EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the
“Agreement”), dated this 7th day of
June 2007,
is by and between Trycera Financial, Inc., a corporation formed under the
laws
of the State of Nevada with its principal place of business at 00000 Xxxx
Xxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx X, Xxxxxx, XX 00000 (“Trycera”), and Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxx (“the Employee”) at 0000 X. Xxxxxxxxxxx Xx., Xxxxxx,
XX 00000.
RECITALS:
WHEREAS,
Employee has provided
employment services as Chief Financial Officer for Trycera pursuant to an
Employment Agreement dated May 26, 2004 (the “Original Agreement”);
WHEREAS,
the Original Agreement
provided for an initial three-year term beginning June 7, 2004;
WHEREAS,
the Original Agreement
provided for an automatic extension unless Trycera notified Employee not
less
than 30 days prior to the expiration of the Original Agreement that such
extension would not be granted;
WHEREAS,
Trycera failed to notify Employee that the Original Agreement would not be
extended, the result of which was that the Original Agreement has been extended
for an additional year until June 7, 2008;
WHEREAS,
Trycera and Employee desire to
enter into this Agreement in order to supersede the extended Original Agreement
and to hereby extend the employment term of the Employee for an additional
two
years pursuant to the revised terms set forth herein;
WHEREAS,
the Employee is willing to continue to render such services to Trycera for
the
extended period set forth in this Agreement in consideration of the terms
and
conditions agreed to by the parties; and
WHEREAS,
the Compensation Committee of
Trycera has approved the employment of the Employee on the terms and conditions
set forth in this Agreement;
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the
mutual covenants and promises contained herein, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged
by
the parties hereto, Trycera agrees to employ the Employee, and the Employee
agrees to perform services for Trycera as an employee, upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
1.
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CANCELLATION
OF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT.
|
Trycera
and Employee hereby mutually agree to, and do hereby, terminate the Original
Agreement as of the Effective Date of this Agreement. This Agreement
shall supersede in all respects the terms and conditions of the Original
Agreement, unless expressly provided therein.
2.
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TERM.
|
The
initial term of this Agreement
shall begin on June 7th, 2007,
(the
“Effective Date”) and shall be for a period of two (2) years, unless it is
terminated earlier as provided herein. The restrictive covenants in
Section 9 hereof shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
3.
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TITLE
AND DUTIES.
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The
Employee shall be employed as Chief
Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Trycera. The
Employee shall perform such services consistent with his positions as might
be
assigned to him from time to time and are consistent with the bylaws of
Trycera. The Board of Directors (the “Board”) has appointed the
Employee to serve as the Chief Financial Officer and will appoint Employee
to
serve as the Chief Operating Officer immediately upon execution of this
Agreement. Employee shall have such responsibilities and authority as
is commensurate with such offices and as may be prescribed by the Board and
bylaws of Trycera. The Board shall have the right to review and
change the responsibilities of Employee from time to time as it may deem
necessary or appropriate, provided, however, that such responsibilities shall
not be inconsistent with the Employee’s positions as Chief Financial Officer and
Chief Operating Officer.
4.
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LOCATION.
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The
Employee’s place of employment
shall be the offices of Trycera described above, or at such other location
as
mutually agreed between Trycera and the Board.
5.
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EXTENT
OF SERVICES.
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a.
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Duty
to Perform Services.
|
The
Employee agrees not to engage in
any business activities during the term of this Agreement except those that
are
for the benefit of Trycera and its subsidiaries, and to devote 100% of his
entire business time, attention, skill, and effort to the performance of
his
duties under this Agreement for Trycera and any corporation controlled by
Trycera now or during the term of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Employee may engage in charitable, professional and civic
activities that do not impair the performance of his duties to Trycera, as
the
same may be changed from time to time. While employed by Trycera, and with
the
exception of employee serving on the board of Mitco Industries Inc and as
a
managing partner of M3K Investments, LLC and Xxxxxx Capital Management, LLC,
Employee may not serve on the board of directors of any other company, without
the written approval of the Board of Directors. Nothing contained herein
shall
prevent the Employee from managing his own personal investments and affairs,
including, but not limited to, investing his assets in the securities of
publicly traded companies; provided, however, that the Employee’s activities do
not constitute a conflict of interest, violate securities laws, or otherwise
interfere with the performance of his duties and responsibilities as described
herein. The Employee agrees to adhere to Trycera’s published policies and
procedures, as adopted from time to time, affecting directors, officers,
employees, and agents and shall use his best efforts to promote Trycera’s
interest, reputation, business and welfare.
