EX-10.23 5 rsss-20220630xex10d23.htm EX-10.23

Exhibit 10.23

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Executive Employment Agreement, dated November 1 2012 (the “Commencement Date”), is between Reprints Desk, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Shane Hunt, an individual whose mailing address is 3113 Ceanothus Ave., Chico, CA 95973 (“Executive”).

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1. Position and Responsibilities

(a) Position. Executive is employed by the Company to render services to the Company in the position of Sales Representative. Executive shall perform such duties and responsibilities as are normally related to such position in accordance with the standards of the industry and any additional duties now or hereafter assigned to Executive by the Company. Executive shall abide by the rules, regulations, and practices as adopted or modified from time to time in the Company’s sole discretion.

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(b) Other Activities. Except upon the prior written consent of the Company, Executive will not, during the term of this Agreement, (i) accept any other employment, or (ii) engage, directly or indirectly, in any other business activity (whether or not pursued for pecuniary advantage) that might interfere with Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder or create a conflict of interest with the Company. However, Executive shall be allowed to be employed by 4 Research Solutions, Inc. for the sole purpose of winding down and dissolving the entity for a period not to exceed four months after the commencement date.

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(c) No Conflict. Executive represents and warrants that Executive’s execution of this Agreement, Executive’s employment with the Company, and the performance of Executive’s proposed duties under this Agreement shall not violate any obligations Executive may have to any other employer, person or entity, including any obligations with respect to proprietary or confidential information of any other person or entity.

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(d) Term. The term of employment of Executive by the Company pursuant to this Employment Agreement shall be for the period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending on October 31, 2014, or such earlier date that Employee’s employment is terminated in accordance with the provisions of this Employment Agreement.

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2. Compensation and Benefits

(a) Base Salary. In consideration of the services to be rendered under this Agreement, the Company shall pay Executive a salary at the rate of Ninety Three Thousand and Seven Hundred ($93,700) per year (“Base Salary”). The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s regularly established payroll practice. Executive’s Base Salary will be reviewed from time to time in accordance with the established procedures of the Company for adjusting salaries for similarly situated employees and may be adjusted in the sole discretion of the Company, but will not be reduced before November 1, 2014, except with the written consent of Executive.

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(b) Not Used

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(c) Benefits. Executive shall be eligible to participate in the benefits made generally available by the Company to its employees, in accordance with the benefit plans established by the Company, and as may be amended from time to time in the Company’s sole discretion.

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(d) Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for reasonable business expenses incurred in the

performance of Executive’s duties hereunder in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement guidelines but in no event later than fifteen days after Executive’s submission of an expense account reimbursement.

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3. At-Will Employment; Termination By the Company

(a) At-Will Termination by the Company. The employment of Executive shall be “at-will” at all times. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment with the Company at any time, without any advance notice, for any reason or no reason at all, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in or arising from any statements, policies or practices of the Company relating to the employment, discipline or termination of its employees. Upon and after such termination, all obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall cease, unless Executive’s employment is terminated without Cause, in which case the Company shall provide Executive with the severance benefits described in Section 3(b) below.

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(b) Severance. Except in situations where the employment of Executive is terminated For Cause, By Death or By Disability (as defined in Section 4 below), in the event that the Company terminates the employment of Executive at any time, Executive will continue to receive Base Salary paid in accordance with the Company’s regularly established payroll practice until the end of the term of employment. Executive’s eligibility for severance is conditioned on Executive having first signed a release agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A. Executive shall not be entitled to any severance payments if Executive’s employment is terminated For Cause, By Death or By Disability (as defined in Section 4 below) or if Executive’s employment is terminated by Executive (in accordance with Section 5 below).

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4. Other Terminations By the Company

(a) Termination for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “For Cause” shall mean: (i) Executive is charged by a governmental prosecuting agency with a crime involving dishonesty, breach of trust, or physical harm to any person; (ii) Executive willfully engages in conduct that is in bad faith and materially injurious to the Company, including but not limited to, misappropriation of trade secrets, fraud or embezzlement; (iii) Executive commits a material breach of this Agreement, which breach is not cured within thirty (30) days after written notice to Executive from the Company; (iv) Executive willfully refuses to implement or follow a lawful policy or directive of the Company; or (v) Executive engages in misfeasance or malfeasance demonstrated by a pattern of failure to perform job duties diligently and professionally. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment For Cause at any time, without any advance notice. The Company shall pay to Executive all compensation to which Executive is entitled up through the date of termination, subject to any other rights or remedies of Employer under law; and thereafter all obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall cease.

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(b) By Death. Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically upon Executive’s death. The Company shall pay to Executive’s beneficiaries or estate, as appropriate, any compensation then due and owing. Thereafter all obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall cease. Nothing in this Section shall affect any entitlement of Executive’s heirs or devisees to the benefits of any life insurance plan or other applicable benefits.

