand or
action.

3.5     NO OTHER AGREEMENTS. Producers Alliance has not entered into any
agreement with any third party or made arrangements with any third party to
assist Producers Alliance in performing its duties and obligations hereunder,
and Producers Alliance shall not enter into any such agreement or make any such
arrangement following the date hereof.

                                 4. TERMINATION

4.1     TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. This agreement may be terminated by
either party upon [ninety] days' written notice to the other party. Termination
shall not void any financial or other obligations accruing or arising prior to
the date of termination, or any obligations of confidentiality as described
elsewhere in this agreement or any other agreement of confidentiality entered
into by the parties.

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

ILLINOIS RIVER ENERGY, LLC               PRODUCERS ALLIANCE

By   /s/ Jay Fillman                     By   /s/ Stanley Blunier
  ----------------------------------       -----------------------------------
Its  Vice President                      Its  President
   ---------------------------------        ----------------------------------
Date  7/5/02                             Date  7/5/02
    --------------------------------         ---------------------------------

                                        7

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