2
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b.
|
Corporate
Opportunities.
|
The
Employee agrees that he will not
take personal advantage of any Trycera business opportunities that arise
during
his employment with Trycera and that might be of benefit to
Trycera. All material facts regarding such opportunities must be
promptly reported to the Board for consideration by Trycera.
6.
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COMPENSATION
AND BENEFITS.
|
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a.
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Base
Salary.
|
The
Employee’s annual base salary shall be $120,000. The base salary shall be
payable in equal installments in accordance with Trycera’s standard payroll
practices. The Employee’s annual base salary shall be further reviewed no less
frequently than annually for increases in the discretion of the Trycera
Compensation Committee and/or Board, taking into account the compensation
level
for employees with similar skills and responsibilities at companies comparable
to Trycera, the financial condition of Trycera, and the Employee’s value to
Trycera relative to other members of the executive management of Trycera;
provided, however, that at no time during the term of this Agreement shall
the
Employee’s base salary be decreased from the base salary then in effect except
as part of a general program of salary adjustment by Trycera applicable to
all
vice presidents and above.
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b.
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Signing
Bonus.
|
Upon
execution of this Agreement, the Employee shall be issued 100,000 shares
of
common stock (the “Shares”) as a signing bonus. The
Shares shall vest over four years at the rate of 1/16th at the
end of each
three-month period, with the first period commencing at the Effective
Date. The Shares shall be issued pursuant to Trycera’s 2004 Stock
Option/Stock Issuance Plan, as amended (the “Plan”) which is
incorporated herein by reference.
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c.
|
Performance
Bonus.
|
Employee
will be eligible to receive an annual bonus of a minimum of 0% and a maximum
of
100% of the then applicable Base Salary, less applicable withholding taxes,
payable in cash or stock at the discretion of the Compensation Committee,
upon
achievement of annual performance objectives to be determined by the
Compensation Committee and Employee, which such objectives for the first
year of
this Agreement will be established within thirty (30) days of the Effective
Date. Objectives for subsequent years will be determined as set forth
herein within thirty (30) days of each anniversary of this
Agreement.
3
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d.
|
Stock
Options
|
Upon
execution of this Agreement, Employee will be granted 200,000 ISO options
(the
“Options”) exercisable at the fair market value of the common
stock on the Effective Date as determined by the Compensation Committee.
The
Options shall expire ten years from the Effective Date, unless terminated
sooner
as provided herein. The Options shall vest over four years at the
rate of 1/16th
at the end of each three-month period, with the first period commencing at
the
Effective Date. All Options will be subject to the terms,
definitions, and provisions of the Plan.
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e.
|
Other
Benefits.
|
During
the Employment Term, Employee will be entitled to participate in the employee
benefit plans currently and hereafter maintained by Trycera of general
applicability to other senior executives of Trycera, including, without
limitation, Trycera’s group medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance,
flexible-spending account, 401(k) and other plans.
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f.
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Vacation.
|
Employee
will be entitled to paid
vacation of three (3) weeks per year in accordance with Trycera’s vacation
policy, with the timing and duration of specific vacations mutually and
reasonably agreed to by the parties hereto.
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g.
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Reimbursement
of Business Expenses.
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Trycera
shall promptly reimburse the Employee for all reasonable travel, entertainment
and other expenses incurred or paid by the Employee in connection with, or
related to, the performance of his duties, responsibilities or services under
this Agreement, upon presentation by the Employee of such supporting information
and documentation as Trycera may reasonably request in accordance with company
policy and the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code.
7.
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TERMINATION
OF EMPLOYMENT.
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a.
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Termination
Due to Death.