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(c) By Disability. If Executive becomes eligible for the Company’s long term disability benefits or if, in the sole opinion of the Company, Executive is unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions of the position held by Executive by reason of any physical or mental impairment for more than ninety (90) consecutive days or more than one hundred and twenty days (120) in any twelve-month period, then, to the extent permitted by law, the Company may terminate Executive’s employment. The Company shall pay to Executive all compensation to which Executive is entitled up through the date of termination, and thereafter all obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall cease. Nothing in this Section shall affect Executive’s rights under any disability plan in which Executive is a participant.

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5. At-Will Termination By Executive

Executive may terminate employment with the Company at any time for any reason or no reason at all, upon two weeks’ advance written notice. During such notice period Executive shall continue to diligently perform all of Executive’s duties hereunder. The Company shall have the option, in its sole discretion, to make Executive’s termination effective at any time prior to the end of such notice period as long as the Company pays Executive all compensation to which Executive is entitled up through the last day of the two week notice period. Thereafter all obligations of the Company shall cease.

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6. Termination Obligations

(a) Return of Property. Executive agrees that all property (including without limitation all equipment, tangible proprietary information, documents, records, notes, contracts and computer-generated materials) furnished to or created or prepared by Executive incident to Executive’s employment belongs to the Company and shall be promptly returned to the Company upon termination of Executive’s employment.

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(b) Resignation and Cooperation. Upon termination of Executive’s employment, Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all offices and directorships then held with the Company. Following any termination of employment, Executive shall cooperate with the Company in the winding up of pending work on behalf of the Company and the orderly transfer of work to other employees. Executive shall also cooperate with the Company in the defense of any action brought by any third party against the Company that relates to Executive’s employment by the Company. The Company agrees to pay Executive a per diem rate (based upon his base salary as of the last day of employment) for all such post-employment activities plus expenses incurred by Executive. The Company and Executive shall mutually agree upon dates, times and locations of post-employment assistance.

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(c) Continuing Obligations. Executive understands and agrees that Executive’s obligations under Sections 6, 7, and 8 herein (including Exhibit B) shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason and the termination of this Agreement.

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7. Inventions and Proprietary Information; Prohibition on Third Party Information

(a) Employment, Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement. Executive agrees to sign and be bound by the terms of the Employment, Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit B.

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(b) Non-Solicitation. In further consideration of the compensation to be paid to Executive hereunder, Executive acknowledges that in the course of his employment with the Company he will become familiar with the Company's trade secrets and with other confidential information concerning the Company and that his services will be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company. Therefore, Executive agrees that:

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(1)during the Employment Period and for one year thereafter (the "Noncompete Period"), Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, own any interest in, manage, control, participate in, consult with, render services for, or in any other manner engage in any enterprise in the business of “the content repurposing, article and copyrighted content, reprinting market”, in each case within any county of any state in the United States or other geographical area of any foreign country in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates engage (or have plans to engage in such businesses as of the date of termination) during the Noncompete Period. Nothing herein shall prohibit Executive from being a passive owner of not more than 2% of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation;

(2)during the Noncompete Period, Executive shall not directly or indirectly through another person or entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company to leave the employ of the Company, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company and any employee thereof, (ii) hire any person who was an employee of the Company at any time during the term of Executive's employment, and/or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee, licensor, franchisee or other business relation of the Company to cease doing business with the Company, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or business relation and the Company (including, without limitation, making any negative or disparaging statements or communications regarding the Company);
(3)if, at the time of enforcement of this Section 7, a court shall hold that the duration, scope or area restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the maximum duration, scope or area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated duration, scope or area and that the court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period, scope and area permitted by law. Executive acknowledges that the restrictions contained in this Section 7 are reasonable and that he has reviewed the provisions of this Agreement with his legal counsel;
(4)in the event of the breach or a threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 7, the Company, in addition and supplementary to other rights and remedies existing in its favor, shall be entitled to specific performance and/or injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction in order to enforce or prevent any violation of the provisions hereof (without posting a bond or other security). In addition, in the event of an alleged breach or violation by Executive of this Section 7, the Noncompete Period shall be tolled until such breach or violation has been duly cured; and
(5)the provisions of this Section 7 are in consideration of: (i) employment with the Company, (ii) the agreement to purchase Executive's ownership interest in certain assets pursuant to the October 31, 2012 Asset Purchase Agreement, and (iii) additional good and valuable consideration as set forth in this Agreement. In addition, Executive agrees and acknowledges that the restrictions contained in this Section 7 and in the Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement do not preclude Executive from earning a livelihood, nor do they unreasonably impose limitations on Executive's ability to earn a living. In addition, Executive agrees and acknowledges that the potential harm to the Company and/or its affiliates of the non-enforcement of this Section 7 and/or the Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement outweighs any potential harm to Executive of its enforcement by injunction or otherwise. In addition, Executive acknowledges that he has carefully read this Agreement and has given careful consideration to the restraints imposed upon Executive by this Agreement and is in full accord as to their necessity for the reasonable and proper protection of confidential and proprietary information of the Company now existing or to be developed in the future. Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that each and every restraint imposed by this Agreement is reasonable with respect to subject matter, time period and geographical area.
(6)This section 7(b) does not attempt to restrict post-employment opportunities of Executive that would otherwise violate the provisions of California Business & Professions Code Section 16600.

