Exhibit 10.2
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is executed as of this 4th day of October, 2021, by and between William A. Nurthen (“Executive”) and Research Solutions, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Company”).
RECITALS
The Company desires to employ Executive in the position of Chief Financial Officer, and Executive desires to be so employed by the Company, on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
As a result of Executive’s employment with the Company as Chief Financial Officer, Executive will have access to and be entrusted with valuable information about the Company’s business and customers, including trade secrets and confidential information.
The Parties believe it is in their best interests to make provision for certain aspects of their relationship during and after the period in which Executive is employed by the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual agreements and covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by the Company and Executive (collectively, “Parties” and individually, “Party”), the Parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
EMPLOYMENT
1.1Position and Duties. During the term of Executive’s employment under this Agreement, Executive shall hold the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Company and shall be subject to the authority of, and shall report to, the President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company. Executive’s duties and responsibilities as Chief Financial Officer shall include all those customarily attendant to such position and other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time by the Company’s President and/or CEO and/or the Board of Directors of the Company (“Board”). At all times, Executive shall devote Executive’s entire business time, attention and energies exclusively to the business interests of the Company while employed by the Company, except as otherwise specifically approved in writing by or on behalf of the President and/or CEO. Nothing herein shall preclude Executive from (i) serving as a member of the board of directors or advisory boards (or their equivalents in the case of a non-corporate entity) of non-competing businesses and charitable organizations subject to your notifying the Board of such activities or (ii) engaging in charitable activities and community affairs.
1.2At-Will Employment. The term of Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall be for an indefinite period and may be terminated by either Party at any time and for any reason or no reason upon written notice to the other Party.
ARTICLE II
COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS
2.1Base Salary. During the term of Executive’s employment under this Agreement, the Company shall pay Executive an annual salary of Two Hundred Eighty-four Thousand dollars ($284,000) (“Base Salary”), payable in accordance with the normal payroll practices and schedule of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Base Salary shall be subject to annual review by the President and/or CEO and shall be subject to increase, but not decrease, based on the
recommendation of the President and/or CEO as approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board (Compensation Committee); provided, however, that the Company may reduce Executive’s Base Salary if (a) Executive’s Base Salary is reduced as part of a general reduction in the base salaries for all executive officers of the Company or (b) Executive’s Base Salary is reduced for Cause (defined below), and Executive acknowledges and agrees that any reduction in Base Salary due to the circumstances specified in Section 2.1(a) or (b), above, shall not constitute Good Reason (as defined in Section 3.1(f), below).
2.2Bonuses. During the term of Executive’s employment under this Agreement, Executive will be eligible to participate in the Company’s Management Bonus Plan (“Bonus Plan”), the specifics of which are determined from time to time by the Compensation Committee. The Parties acknowledge and agree that, under the Company’s current Bonus Plan, the annualized bonus amount which Executive would be eligible to receive if one hundred percent (100%) of such Bonus Plan targets were met would be One Hundred Eighty-four Thousand dollars ($184,000). Executive will also be eligible to participate in the Company’s Long Term Equity Bonus Plan. Executive acknowledges and agrees that these Bonus Plans may be changed from time to time at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.
2.3Equity. During the term of Executive’s employment under this Agreement, Executive also shall be eligible to participate in stock option and equity plans and grants, if any, that are offered to senior executive/officer employees of the Company, as determined by the Compensation Committee from time to time. Upon commencement of employment, Executive shall receive a grant of 100,000 shares of restricted stock (“Initial Grant”) vesting over a four (4) year period (1 year cliff, and then quarterly). The Initial Grant will be subject to the provisions of the Company’s equity plans.
2.4Perquisites, Benefits and Other Compensation. During the term of Executive’s employment under this Agreement, and subject to the express provisions of this Article II, Executive will be entitled to receive perquisites and benefits provided by the Company to its senior executive employees, subject to the eligibility criteria related to such perquisites and benefits, and to such changes, additions, or deletions to such perquisites and benefits as the Company may make from time to time, as well as such other perquisites or benefits as may be specified from time to time at the sole discretion of the Board and/or the Compensation Committee, as applicable.
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ARTICLE III
TERMINATION
3.1Termination Not In Connection With A Change In Control.
(a) | Termination Without Cause. Subject to Section 3.2, below, the Company may terminate Executive’s employment and all of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement (except as provided in Section 10.5, below, and as required by law) at any time without Cause (defined below). |
(b) | Termination For Cause. Subject to Section 3.2, below, the Company may terminate Executive’s employment and all of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement (except as provided in Section 10.5, below, and as required by law) at any time for Cause (defined below) by giving written notice to Executive stating the basis for such termination, effective |
immediately upon giving such notice or at such other time thereafter as the Company may designate. “Cause” shall mean any of the following: (1) Executive has, in a material way, breached this Agreement or the fiduciary duty he owes to the Company or any other legal obligation or duty he owes to the Company, which breach remains uncured, if possible to cure, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company for thirty (30) calendar days after Executive receives written notice thereof from the Company that specifies in reasonable detail the alleged breach; (2) Executive has committed gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of Executive’s duties for the Company; (3) Executive has failed in a material way to follow reasonable instructions from the President and/or CEO and/or the Board (provided such instructions are not in conflict, with the instructions of the Board governing in the event of any conflict), consistent with this Agreement, concerning the operations or business of the Company, which failure remains uncured, if possible to cure, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company for thirty (30) calendar days after Executive receives written notice thereof from the Company that specifies in reasonable detail the alleged failure; (4) Executive has committed a crime the circumstances of which substantially relate to Executive’s employment duties with the Company; (5) Executive has misappropriated or embezzled funds or property of the Company or engaged in any act of dishonesty that involves the business of the Company or causes material damage to the Company; and (6) Executive attempts to misappropriate or misappropriates a corporate opportunity of the Company, unless the transaction was approved in writing by the President and/or CEO after full disclosure of all details relating to such transaction.
(c) | Termination by Death or Disability. Subject to Section 3.2, below, Executive’s employment and all of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement (except as provided in Section 10.5, below, and as required by law) shall terminate automatically, effective immediately and without any notice being necessary, upon Executive’s death or a determination of Disability of Executive. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” |
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means the inability of Executive, due to a physical or mental impairment, to perform the essential functions of Executive’s job with the Company, with or without a reasonable accommodation, for ninety (90) consecutive business days or one hundred twenty (120) business days in the aggregate during any 365-day period. A determination of Disability shall be made by the President and/or CEO and/or the Board, which may, at their sole discretion, consult with a physician or physicians satisfactory to the President and/or CEO and/or the Board, and Executive shall cooperate with any efforts to make such determination. Any such determination shall be conclusive and binding on the Parties. Any determination of Disability under this Section 3.1(c) is not intended to alter any benefits any Party may be entitled to receive under any long-term disability insurance policy carried by either the Company or Executive with respect to Executive, which benefits shall be governed solely by the terms of any such insurance policy.
(d) | Termination by Retirement. Subject to Section 3.2, below, Executive’s employment and all of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement (except as provided in Section 10.5, below, and as required by law) shall terminate automatically, effective upon Executive’s retirement in accordance with the Company’s retirement plan or policy should a retirement plan or policy for senior executives of the Company be adopted. |
(e) | Termination by Resignation. Subject to Paragraph 3.2, below, Executive’s employment and all of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement (except as provided in Section 10.5, below, and as required by law) shall terminate automatically, effective immediately upon Executive’s provision of thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Company of resignation from employment with the Company or at such other time as may be mutually agreed between the Parties following the provision of such notice. |
(f) | Termination for Good Reason. Subject to Section 3.2, below, Executive may terminate his employment and all of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement (except as provided in Section 10.5, below, and as required by law) for Good Reason (defined below). A termination shall only be for Good Reason if: (1) within ninety (90) calendar days of the initial existence of Good Reason, Executive provides written notice of Good Reason to the Company; (2) the Company does not remedy said Good Reason within thirty (30) calendar days of its receipt of such notice; and (3) Executive terminates his employment effective any time after the expiration of such 30-day remedy period prior to the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days after the initial existence of Good Reason. “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following without the written consent of Executive: (a) the Company has breached this Agreement in a material way, which breach remains uncured, if subject to cure, for thirty (30) calendar days after the Company receives written notice thereof from Executive; (b) a material diminution in Executive’s Base Salary, except as permitted under Section 2.1; (c) a material diminution in Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities; or (d) a material change in the geographic location at which Executive must perform |
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his services, provided such new location is more than twenty-five (25) miles from the location where Executive is required to perform services prior to the change.
3.2Rights Upon Termination Not In Connection With A Change In Control.
(a) | Section 3.1(a), Section 3.1(c) and Section 3.1(f) Termination. If Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 3.1(a), Section 3.1(c), or Section 3.1(f), above, Executive or Executive’s estate shall have no further rights against the Company hereunder, except for the right to receive the following: (1) any unpaid Base Salary with respect to the period prior to the effective date of termination and (2) any earned but unpaid bonus due to Executive as of the effective date of termination. With respect to a termination pursuant to Section 3.1(a) or Section 3.1(f), above, Executive shall also receive (1) Executive’s Base Salary, at the rate in effect at the time |
of termination, for twelve (12) months following the effective date of termination; (2) a pro-rata bonus for the fiscal year of the Company in which such termination occurs, based on actual results for such year (determined by multiplying the amount of such bonus which would be due for the full fiscal year by a fraction, the numerator of which is the actual number of days Executive was employed by the Company during the fiscal year of the Company in which the termination occurs and the denominator of which is 365), less any payment previously made by the Company, if any, with respect to the current fiscal year’s Bonus Plan, payable at the same time bonuses for such year are paid to other senior executives of the Company; (3) acceleration of all outstanding unvested options or restricted stock held by Executive as of the effective date of termination; and (4) continuation of health and welfare benefits for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents with payment by the Company of its portion of the premiums for Executive’s Company group medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage (or alternative comparable coverage) for up to twelve (12) months after the effective date of termination provided Executive continues to timely pay the same portion (if any) of the necessary premium that Executive was responsible to pay as of immediately before the effective date of termination. In all cases, the coverage (and/or reimbursement payments) provided in this subpart shall immediately terminate if Executive is offered comparable coverage in connection with employment by another employer. Payment of the amounts specified in subsections (1) and (2) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be made in twelve (12) equal monthly installments following the effective date of termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the payment and receipt of the benefits specified in subsections (1), (2) and (3), of that same sentence are contingent upon Executive’s execution of a written severance agreement (in a form satisfactory to the Company) containing, among other things, a general release of claims against the Company, and the rescission period of such agreement must expire, without revocation of such release, within sixty (60) days following the effective date of termination. To the extent that payments would otherwise be paid to Executive within the sixty (60) day period following the effective date of termination, such payment(s) shall be made
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following Executive’s execution of such general release and the expiration of the applicable rescission period.
(b) | Section 3.1(b) and Section 3.1(e) Terminations. If Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 3.1(b), above, or if Executive resigns pursuant to Section 3.1(e), above, Executive shall have no further rights against the Company hereunder, except for the right to receive: (1) any unpaid Base Salary with respect to the period prior to the effective date of termination; and (2) any earned but unpaid bonus due to Executive as of the effective date of termination. |
(c) | Section 3.1(d) Termination. If Executive retires pursuant to Section 3.1(d), above, Executive shall have no further rights against the Company hereunder, except for the right to receive: (1) any unpaid Base Salary with respect to the period prior to the effective date of termination; (2) any earned but unpaid bonus due to Executive as of the effective date of termination; and (3) any additional benefits provided for under the Company’s retirement plan or policy for senior executives, if any. |
3.3Termination In Connection With A Change In Control. Should Executive’s employment be terminated upon the occurrence of or within one (1) year of a “Change in Control,” as defined in the Company’s equity plans, Executive shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in Section 3.2(a) herein including all such additional rights afforded to Executive in Section 3.2(a) with respect to terminations in accordance with Sections 3.1(a) or 3.1(f). Subsequent to this Agreement, Executive and Company may choose to further define rights upon a change of control through the execution of a formal Change of Control Agreement (“COC Agreement”). In the event a COC Agreement is executed between the parties, any termination resulting from a change of control shall be governed exclusively by the COC Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
CONFIDENTIALITY
4.1Confidentiality Obligations. Executive will not, during his employment with the Company, directly or indirectly, use or disclose any Confidential Information or Trade Secrets (defined below) except in the interest and for the benefit of the Company. After the end, for whatever reason, of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, use or disclose any Trade Secrets. For a period of two (2) years following the end, for whatever reason, of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, use or disclose any Confidential Information. Executive further agrees not to, directly or indirectly, use or disclose at any time information received by the Company from others except in accordance with the Company’s contractual or other legal obligations; the Company’s customers are third party beneficiaries of this promise.
4.2Definitions.
(a) | Trade Secret. The term “Trade Secret” has that meaning set forth under applicable law. The term includes, but is not limited to, all computer source, object or other code created by or for the Company. |
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(b) | Confidential Information. The term “Confidential Information” means all non-Trade Secret or proprietary information of the Company which has value to the Company and which is not known to the public or the Company’s competitors, generally. Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to: (i) inventions, product specifications, information about products under development, research, development or business plans, production know-how and processes, manufacturing techniques, operational methods, equipment design and layout, test results, financial information, customer lists, information about orders and transactions with customers, sales and marketing strategies, plans and techniques, pricing strategies, information relating to sources of materials and production costs, purchasing and accounting information, personnel information and all business records; (ii) information which is marked or otherwise designated or treated as confidential or proprietary by the Company; and (iii) information received by |
the Company from others which the Company has an obligation to treat as confidential.
(c) | Exclusions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms “Trade Secret” and “Confidential Information” shall not include, and the obligations set forth in this Agreement shall not apply to, any information which: (i) can be demonstrated by Executive to have been known by him prior to his employment by the Company; (ii) is or becomes generally available to the public through no act or omission of Executive; (iii) is obtained by Executive in good faith from a third party who discloses such information to Executive on a non-confidential basis without violating any obligation of confidentiality or secrecy relating to the information disclosed; or (iv) is independently developed by Executive outside the scope of his employment without use of Confidential Information or Trade Secrets. |
ARTICLE V
NON-COMPETITION
5.1Restrictions on Competition During Employment. During Executive’s employment by the Company, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, compete against the Company, or, directly or indirectly, divert or attempt to divert business from the Company anywhere the Company does business.
5.2Post-Employment Restricted Services Obligation. For two (2) years following termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, for whatever reason, Executive agrees not to, directly or indirectly, provide Restricted Services to any Competitor in the United States.
5.3Definitions.
(a) | Restricted Services. The term “Restricted Services” means employment duties and functions of the type provided by Executive to the Company during the twelve (12) month period prior to the termination, for whatever |
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reason, of Executive’s employment with the Company, as described in Executive’s job description with the Company.
ARTICLE VI
CUSTOMER NON-SOLICITATION
6.1Post-Employment Non-Solicitation of Restricted Customers. For two (2) years following termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, for whatever reason, Executive agrees not to, directly or indirectly, solicit or attempt to solicit any business from any Restricted Customer in any manner which competes with the services or products offered by the Company in the twelve (12) months preceding termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, or to, directly or indirectly, divert or attempt to divert any Restricted Customer’s business from the Company.
6.2Restricted Customer. The term “Restricted Customer” means any individual or entity (a) for whom/which the Company provided services or products, and (b) with whom/which Executive had contact on behalf of the Company, or about whom/which Executive acquired non-public information in connection with his employment by the Company, during the twenty-four (24) month period preceding the end, for whatever reason, of Executive’s employment with the Company; provided, however, that the term “Restricted Customer” shall not include any individual or entity whom/which, through no direct or indirect act or omission of Executive, terminated its business relationship with the Company more than six (6) months prior to the end of Executive’s employment with the Company.
ARTICLE VII
RESTRICTION RELATING TO PRODUCTS OR SERVICES UNDER DEVELOPMENT
BY THE COMPANY
7.1Restriction Relating to Products or Services Under Development by the Company. For two (2) years following termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, for whatever reason, Executive agrees not to, directly or indirectly, develop, market or sell, or attempt to develop, market or sell, on behalf of any Competitor (defined below) in the United States any product or service that is under development by the Company during the twelve (12) month period prior to the termination, for whatever reason, of Executive’s employment with the Company;
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provided, however, that this Article VII shall not apply to any product or service which the Company has not taken steps to market or sell within the twelve (12) month period following the termination, for whatever reason, of Executive’s employment with the Company.
7.2Competitor. For purposes of this Article VII, the term “Competitor” means any entity, including a sole proprietorship, that, as its principal business, enables the discovery, acquisition and management of scholarly journal articles, book chapters and other content in scientific, technical and medical research or that (i) provides offerings of the type sold or serviced by the Company during the twelve (12) month period prior to the termination of your employment (ii) in vertical markets in which the Company sold or serviced its products or services during the twelve (12) month period prior to the termination of your employment; provided, however, that the term “Competitor” shall not include a subsidiary or other corporate division of such an entity which subsidiary or division does not sell or service, or attempt to sell or service, such aforementioned products or services in such vertical markets.
ARTICLE VIII
Business Idea Rights
8.1Assignment. The Company will own, and Executive hereby assigns to the Company, all rights in all Business Ideas. All Business Ideas which are or form the basis for copyrightable works are hereby assigned to the Company and/or shall be assigned to the Company or shall be considered “works for hire” as that term is defined by United States copyright law.
8.2Definition of Business Ideas. The term “Business Ideas” means all ideas, designs, modifications, formulations, specifications, concepts, know-how, trade secrets, discoveries, inventions, data, software, developments and copyrightable works, whether or not patentable or registrable, which Executive originates or develops, either alone or jointly with others, while Executive is employed by the Company and which are: (a) related to any business known to Executive to be engaged in or contemplated by the Company; (b) originated or developed during Executive’s working hours; or (c) originated or developed in whole or in part using materials, labor, facilities or equipment furnished by the Company.
8.3Disclosure. While employed by the Company, Executive will promptly disclose all Business Ideas to the Company.
8.4Execution of Documentation. Executive, at any time during or after his employment by the Company, will promptly execute all documents which the Company may reasonably require to perfect its patent, copyright and other rights to such Business Ideas throughout the world.
ARTICLE IX
NON-SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES
During Executive’s employment by the Company and for twelve (12) months thereafter, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, encourage any Company employee to terminate his/her employment with the Company or solicit such an individual for employment outside the Company in any manner which would end or diminish that employee’s services to the Company; provided, however, that this Article IX shall not prohibit use of general classified advertising to solicit for employment positions.
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ARTICLE X
Executive Disclosures and Acknowledgments
10.1Confidential Information of Others. Executive warrants and represents to the Company that he is not subject to any employment, consulting or services agreement, or any restrictive covenants or agreements of any type, which would conflict with, or prohibit Executive from fully carrying out, his duties as described under the terms of this Agreement. Further, Executive warrants and represents to the Company that he has not and will not retain or use, for the benefit of the Company, any confidential information, records, trade secrets, or other property of a former employer.
10.2Scope of Restrictions. Executive acknowledges that during the course of his employment with the Company, he will gain knowledge of Confidential Information and Trade Secrets of the Company. Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information and Trade Secrets of the Company are necessarily shared with Executive on a routine basis in the course of performing his job duties and that the Company has a legitimate protectable interest in such Confidential Information and Trade Secrets and in the goodwill and business prospects associated therewith. Accordingly, Executive acknowledges that the scope of the restrictions contained in this Agreement are appropriate, necessary and reasonable for the protection of the Company’s business, goodwill and property rights, and that the restrictions imposed will not prevent him from earning a living in the event of, and after, the end, for whatever reason, of his employment with the Company.
10.3Prospective Employers. Executive agrees, during the term of any restriction contained in Articles IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and X of this Agreement, to disclose this Agreement to any entity which offers employment to Executive. Executive further agrees that the Company may send a copy of this Agreement to, or otherwise make the provisions hereof known to, any of Executive’s potential or future employers.
10.4Third Party Beneficiaries. Any Company affiliates are third party beneficiaries with respect to Executive’s performance of his duties under this Agreement and the undertakings and covenants contained in this Agreement, and the Company and any of its affiliates enjoying the benefits thereof, may enforce this Agreement directly against Executive. The terms Trade Secret and Confidential Information shall include materials and information of the Company’s affiliates to which Executive has access.
10.5Survival. The covenants set forth in Articles III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII and XIII of this Agreement shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment hereunder.
ARTICLE XI
RETURN OF RECORDS
Upon the end, for whatever reason, of his employment with the Company, or upon request by the Company at any time, Executive shall immediately return to the Company all documents, records and materials belonging and/or relating to the Company (except Executive’s own personnel and wage and benefit materials relating solely to Executive), and all copies of all such materials. Upon the end, for whatever reason, of Executive’s employment with the Company, or upon request of the Company at any time, Executive further agrees to destroy such records maintained by him on
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his own computer equipment. Upon mutual agreement between Executive and the Company, Executive may retain documents, records and materials belonging and/or relating to the Company following the end, for whatever reason, of Executive’s employment with the Company.
ARTICLE XII
INDEMNITY
12.1Indemnification By Company. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify Executive if Executive is, or is threatened to be, made a party to an action, suit or proceeding (other than by the Company) by reason of the fact that Executive is or was a director or officer of the Company, unless liability was incurred because Executive breached or failed to perform a duty that Executive owes to the Company and such breach or failure constitutes: (a) a willful failure to deal fairly with the Company or its shareholders in connection with a matter in which Executive has a material conflict of interest; (b) a violation of the criminal law, unless Executive had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was lawful and Executive had no reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful; (c) a transaction from which Executive derived an improper personal profit; or (d) willful misconduct.
12.2Indemnification By Executive. Executive agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs), judgments and settlements of amounts paid in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, proceeding or investigation arising out of or pertaining to: (a) unlawful intentional acts committed by Executive in the conduct of the Company’s business; (b) any willful gross negligence committed by Executive other than in the conduct of the Company’s business; and (c) any tax deductions Executive may claim for expenses incurred or claim to have been incurred in connection with Executive’s duties hereunder.
12.3Insurance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnification provided for in this Article XII shall only apply to any costs or expenses incurred by indemnitees which are not covered by applicable liability insurance. If this Article XII is interpreted to reduce insurance coverage to which an indemnitee would otherwise be entitled in the absence of this provision, this provision shall be deemed inoperative and not part of this Agreement. This Article XII shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
13.1Notice. All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified; (b) when sent by facsimile or electronic transmission (e-mail) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient and confirmed by facsimile or electronic confirmation receipt; (c) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (d) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt, and such notices are addressed as follows or to such other address as the addressed Party may have substituted by notice pursuant to this Section 13.1:
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To the Company:Research Solutions, Inc.
President and CEO
10624 S. Eastern Avenue, Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052
Email: rolivier@reprintsdesk.com
To Executive:William A. Nurthen
5845 N Bay Ridge Ave
Whitefish Bay, WI 53217
Email: bnurthen@yahoo.com
13.2Entire Agreement; Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contemplated hereby. Any and all previous agreements and understandings between or among the Parties regarding the subject matter hereof, whether written or oral, are superseded by this Agreement; provided, however, that the COC Agreement shall survive and remain in full force and effect; and provided further that if Executive enters into a Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement (“PIIA”) with the Company, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern with respect to any conflict, and further that any dispute resolution provisions set forth in such PIIA shall not apply to matters arising under or pertaining to this Agreement. This Agreement shall not be amended or modified except by a written instrument duly executed by each of the Parties hereto. Any extension or waiver by any Party of any provision hereto shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party. For purposes of the foregoing two (2) sentences, the Parties acknowledge and agree that any such written instrument to be signed by the Company shall require the signature of a representative of the Company duly authorized by the Board to bind the Company to the terms of such written instrument.
13.3Headings. The headings of sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of its provisions.
13.4Assignability. This Agreement is personal to Executive, and Executive may not assign or delegate any of Executive’s rights or obligations hereunder without first obtaining the written consent of the Board. The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by an assumption agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Executive, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession or assignment had taken place. If such succession or assignment does not take place, and if this Agreement is not otherwise binding on Executive’s successors or assigns by operation of law, Executive is entitled to compensation from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as provided for in this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of each Party and such Party’s respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
13.5Section 409A. The provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted and construed in favor of satisfying any applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of
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1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder (the “Code”); provided, however, the Company does not guarantee any particular tax effect for income provided to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if at the time of the Executive’s separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the Company determines that Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then to the extent any payment or benefit that the Executive becomes entitled to under this Agreement on account of the Executive’s separation from service would be considered deferred compensation, such payment shall not be payable and such benefit shall not be provided until the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the Executive’s separation from service, or (ii) the Employee’s death. If any such delayed cash payment is otherwise payable on an installment basis, the first payment shall include a catch-up payment covering amounts that would otherwise have been paid during the six-month period but for the application of this provision, and the balance of the installments shall be payable in accordance with their original schedule. To the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with Code Section 409A, such modification shall be made in good faith and shall, to the maximum
extent reasonably possible, maintain the original intent and economic benefit contemplated for Executive herein without violating the provisions of Code Section 409A.
13.6Limitation on Payments. In the event that it is determined that any payment or distribution for Executive’s benefit associated with a Change of Control is made by the Company, by any of its affiliates, by any person who acquires ownership or effective control or ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code) or by any affiliate of such person, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (the “Total Payments”), would not be deductible under Code Section 280G then such payments or distributions or benefits shall be payable as to such lesser amount (but while maximizing the present value of the payments and benefits to be provided to Executive or retained by Executive). Unless Executive and the Company agree otherwise in writing, any determination required under this Section 13.6 shall be made in writing by a qualified independent accountant selected by the Company (the “Accountant”) whose determination shall be conclusive and binding. Executive and the Company shall furnish the Accountant such documentation and documents as the Accountant may reasonably request in order to make a determination. The Company will pay all fees, expenses and other costs associated with retaining the Accountant for the purposes of this Section 13.6.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, and solely in the event that no stock of the Corporation was readily tradeable on an established securities market, or otherwise, immediately before a Change of Control, at Executive’s election and provided Executive cooperates and timely executes any requisite documentation including required waivers of compensation, the Company agrees (if permitted under applicable law) to submit the Total Payments to a vote of its stockholders in accordance with Section 280G of the Code and the Treasury regulations and related guidance promulgated thereunder such that, if approved, none of the Total Payments shall be deemed to be parachute payments as defined under the Code.
If Executive submits his payments and benefits to a stockholder vote under Section 280G of the Code and the requisite approval is not obtained or there is otherwise a reduction of Total Payments in accordance with this Section 13.6, then the reduction of Total Payments will occur in the manner Executive elects in writing prior to the date of payment; provided, however, that if no such election is made or can be made by Executive prior to the date of payment, then the reduction will occur in
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the following order: (i) cancellation of acceleration of vesting of any equity compensation awards for which the exercise price (if any) exceeds the then-fair market value of the underlying equity compensation award; (ii) reduction of cash payments (with such reduction being applied to the payments in the reverse order in which they would otherwise be made (that is, later payments will be reduced before earlier payments)); and (iii) cancellation of acceleration of vesting of equity compensation awards not covered under (i) above; provided, however, that in the event that acceleration of vesting of equity compensation awards is to be cancelled, such acceleration of vesting will be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of such equity compensation awards (that is, later equity compensation awards will be canceled before earlier equity compensation awards). “Equity compensation awards” means (i) all shares of stock; (ii) all options and other rights to purchase shares of stock; (iii) all stock units, performance units or phantom shares whose value is measured by the value of shares of stock; and (iv) all stock appreciation rights whose value is measured by increases in the value of shares of stock.
13.7Mitigation. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise.
13.8Injunctive Relief. The Parties agree that damages will be an inadequate remedy for breaches of this Agreement and in addition to damages and any other available relief, a court shall be empowered to grant injunctive relief (without the necessity of posting bond or other security).
13.9Waiver of Breach. The waiver by either Party of the breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by either Party.
13.10Severability. The obligations imposed by, and the provisions of, this Agreement are severable and should be construed independently of each other. The invalidity of one provision shall not affect the validity of any other provision.
13.11Consideration. Execution of this Agreement is a condition of Executive’s employment with the Company and Executive’s employment and other benefits provided for herein by the Company constitutes the consideration for Executive’s undertakings hereunder.
13.12Governing Law. This Agreement shall in all respects be construed according to the laws of Wisconsin, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
13.13Authority to Bind the Company. The Company represents and warrants that the undersigned representative of the Company has the authority of the Board to bind the Company to the terms of this Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
EXECUTIVE:
______________________________________
William Nurthen
Research Solutions, Inc.
By:
Roy W. Olivier
President and Chief Executive Officer
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