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The
Employee’s employment and this Agreement shall terminate immediately upon his
death. If the Employee’s employment is terminated due to his death,
his estate or his beneficiaries, as the case may be, shall be entitled
to:
(i) payment
of any unpaid portion of his base salary through the date of such
termination;
(ii) reimbursement
for any outstanding reasonable business expenses he incurred in performing
his
duties hereunder;
(iii) the
right to elect continuation coverage of insurance benefits to the extent
required by law;
(iv) full
and immediate vesting of any unvested Shares or Options;
(v)
any pension survivor benefits that may become due pursuant to any employee
benefit plan or program of Trycera; and
4
(vi) payment
of any accrued but unpaid benefits, and any other rights, as required by
the
terms of any employee benefit plan or program of Trycera, this Agreement,
or any
other agreement between Trycera and the Employee.
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b.
|
Termination
Due to Disability.
|
Trycera
may terminate the Employee’s employment at any time if the Employee becomes
disabled, upon written notice by Trycera to the Employee. For all
purposes under this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean that the Employee, at the
time the notice is given, has been unable to perform his duties under this
Agreement for a period of not less than ninety (90) days during any 180-day
period as a result of the Employee’s incapacity due to physical or mental
illness. If the Employee’s employment is terminated due to his
disability, he shall be entitled to:
(i) payment
of any unpaid portion of his base salary through the date of such
termination;
(ii) reimbursement
for any outstanding reasonable business expenses he has incurred in performing
his duties hereunder;
(iii) the
right to elect continuation coverage of insurance benefits to the extent
required by law;
(iv) full
and immediate vesting of any unvested Shares or Options; and
(v) payment
of any accrued but unpaid benefits, and any other rights, as required by
the
terms of any employee benefit plan or program of Trycera, this Agreement,
or any
other agreement between Trycera and the Employee.
As
soon
as administratively possible following the Effective Date, Trycera shall
make
available to the Employee, and other similarly-situated employees, a disability
benefit plan, paid by Trycera, that provides monthly payments to Employee
equal
to at least two thirds (2/3)
of the highest
monthly base salary Employee receives pursuant to this Agreement, which payment
will continue for as long as Employee remains disabled.
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c.
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Termination
for Cause.
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Trycera
may terminate the Employee’s employment at any time for Cause, provided that it
gives written notice of termination to the Employee as set forth
below. If the Employee’s employment is terminated for Cause, as
defined below, he shall be entitled to:
(i)
payment of any unpaid portion of his base salary through the date of such
termination;
(ii) reimbursement
for any outstanding reasonable business expenses he incurred in performing
his
duties hereunder;
(iii) the
right to elect continuation coverage of insurance benefits to the extent
required by law; and
(iv) payment
of any accrued but unpaid benefits, and any other rights, as required by
the
terms of any employee benefit plan or program of Trycera, this Agreement,
or any
other agreement between Trycera and the Employee.
5
For
purposes of this Agreement, a termination for “Cause”
shall mean: (i) the final conviction of Employee of, or Employee’s
plea of guilty or nolo contendere, to any felony involving moral
turpitude, (ii) fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement by Employee in
connection with Employee’s duties to Trycera, or (iii) Employee’s failure or
misconduct in the performance of his duties to Trycera.
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d.
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Termination
Without Cause or Constructive Termination Without
Cause.
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Trycera
may terminate the Employee’s employment at any time without Cause. If the
Employee’s employment is terminated without Cause, or if there is a constructive
termination without Cause, as defined below, the Employee shall be entitled
to
receive from Trycera the following:
(i) payment
of any unpaid portion of his base salary through the date of such
termination;
(ii) reimbursement
for any outstanding reasonable business expenses he incurred in performing
his
duties hereunder;
(iii) the
right to elect continuation coverage of insurance benefits to the extent
required by law;
(iv) payment
of any accrued but unpaid benefits, and any other rights, as required by
the
terms of any employee benefit plan or program of Trycera, this Agreement,
or any
other agreement between Trycera and the Employee;
(v) a
severance benefit in an amount equal to ninety days (90) salary at employees
then current rate.
For
purposes of this Agreement, constructive termination without Cause shall
mean a
termination of the Employee at his own initiative following the occurrence,
without the Employee’s prior written consent, of one or more of the following
events not on account of Cause:
(1) the
failure of Trycera to obtain an assumption in writing of its obligation to
perform under this Agreement by any successor to all or substantially all
of the
assets of Trycera in connection with any merger, consolidation, sale or similar
transaction; or
(2) any
material breach of this Agreement by Trycera.
In
the
event the Employee is terminated without Cause or there is a constructive
termination without Cause, each party shall provide the other with written
notice not less than thirty (30) days before the effective date of the
termination of employment.
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e.
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Voluntary
Termination.
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If
the
Employee voluntarily terminates his employment on his own initiative for
reasons
other than his death, disability, or constructive termination without Cause,
he
shall be entitled to:
(i) payment
of any unpaid portion of his base salary through the effective date of such
termination;
6
(ii) reimbursement
for any outstanding reasonable business expenses he has incurred in performing
his duties hereunder;
(iii) the
right to elect continuation coverage of insurance benefits to the extent
required by law; and
(iv) payment
of any accrued but unpaid benefits, and any other rights, as required by
the
terms of any employee benefit plan or program of Trycera, this Agreement,
or any
other agreement between Trycera and the Employee.
A
voluntary termination under this paragraph shall be effective upon thirty
(30)
days’ prior written notice to Trycera unless the parties mutually agree to
extend the effective date.
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f.
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Mutual
Termination.
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The
parties may mutually agree to
terminate this Agreement at any time.
8.
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MITIGATION
AND OFFSET.
|
If
the
Employee’s employment is terminated during the term of this Agreement pursuant
to the provisions of paragraph 7(d), above, the Employee shall be under no
duty
or obligation to seek or accept other employment, and no payment or benefits
of
any kind due him under this Agreement shall be reduced, suspended or in any
way
offset by any subsequent employment. The obligation of Trycera to
make the payments provided for in this Agreement shall not be affected by
any
circumstance including, by way of example rather than limitation, any set-off,
counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other right that Trycera may assert,
or
due to any other employment or source of income obtained by the
Employee.
9.
|
ENTITLEMENT
TO OTHER BENEFITS.
|
Except
as
expressly provided herein, this Agreement shall not be construed as limiting
in
any way any rights or benefits the Employee, his spouse, dependents or
beneficiaries may have pursuant to any other employee benefits plans or
programs.
10.
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CONFIDENTIALITY.
|
|
a.
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Company
Information.
|
Employee
shall at all times during the term of this Agreement and thereafter hold
in
strictest confidence, and not use, except for the benefit of Trycera, or
disclose to any person, firm, or corporation without written authorization
of
the Board, any Confidential Information of Trycera, except under a
non-disclosure agreement duly authorized and executed by Trycera. For
purposes of this Agreement “Confidential Information” means any non-public
information that relates to the actual or anticipated business or research
and
development of Trycera or any subsidiary, technical data, trade secrets or
know-how, including, but not limited to, research, product plans or other
information regarding products or services and markets therefor, customer
lists
and customers (including, but not limited to, customers of Trycera on whom
Employee called or with whom Employee became acquainted during the term of
this
Agreement), software, developments, inventions, processes, formulas, technology,
designs, drawings, engineering, hardware configuration information, marketing,
finances or other business information. Confidential Information
shall not include any of the foregoing items which have become publicly known
and made generally available through no wrongful act of Employee or of others
who were under confidentiality obligations as to the item or items involved
or
improvements or new versions thereof.
7
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b.
|
Former
Employer Information.
|
Employee
shall not, during the term of this Agreement, improperly use or disclose
any
proprietary information or trade secrets of any former or concurrent employer
or
other person or entity and Employee shall not bring onto the premises of
Trycera
any unpublished document or proprietary information belonging to any such
employer, person or entity unless consented to in writing by such employer,
person or entity.
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c.
|
Third
Party Information.
|
Employee
recognizes that Trycera has received and in the future will receive from
third
parties their confidential or proprietary information subject to a duty on
Trycera’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it
only for certain limited purposes. Employee shall hold all such
confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence and not
to
disclose it to any person, firm or corporation or to use it except as necessary
in carrying out his work for Trycera consistent with Trycera’s agreement with
such third party.
11.
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INVENTIONS.
|
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a.
|
Inventions
Retained and Licensed.
|
Employee
has attached hereto, as Exhibit A, a list describing all inventions,
original works of authorship, developments, improvements, and trade secrets,
if
any, which were made by him prior to his employment with Trycera (collectively
referred to as “Prior Inventions”), which belong to him, which
relate to Trycera’s business, products or research and development, and which
are not assigned to Trycera hereunder; or, if no such list is attached, Employee
represents that there are no such Prior Inventions. If in the course
of his employment with Trycera, Employee incorporates into a Trycera product,
process or service a Prior Invention owned by him or in which he has an
interest, Employee hereby grants to Trycera a nonexclusive, royalty-free,
fully
paid-up, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license to make, have made, modify,
use and sell such Prior Invention as part of or in connection with such product,
process or service, and to practice any method related thereto.
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b.
|
Assignment
of Inventions.
|
Employee
shall promptly make full written disclosure to Trycera, will hold in trust
for
the sole right and benefit of Trycera, and hereby assigns to Trycera, or
its
designee, all Employee’s right, title, and interest in and to any and all
inventions, original works of authorship, developments, concepts, improvements,
designs, discoveries, ideas, trademarks or trade secrets, whether or not
patentable or registrable under copyright or similar laws, which Employee
may
solely or jointly conceive or develop or reduce to practice, or cause to
be
conceived or developed or reduced to practice, during the period of time
he is
in the employ of Trycera (collectively referred to as
“Inventions”), except as provided in Section 11(e)
below. Employee further acknowledges that all original works of
authorship which are made by him (solely or jointly with others) within the
scope of and during the period of his employment with Trycera and which are
protectible by copyright are “works made for hire,” as that term is defined in
the United States Copyright Act. Employee understands and agrees that
the decision whether or not to commercialize or market any invention developed
by him solely or jointly with others is within Trycera’s sole discretion and for
Trycera’s sole benefit and that no royalty will be due to Employee as a result
of Trycera’s efforts to commercialize or market any such
invention.
8
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c.
|
Maintenance
of Records.
|
Employee
shall keep and maintain adequate and current written records of all Inventions
made by him (solely or jointly with others) during the term of his employment
with Trycera. The records will be in the form of notes, sketches,
drawings, and any other format that may be specified by Trycera. The
records will be available to and remain the sole property of Trycera at all
times.
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d.
|
Patent
and Copyright
Registrations.
|
Employee
shall assist Trycera, or its designee, at Trycera’s expense, in every proper way
to secure Trycera’s rights in the Inventions and any copyrights, patents, mask
work rights or other intellectual property rights relating thereto in any
and
all countries, including the disclosure to Trycera of all pertinent information
and data with respect thereto, the execution of all applications,
specifications, oaths, assignments and all other instruments which Trycera
shall
deem necessary in order to apply for and obtain such rights and in order
to
assign and convey to Trycera, its successors, assigns, and nominees the sole
and
exclusive rights, title and interest in and to such Inventions, and any
copyrights, patents, mask work rights or other intellectual property rights
relating thereto. Employee shall further execute or cause to be
executed, when it is in his power to do so, any such instrument or papers
after
the termination of this Agreement. If Trycera is unable because of
Employee’s mental or physical incapacity or for any other reason to secure his
signature to apply for or to pursue any application for any United States
or
foreign patents or copyright registrations covering Inventions or original
works
of authorship assigned to Trycera as above, then Employee hereby irrevocably
designates and appoints Trycera and its duly authorized officers and agents
as
Employee’s agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in his behalf and stead to
execute and file any such applications and to do all other lawfully permitted
acts to further the prosecution and issuance of letters patent or copyright
registrations thereon with the same legal force and effect as if executed
by
Employee.
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e.
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Exception
to Assignments.
|
Employee
understands that the provisions of this Section 11 requiring assignment of
Inventions to Trycera do not apply to any invention which qualifies fully
under
the provisions of California Labor Code Section 2870 (attached hereto as
Exhibit B). Employee shall advise Trycera promptly in writing of any
inventions that Employee believes meet the criteria in California Labor Code
Section 2870 and not otherwise disclosed on
Exhibit A.
9
12.
|
RETURNING
TRYCERA
DOCUMENTS.
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Employee
shall, at the time of leaving the employ of Trycera, deliver to Trycera (and
will not keep in his possession, recreate or deliver to anyone else) any
and all
devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists, correspondence,
specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, equipment, other
documents or property, or reproductions of any aforementioned items developed
by
Employee pursuant to his employment with Trycera or otherwise belonging to
Trycera, its successors or assigns, including, without limitation, those
records
maintained pursuant to paragraph 11(c). In the event of the
termination of this Agreement, Employee shall sign and deliver to Trycera
the
“Termination Certification” attached hereto as Exhibit C.
13.
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NOTIFICATION
OF NEW
EMPLOYER.
|
In
the
event that Employee shall leave the employ of Trycera, or become employed
by
other employers, Employee hereby grants consent to notification by Trycera
to
Employee’s other employers about his rights and obligations under this
Agreement.
14.
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CONFLICT
OF INTEREST
GUIDELINES.
|
Employee
shall diligently adhere to the “Conflict of Interest Guidelines” attached as
Exhibit D hereto, as such guidelines shall be amended from time to time by
Trycera.
15.
|
ARBITRATION.
|
Any
dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement
shall,
if Trycera or the Employee so elects, be settled by arbitration, in accordance
with the Commercial Arbitration Rules procedures of the American Arbitration
Association. Arbitration shall occur before a single arbitrator, provided,
however, that if the parties cannot agree on the selection of such arbitrator
within thirty (30) days after the matter is referred to arbitration, each
party
shall select one arbitrator and those arbitrators shall jointly designate
a
third arbitrator to comprise a panel of three arbitrators. The
decision of the arbitrator shall be rendered in writing, shall be final,
and may
be entered as a judgment in any court in the State of
California. Trycera and the Employee each irrevocably consent to the
jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in State of California
for
this purpose. The arbitrator shall be authorized to allocate the
costs of arbitration between the parties. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Trycera, in its sole discretion, may bring an action in any court
of
competent jurisdiction to seek injunctive relief in order to avoid irreparable
harm and such other relief as Trycera shall elect to enforce the Employee’s
covenants in Section 9.
16.
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LEGAL
EXPENSES.
|
Except
as
provided in Section 10 hereof, if any legal action or other proceeding is
brought for the enforcement of this Agreement, or because of an alleged dispute,
breach, default, or misrepresentation in connection with any of the provisions
of this Agreement, the successful or prevailing party or parties will be
entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred in that
action or proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which it or they
may be
entitled.
10
17.
|
INDEMNIFICATION.
|
Trycera
agrees that if the Employee is made a party, or is threatened to be made
a
party, to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he
is or was a director, officer or employee or Trycera, or is, or was, serving
at
the request of Trycera as a director, officer, member, employee or agent
of
another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit
plans, whether or not the basis of such Proceeding is the Employee’s alleged
action in an official capacity while serving as a director, officer, member,
employee or agent, the Employee shall be Indemnified and held harmless by
Trycera to the fullest extent permitted or authorized by Trycera’s articles of
incorporation and bylaws. To the extent consistent with the
foregoing, this obligation to indemnify the Employee and hold him harmless
shall
continue even if he has ceased to be a director, officer, member, employee
or
agent of Trycera or other such entity described above, and shall inure to
the
benefit of the Employee’s heirs, executors and
administrators. Trycera shall advance to the Employee all reasonable
costs and expenses incurred by him in connection with a proceeding within
twenty
(20) days after receipt by Trycera of a written request for such
advance. Such request shall include an undertaking by the Employee to
repay the amount of such advance if it shall ultimately be determined that
the
Employee is not entitled to be indemnified against such costs and
expenses.
Neither
the failure of Trycera (including its Board, independent legal counsel or
stockholders) to have made a determination before such Proceeding concerning
payment of amounts claimed by the Employee under the paragraph above that
indemnification of the Employee is proper because he has met the applicable
standards of conduct, nor a determination by Trycera (including its Board,
independent legal counsel or stockholders) that the Employee has not met
such
applicable standards of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Employee
has not met the applicable standards of conduct.
Employee
understands and acknowledges that Trycera may be required in the future to
undertake with the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit in certain
circumstances the question of indemnification to a court for a determination
of
Trycera’s right under public policy to indemnify Employee.
18.
|
ASSIGNABILITY
AND BINDING NATURE.
|
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and
their respective successors, heirs (in the case of the Employee) and
assigns. No rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by
Trycera except that such rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred
pursuant to a merger or consolidation in which Trycera is not the continuing
entity, or the sale or liquidation of all or substantially all of the assets
of
Trycera, provided that the assignee or transferee is the successor to all
or
substantially all of the assets of Trycera and such assignee or transferee
assumes the liabilities, obligations, and duties of Trycera, as contained
in
this Agreement, either contractually or as a matter of law. Trycera
further agrees, that in the event of a sale of assets or liquidation as
described in the foregoing sentence, it shall take whatever action it is
legally
entitled to take in order to Cause the assignee or transferee to expressly
assume the liabilities, obligations, and duties of Trycera under this
Agreement. Notwithstanding any such assignment, Trycera shall not be
relieved from liability under this Agreement. No rights or obligations of
the
Employee under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by the Employee,
other than his right to receive compensation and benefits, provided such
assignment or transfer is otherwise permitted by law.
11
19.
|
NOTICES.
|
All
notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed
effective: (1) upon personal delivery; (2) upon deposit with the United States
Postal Service, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid; or (3)
in the
case of delivery by nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when
received, addressed as follows:
If
to
Trycera to:
00000
Xxxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
X
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
With
a
copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxx
Attorney
at Law
0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
If
to the
Employee, to:
0000
X.
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xx
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
or
to
such other address or addresses as either party shall designate to the other
in
writing from time to time by like notice.
20.
|
AMENDMENT.
|
This
agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument executed
by
both Trycera and the Employee.
21.
|
PRONOUNS.
|
Whenever
the context might require, any pronouns used herein shall include the
corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular forms
of
nouns and pronouns shall include the plural, and vice versa.
12
22.
|
CAPTIONS.
|
The
captions appearing herein are for convenience of reference only and in no
way
define, limit or affect the scope or substance of any section
hereof.
23.
|
TIME.
|
All
references herein to periods of days are to calendar days, unless expressly
provided otherwise. Where the time period specified herein would end
on a weekend or holiday, the time period shall be deemed to end on the next
business day.
24.
|
ENTIRE
AGREEMENT.
|
This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between Trycera and the Employee
and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral
relating to the subject matter hereof.
25.
|
SEVERABILITY.
|
In
case
any provision hereof shall be held by a court or arbitrator with jurisdiction
over Trycera or the Employee to be invalid, illegal, or otherwise unenforceable,
such provision shall be restated to reflect as nearly as possible the original
intentions of Trycera and the Employee in accordance with applicable law,
and
the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall
in
not way be affected or impaired thereby.
26.
|
WAIVER.
|
No
delays
or omission by Trycera or the Employee in exercising any right hereunder
shall
operate as a waiver of that or any other right. A waiver or consent
given by Trycera or the Employee on any one occasion shall be effective only
in
that instance and shall not be construed as a bar or waiver of any right
on any
other occasion.
27.
|
GOVERNING
LAW.
|
This
Agreement shall be construed, interpreted, and enforced in accordance with
the
laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflicts of laws
principles.
28.
|
SUCCESSORS
AND ASSIGNS.
|
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of both Trycera
and the
Employee and their respective successors and assigns, including any entity
with
which or into which Trycera might be merged or that might succeed to its
assets
or business or any entity to which Trycera might assign its rights and
obligations hereunder; provided, however, that the obligations of the Employee
are personal and shall not be assigned or delegated by him.
29.
|
WITHHOLDING.
|
Trycera
may make any appropriate arrangements to deduct from all benefits provided
hereunder any taxes reasonably determined to be required to be withheld by
any
government or government agency. The Employee shall bear all taxes on
benefits provided hereunder to the extent that no taxes are withheld,
irrespective of whether withholding is required.
13
30.
|
COUNTERPARTS.
|
This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same
instrument.
31.
|
FULL
KNOWLEDGE.
|
By
their
signatures, the parties acknowledge that they have carefully read and fully
understand the terms and conditions of this Agreement, that each party has
had
the benefit of separate counsel, or has been advised to obtain separate counsel,
and that each party has freely agreed to be bound by the terms and conditions
of
this Agreement.
32.
|
EXHIBITS.
|
Each
of the exhibits referenced in this
Agreement is annexed hereto and is incorporated herein by this reference
and
expressly made a part hereof.
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK;
SIGNATURE
PAGE FOR PARTIES FOLLOWS]
14
SIGNATURE
PAGE
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has executed this Agreement the
respective day and year set forth below.
TRYCERA:
|
||
Date: June
14, 2007
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxx Xxxx
|
Xxxx
Xxxx, Chairman
|
||
Compensation
Committee
|
||
EMPLOYEE:
|
||
Date: June
14, 2007
|
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
15
Exhibit A
LIST
OF PRIOR INVENTIONS
AND
ORIGINAL WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP
Title
|
Date
|
Identifying
Number or Brief Description
|
x No
inventions or improvements
¨ Additional
Sheets Attached
Signature
of Employee:
|
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
|
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
Date: June
14, 2007
Exhibit B
CALIFORNIA
LABOR CODE SECTION 2870
INVENTION
ON OWN TIME-EXEMPTION FROM AGREEMENT
“(a) Any
provision in an employment agreement which provides that an employee shall
assign, or offer to assign, any of his or her rights in an invention to his
or
her employer shall not apply to an invention that the employee developed
entirely on his or her own time without using the employer’s equipment,
supplies, facilities, or trade secret information except for those inventions
that either:
(1) Relate
at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the invention to the
employer’s business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or
development of the employer; or
(2) Result
from any work performed by the employee for the employer.
(b) To
the extent a provision in an employment agreement purports to require an
employee to assign an invention otherwise excluded from being required to
be
assigned under subdivision (a), the provision is against the public policy
of
this state and is unenforceable.”
Exhibit C
TERMINATION
CERTIFICATION
This
is
to certify that I do not have in my possession, nor have I failed to return,
any
devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists, correspondence,
specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, equipment, other
documents or property, or reproductions of any aforementioned items belonging
to
Trycera Financial, Inc., its subsidiaries, affiliates,
successors or assigns (together, the
“Company”).
I
further
certify that I have complied with all the terms of the Employment Agreement
signed by me, including the reporting of any Inventions and original works
of
authorship (as defined therein), conceived or made by me (solely or jointly
with
others) covered by that agreement.
I
further
agree that, in compliance with the Employment Agreement, I will preserve
as
confidential all trade secrets, confidential knowledge, data or other
proprietary information relating to products, processes, know-how, designs,
formulas, developmental or experimental work, computer programs, data bases,
other original works of authorship, customer lists, business plans, financial
information or other subject matter pertaining to any business of the Company
or
any of its employees, clients, consultants or licensees.
Date:
|
|||
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
Exhibit D
CONFLICT
OF INTEREST GUIDELINES
It
is the
policy of Trycera Financial, Inc. to conduct its affairs in
strict compliance with the letter and spirit of the law and to adhere to
the
highest principles of business ethics. Accordingly, all officers,
employees and independent contractors must avoid activities which are in
conflict, or give the appearance of being in conflict, with these principles
and
with the interests of the Company. The following are potentially
compromising situations which must be avoided. Any exceptions must be
reported to the President and written approval for continuation must be
obtained.
1. Revealing
confidential information to outsiders or misusing confidential
information. Unauthorized divulging of information is a violation of
this policy whether or not for personal gain and whether or not harm to the
Company is intended.
2. Accepting
or offering substantial gifts, excessive entertainment, favors or payments
which
may be deemed to constitute undue influence or otherwise be improper or
embarrassing to the Company.
3. Initiating
or approving personnel actions affecting reward or punishment of employees
or
applicants where there is a family relationship or is or appears to be a
personal or social involvement.
4. Initiating
or approving any form of personal or social harassment of
employees.
5. Investing
or holding outside directorship in suppliers or customers, including financial
speculations, where such investment or directorship might influence in any
manner a decision or course of action of the Company.
6. Borrowing
from or lending to employees, customers or suppliers.
7. Acquiring
real estate of interest to the Company.
8. Improperly
using or disclosing to the Company any proprietary information or trade secrets
of any former or concurrent employer or other person or entity with whom
obligations of confidentiality exist.
9. Unlawfully
discussing prices, costs, customers, sales or markets with competing companies
or their employees.
10. Making
any unlawful agreement with distributors with respect to
prices.
11. Improperly
using or authorizing the use of any inventions which are the subject of patent
claims of any other person or entity.
Each
officer, employee and independent contractor must take every necessary action
to
ensure compliance with these guidelines and to bring problem areas to the
attention of higher management for review. Violations of this
conflict of interest policy may result in discharge without
warning.