(c) Non-Disclosure of Third Party Information. Executive represents and warrants and covenants that Executive shall not disclose to the Company, or use, or induce the Company to use, any proprietary information or trade secrets of others at any time, including but not limited to any proprietary information or trade secrets of any former employer, if any; and Executive acknowledges and agrees that any violation of this provision shall be grounds for Executive’s immediate termination For Cause and could subject Executive to substantial civil liabilities and criminal penalties. Executive further specifically and expressly acknowledges that no officer or other employee or representative of the Company has requested or instructed Executive to disclose or use any such third party proprietary information or trade secrets.

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8. Arbitration

a. ARBITRATION. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 8(b) BELOW, EXECUTIVE AGREES THAT ANY DISPUTE OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF, RELATING TO, OR CONCERNING ANY INTERPRETATION, CONSTRUCTION, PERFORMANCE OR BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT, SHALL BE SETTLED BY ARBITRATION TO BE HELD IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES THEN IN EFFECT OF THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION. THE ARBITRATOR MAY GRANT INJUNCTIONS OR OTHER RELIEF IN SUCH DISPUTE OR CONTROVERSY. THE DECISION OF THE ARBITRATOR SHALL BE FINAL, CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING ON THE PARTIES TO THE ARBITRATION. JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED ON THE ARBITRATOR'S DECISION IN ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION. THE COMPANY SHALL PAY ALL OF THE COSTS AND EXPENSES OF SUCH ARBITRATION, AND EACH OF THE COMPANY AND EXECUTIVE SHALL SEPARATELY PAY THEIR COUNSEL FEES AND EXPENSES.

THIS ARBITRATION CLAUSE CONSTITUTES A WAIVER OF EXECUTIVE'S RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND RELATES TO THE RESOLUTION OF ALL DISPUTES RELATING TO ALL ASPECTS OF THE EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP (EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 8(b) BELOW), INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS:

i. ANY AND ALL CLAIMS FOR WRONGFUL DISCHARGE OF EMPLOYMENT; BREACH OF CONTRACT, BOTH EXPRESS AND IMPLIED; BREACH OF THE COVENANT OF GOOD FAITH AND FAIR DEALING, BOTH EXPRESS AND IMPLIED; NEGLIGENT OR INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS; NEGLIGENT OR INTENTIONAL MISREPRESENTATION; NEGLIGENT OR INTENTIONAL INTERFERENCE WITH CONTRACT OR PROSPECTIVE ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE; AND DEFAMATION;

ii. ANY AND ALL CLAIMS FOR VIOLATION OF ANY FEDERAL, STATE OR MUNICIPAL STATUTE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1991, THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1967, THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990, THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT, THE CALIFORNIA FAIR EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING ACT, AND LABOR CODE SECTION 201, et seq.;

iii. ANY AND ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF ANY OTHER LAWS AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT OR EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION.

b. EQUITABLE REMEDIES. EXECUTIVE AGREES THAT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE OR INADEQUATE TO MEASURE AND CALCULATE THE COMPANY'S DAMAGES FROM ANY BREACH OF THE COVENANTS SET FORTH IN SECTIONS 1 AND 7 HEREIN. ACCORDINGLY, EXECUTIVE AGREES THAT IF EXECUTIVE BREACHES ANY OF SUCH SECTIONS, THE COMPANY WILL HAVE AVAILABLE, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER RIGHT OR REMEDY AVAILABLE, THE RIGHT TO OBTAIN AN INJUNCTION FROM A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION RESTRAINING SUCH BREACH OR THREATENED BREACH AND TO SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE OF ANY SUCH PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT. I FURTHER AGREE THAT NO BOND OR OTHER SECURITY SHALL BE REQUIRED IN OBTAINING SUCH EQUITABLE RELIEF AND I HEREBY CONSENT TO THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH INJUNCTION AND TO THE ORDERING OF SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.

c. CONSIDERATION. EXECUTIVE UNDERSTANDS THAT EACH PARTY'S PROMISE TO RESOLVE CLAIMS BY ARBITRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT, RATHER THAN THROUGH THE COURTS, IS CONSIDERATION FOR THE

OTHER PARTY'S LIKE PROMISE. EXECUTIVE FURTHER UNDERSTANDS THAT EXECUTIVE IS OFFERED EMPLOYMENT IN CONSIDERATION OF EXECUTIVE’S PROMISE TO ARBITRATE CLAIMS.

9. Amendments; Waivers; Remedies

This Agreement may not be amended or waived except by a writing approved by the Board of Directors and signed by Executive and by a duly authorized representative of the Company other than Executive. Failure to exercise any right under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such right. Any waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of any subsequent breaches. All rights or remedies specified for a party herein shall be cumulative and in addition to all other rights and remedies of the party hereunder or under applicable law.

10. Assignment; Binding Effect

(a) Assignment. The performance of Executive is personal hereunder, and Executive agrees that Executive shall have no right to assign and shall not assign or purport to assign any rights or obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement may be assigned or transferred by the Company; and nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the consolidation, merger or sale of the Company or a sale of any or all or substantially all of its assets.

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(b) Binding Effect. Subject to the foregoing restriction on assignment by Executive, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each of the parties; the affiliates, officers, directors, agents, successors and assigns of the Company; and the heirs, devisees, spouses, legal representatives and successors of Executive.

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11. Notices

All notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered: (a) by hand; (b) by a nationally recognized overnight courier service; or (c) by United States first class registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the principal address of the other party, as set forth below. The date of notice shall be deemed to be the earlier of (i) actual receipt of notice by any permitted means, or (ii) two (2) business days following dispatch by overnight delivery service or five (5) business days following dispatch by the United States Mail. Executive shall be obligated to notify the Company in writing of any change in Executive’s address. Notice of change of address shall be effective only when done in accordance with this paragraph.

Company’s Notice Address:

Reprints Desk, Inc.

5435 Balboa Blvd., Suite 202

Encino, California 91316

Attention: CFO

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Executive’s Notice Address:

Shane Hunt

3113 Ceanothus Ave.

Chico, CA 95973

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12. Severability

If any provision of this Agreement shall be held by a court or arbitrator to be invalid, unenforceable, or void, such provision shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law, and the remainder of this Agreement

shall remain in full force and effect. In the event that the time period or scope of any provision is declared by a court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction to exceed the maximum time period or scope that such court or arbitrator deems enforceable, then such court or arbitrator shall reduce the time period or scope to the maximum time period or scope permitted by law.

13. Taxes

All amounts paid under this Agreement (including, without limitation, Base Salary and Severance) shall be paid less all applicable state and federal tax withholdings and any other withholdings required by any applicable jurisdiction.

14. Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.

15. Interpretation

This Agreement shall be construed as a whole, according to its fair meaning, and not in favor of or against any party. Sections and section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any manner the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the context requires, references to the singular shall include the plural and the plural the singular.

16. Obligations Survive Termination of Employment

Executive agrees that any and all of Executive’s obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to Exhibit B, shall survive the termination of employment and the termination of this Agreement.

17. Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original of this Agreement, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

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18. Authority

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Each party represents and warrants that such party has the right, power and authority to enter into and execute this Agreement and to perform and discharge all of the obligations hereunder; and that this Agreement constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement and obligation of such party and is enforceable in accordance with its terms.

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19. Entire Agreement

This Agreement is intended to be the final, complete, and exclusive statement of the terms of Executive’s employment by the Company and may not be contradicted by evidence of any prior or contemporaneous statements or agreements, except for agreements specifically referenced herein (including the attached Exhibit B). To the extent that the practices, policies or procedures of the Company, now or in the future, apply to Executive and are inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall control. Any subsequent change in Executive’s duties, position, or compensation will not affect the validity or scope of this Agreement.

20. Executive Acknowledgement

EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES EXECUTIVE HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT

LEGAL COUNSEL CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT, THAT EXECUTIVE HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THE AGREEMENT, THAT EXECUTIVE IS FULLY AWARE OF ITS LEGAL EFFECT, AND THAT EXECUTIVE HAS ENTERED INTO IT FREELY BASED ON EXECUTIVE’S OWN JUDGMENT AND NOT ON ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR PROMISES OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT.

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

REPRINTS DESK, INC.:

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By: ____________________________________

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Name:

Title:

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EXECUTIVE:

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Name

EXHIBIT A

DERYCZ SCIENTIFIC, INC.

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 Derycz Scientific, Inc., its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns (together, the “Company”).

I further certify that I have complied with all the terms of the Company's Proprietary Information and Inventions 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 Proprietary Information and Inventions 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.

I further agree that for twelve (12) months from this date, I will not hire any employees of the Company and I will not solicit, induce, recruit or encourage any of the Company's employees to leave their employment.

Date: ______________________

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(Employee's Signature)

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(Type/Print Employee's Name)

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EXHIBIT B

DERYCZ SCIENTIFIC, INC.

EMPLOYMENT, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND

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INVENTION ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT