UNITED STATES SECURITIES
AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 
FORM 10-K/A
Amendment No. 1
 
þ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009
   
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
For the transition period from_______to

Commission File Number:  000-26392
 
CICERO INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
 
11-2920559
(State of incorporation)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 
8000 Regency Parkway, Suite 542, Cary, NC 27518
(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)
 
 
(919) 380-5000
( Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
NONE
   
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $.001 par value
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No þ
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the above Act. Yes  o No þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ   No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes  o  No o
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company.  Yes o   No þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See definition of “accelerated filer”,“large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer    o Accelerated filer    o      Non - accelerated filer    o Smaller reporting company    þ
 
Aggregate market value of the outstanding shares of common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2009 was approximately $6,122,764 based upon the closing price quoted on the Over The Counter Bulletin Board.

There were 47,098,185 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 3, 2010.

Documents Incorporated by Reference: None
 


 
 

 
CICERO INC.
Annual Report on Form 10-K
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2009
 
Item Number
     
Page
Number
 
   
PART I
     
           
1.  
Business
    1  
1A.  
Risk factors
    7  
1B.  
Unresolved Staff Comments
    11  
2.  
Properties
    11  
3.  
Legal Proceedings
    11  
4.  
[Reserved]
    11  
   
PART II
       
             
5.  
Market for Cicero Common Stock and Related Shareholder Matters
    12  
6.  
Selected Financial Data
    12  
7.  
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
    13  
7A.  
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
    21  
8.  
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
    21  
9.  
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
    21  
9A(T)  
Controls and Procedures
    21  
9B.  
Other Information
    22  
   
PART III
       
             
10.  
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
    23  
11.  
Executive Compensation
    26  
12.  
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
    31  
13.  
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
    33  
14.  
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
    34  
             
   
PART IV
       
             
15.  
Index Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
    36  
             
SIGNATURES
    39  
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
    F-1  

 
 

 
PART I

ITEM 1.   BUSINESS

Overview

Cicero, Inc. (the “Company”) provides businesses the ability to maximize every interaction from intra-company back office applications to those that take place between employees, customers and vendors while extending the value of the best of breed applications in which businesses have already invested. The Company provides an innovative and unique combination of application and process integration, automation, presentation and real-time analysis, all without changes to the underlying applications or requiring costly development expenditures. The Company’s business integration software addresses the emerging need for companies' information systems to deliver enterprise-wide views of their business information processes. In addition to software solutions, the Company also provides technical support, training and consulting services as part of its commitment to providing customers with industry-leading solutions. The Company’s consulting team has in-depth experience in developing successful enterprise-class solutions as well as valuable insight into the business information needs of customers in the largest Fortune 500 corporations worldwide.

The Company focuses on the customer experience management market with emphasis on desktop integration and business process automation with its Cicero XM™ products. Cicero XM enables businesses to transform human interaction across the enterprise. Cicero XM enables the flow of data between different applications, regardless of the type and source of the application, eliminating redundant entry and costly mistakes. Cicero XM automates up and down-stream process flows, enforcing compliance and optimizing handle time and provides a task-oriented desktop, reducing training time and enabling delivery of best in class service. Cicero XM captures real-time information about each interaction, guiding the business user through an activity and capturing usage data to spot trends and forecast problems before they occur.

Cicero XM software offers a proven, innovative departure from traditional, costly and labor-intensive enterprise application integration solutions. The Company provides non-invasive application integration, reduces enterprise integration implementation cost and time, and extends companies' Service-Oriented Architecture (“SOA”) to the desktop. Cicero XM also enables customers to transform applications, business processes and human expertise into a seamless, cost effective business solution that provides a cohesive, task-oriented and role-centric interface that works the way people think.

By using Cicero XM technology, companies can decrease their customer management costs, improve their customer service, maximize the lifetime value of existing customers, and more efficiently cross-sell the full range of their products and services resulting in an overall increase in return on their information technology investments. In addition, the Company’s software enables organizations to reduce the business risks inherent in replacement or re-engineering of mission-critical applications and extend the productive life and functional reach of their application portfolio.

The Company provides an integrated toolkit called Cicero XM Studio that provides an intuitive integration and development environment, which simplifies the integration of complex multi-platform applications. Cicero XM provides a unique approach that allows companies to organize components of their existing applications to better align them with tasks and operational processes. In addition, the Company’s software solutions can streamline end-user tasks by providing a single, seamless user interface for simple access to multiple systems or be configured to display one or more composite applications to enhance productivity. Our technology enables automatic information sharing among line-of-business applications and tools. It is ideal for deployment in contact centers where its highly productive, task-oriented user interface promotes business user efficiency. By integrating diverse applications across multiple operating systems, Cicero is ideal for the financial services, insurance, telecommunications, intelligence, security, law enforcement, governmental and other industries requiring a cost-effective, proven application integration solution.

Some of the companies that have implemented or are implementing the Company’s software solutions include Merrill Lynch, Pierce & Co., Inc., Nationwide Financial Services, Affiliated Computer Systems, and Deutsche Bank AG. We have also sold our products to intelligence, security, law enforcement and other government users.

Cicero Inc. was incorporated in New York in 1988 as Level 8 Systems, Inc. and re-incorporated in Delaware in 1999. Our principal executive offices are located at 8000 Regency Parkway, Suite 542, Cary, NC 27518 and our telephone number is (919) 380-5000. Our web site is www.ciceroinc.com.

 
1

 

Recent Developments

On January 15, 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of SOAdesk, LLC’s innovative Customer Interaction Management (CIM) technology – United Desktop® -- through an Asset Purchase Agreement among Cicero, SOAdesk, and Vertical Thought, Inc., an affiliate of SOAdesk. Simultaneously, Cicero closed an offering of its Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.

As a result of the acquisition, the Company began providing a new set of product offerings called Cicero XM™ that combine the Company’s leading desktop integration software with SOAdesk’s United Desktop® technology. Under the terms of the acquisition, the Company has agreed to pay a minimum of $2.525 million over the next three years through a combination of stock and cash for the assets of SOAdesk. In addition, SOAdesk could earn additional consideration based upon certain earn-out formulas within the contract. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, which raised in excess of $1.35 million, was used to provide funding for the acquisition and working capital to launch the new products.

Products

The Company has four products, Cicero Integrator, Cicero XM Integrator, Cicero XM Desktop, and Cicero XM Enterprise, and a configuration toolkit called Cicero XM Studio that is licensed with each Cicero XM product:

Cicero Integrator.   The Company’s original desktop integration and automation product is a framework for organizing, integrating, and enabling an organization’s various enterprise software applications to operate seamlessly on user desktops.

Cicero XM Integrator – Empowers business users to integrate applications, functionality and data, and delivers smart workflows to enhance productivity, performance and quality.

Cicero XM Desktop – Combines the efficiency benefits of Cicero XM Integrator with screen composites that simplify processing by eliminating the need for users to access multiple systems and screens, accompanied by context-sensitive scripts to guide users. It also comes with a soft-phone console to enable the integration of telephony solutions into the Cicero servicing platform.

Cicero XM Enterprise – Builds on the capabilities of Cicero XM Integrator and Desktop. Cicero XM Enterprise delivers communications, telephony and computer telephony integration (CTI) capabilities including presence, IM and email to reduce the need for multiple contact center systems. It enables single sign-on for all user-accessed solutions, and provides oversight for all transactions to facilitate and speed their movement throughout the environment, and to capture relevant data. Cicero XM enterprise provides real-time and historical data, including detailed customer insights based on a mash-up of interaction and business information.

Cicero XM Studio – Enables business analysts and other non-IT staff to build and enhance back-end integrations, scripts, smart workflows and composite screens without any impact on underlying applications or business logic.

The Cicero XM suite is highly secure. It has a credentials store that facilitates single sign-on. Passwords can be reset but are non-retrievable. Stored interactions can be selectively encrypted based on the needs of the enterprise. All network communications are compressed and encrypted for transmission.

All Cicero XM products include the United Data Model™ (UDM).  The UDM is supported by a database, enabling the abstraction and separation of the department’s existing technical environment from its business logic. This physical separation empowers IT and the operations managers to build and change the business logic at their discretion. The abstraction capability converts the contact center and other departments into a flexible and agile operating environment that can rapidly and cost effectively respond to the dynamic needs of the enterprise.

Cicero XM works with all desktop interfaces, including home-grown solutions, 3270-style mainframe screens, third-party applications, hosted systems and Web-based applications. By abstracting and capturing the logic and functionality in its patent-pending United Data Model™, Cicero changes the dynamics of desktop servicing and gives control back to business managers to adapt to ever-changing business needs.

 
2

 
 
Services
 
We provide a full spectrum of technical support, training and consulting services across all of our operating segments as part of our commitment to providing our customers industry-leading business integration solutions.  Experts in the field of systems integration with backgrounds in development, consulting, and business process reengineering staff our services organization.  In addition, our services professionals have substantial industry specific backgrounds with extraordinary depth in our focus marketplaces of financial services and contact centers.

Maintenance and Support
 
We offer customers varying levels of technical support tailored to their needs, including periodic software upgrades, and telephone support.  Cicero XM is frequently used in mission-critical business situations, and our maintenance and support services are accustomed to the critical demands that must be met to deliver world-class service to our clients.  Many of the members of our staff have expertise in mission critical environments and are ready to deliver service commensurate with those unique client needs.
 
Training Services

Our training organization offers a full curriculum of courses and labs designed to help customers become proficient in the use of our products and related technology as well as enabling customers to take full advantage of our field-tested best practices and methodologies.  Our training organization seeks to enable client organizations to gain the proficiency needed in our products for full client self-sufficiency but retains the flexibility to tailor their curriculum to meet specific needs of our clients.

Consulting Services
 
We offer consulting services around our product offerings in project management, applications and platform integration, application design and development and application renewal, along with expertise in a wide variety of development environments and programming languages. We also have an active partner program in which we recruit leading IT consulting and system integration firms to provide services for the design, implementation and deployment of our solutions. Our consulting organization supports third party consultants by providing architectural and enabling services.
 
Customers

Our customers include both end-users to whom we sell our products and services directly and distributors and other intermediaries who either resell our products to end-users or incorporate our products into their own product offerings. Typical end-users of our products and services are large businesses with sophisticated technology requirements for contact centers, in the financial services, insurance and telecommunications industries, and intelligence, security, law enforcement and other governmental organizations.

Our customers are using our solutions to rapidly deploy applications. Some examples of customers' uses of our products include:

 ·    
Business Process Outsourcers - use our software solution in contact centers to provide real time integration among existing back-office systems, eliminate redundant data entry, shorten call times, provide real-time data access and enhance customer service and service levels.

     ·        
A financial institution - uses our software solution to provide real-time integration among market data, customer account information, existing back-office systems and other legacy applications, eliminate redundant data entry, provide real-time data access and processing, and enhance customer service and service levels.

     ·        
An insurance company - uses our software solution to integrate their customer information systems with over thirty software applications including a CRM application.

     ·        
A law enforcement organization - uses our software solution to streamline and automate support for arrests and investigations while merging federal, state and local systems within a unified process.

Other customers are systems integrators, which use our software to develop integration solutions for their customers.

 
3

 
Affiliated Computer Services Inc., Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank each accounted for more than ten percent (10%) of our operating revenues in 2009.  Affiliated Computer Services Inc. and Merrill Lynch each accounted for more than ten percent (10%) of our operating revenues in 2008.  In 2007, Merrill Lynch accounted for more than ten percent (10%) of our operating revenues.

Sales and Marketing
 
Sales
 
An important element of our sales strategy is to supplement our direct sales force by expanding our relationships with third parties to increase market awareness and acceptance of our business integration software solutions. As part of these relationships, we continue to jointly sell and implement our software solutions with strategic partners such as systems integrators and embed our software along with other products through reseller relationships.  We provide training and other support necessary to systems integrators and resellers to aid in the promotion of our products.  To date we have entered into strategic partnerships with the following resellers, for integrated business solutions: Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., Tata Consultancy Services, MphasiS, and BluePhoenix Solutions.  In addition, we have entered into strategic partnerships with Voice Print International, Empower, Bravepoint, Exadel, VGDNA, and Pilar Services, Inc.  These organizations have relationships with existing customers or have access to organizations requiring top secret or classified access.  In addition, several of these partners can bundle our software with other software to provide a comprehensive solution to customers.  We are not materially dependent on any of these organizations. Generally, our agreements with such partners provide for price discounts based on their sales volume, with no minimum required volume.

Marketing
 
The target market for our products and services are large companies operating contact centers in the financial services, insurance and telecommunications industries, as well as users in the intelligence, security and law enforcement communities and other governmental organizations. Increasing competitiveness and consolidation is driving companies in such businesses to increase the efficiency and quality of their customer contact centers. As a result, customer contact centers are compelled by both economic necessity and internal mandates to find ways to increase internal efficiency, increase customer satisfaction, increase effective cross-selling, decrease staff turnover cost and leverage their investment in current information technology.
 
Our marketing staff has an in-depth understanding of the customer contact center software marketplace and the needs of these customers, as well as experience in all of the key marketing disciplines.  They also have knowledge of the financial services industry and government organizations that have focused on application integration solutions to address needs in mergers and acquisitions and homeland security.
 
Core marketing functions include product marketing, marketing communications and strategic alliances.  We utilize focused marketing programs that are intended to attract potential customers in our target vertical industries and to promote our Company and our brands. Our marketing programs are specifically directed at our target markets, and include speaking engagements, public relations campaigns, focused trade shows and web site marketing, while devoting substantial resources to supporting the field sales team with high quality sales tools and ancillary material.  As product acceptance grows and our target markets increase, we will shift to broader marketing programs.
 
 
The marketing department also produces ancillary material for presentation or distribution to prospects, including demonstrations, presentation materials, white papers, case studies, articles, brochures, and data sheets.

Research and Product Development
 
We incurred research and development expense of approximately $540,000 and $615,000 in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Since Cicero XM is a new product in a relatively untapped market, it is imperative to constantly enhance the features and functionality of the product.  Our budget for research and development is based on planned product introductions and enhancements. Actual expenditures, however, may significantly differ from budgeted expenditures. Inherent in the product development process are a number of risks. The development of new, technologically advanced software products is a complex and uncertain process requiring high levels of innovation, as well as the accurate anticipation of technological and market trends.

 
4

 
Competition

The markets in which we compete are highly competitive and subject to rapid change. These markets are highly fragmented and served by numerous firms. We believe that the competitive factors affecting the markets for our products and services include:

     ·        
Product functionality and features;

     ·        
Availability and quality of support services;

     ·        
Ease of product implementation;

     ·        
Price;

     ·        
Product reputation; and
   
     ·        
Our financial stability.

The relative importance of each of these factors depends upon the specific customer environment. Although we believe that our products and services can compete favorably, we may not be able to increase our competitive position against current and potential competitors. In addition, many companies choose to deploy their own information technology personnel or utilize system integrators to write new code or rewrite existing applications in an effort to develop integration solutions. As a result, prospective customers may decide against purchasing and implementing externally developed and produced solutions such as ours.

We compete with companies that utilize varying approaches to modernize, web-enable and integrate existing software applications:

     ·    
Portal software offers the ability to aggregate information at a single point, but not the ability to integrate transactions from a myriad of information systems on the desktop.  Plumtree is a representative company in the market.

     ·    
Middleware software provides integration of applications through messages and data exchange implemented typically in the middle tier of the application architecture.  This approach requires modification of the application source code and substantial infrastructure investments and operational expense.  Reuters, TIBCO and IBM MQSeries are competitors in the middleware market.

     ·    
CRM software offers application tools that allow developers to build product specific interfaces and custom applications.  This approach is not designed to be product neutral and is often dependent on deep integration with our technology.  Siebel is a representative product in the CRM software category.

     ·    
Recently, there have been several companies that offer capabilities similar to our software in that these companies advertise that they integrate applications without modifying the underlying code for those applications. OpenSpan is one company who advertises that they can non-invasively integrate at the point of contact or on the desktop.

Other competitors include Above All Software, Attachmate Corporation, Seagull Software Ltd. and Oracle. Our product competes directly with other contact center solutions offered by Microsoft, Corizon and Jacada. We expect additional competition from other established and emerging companies. Furthermore, our competitors may combine with each other, or other companies may enter our markets by acquiring or entering into strategic relationships with our competitors. Many of our current competitors have greater name recognition, a larger installed customer base and greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we have.

Intellectual Property
 
Our success is dependent upon developing, protecting and maintaining our intellectual property assets. We rely upon combinations of copyright, trademark and trade secrecy protections, along with contractual provisions, to protect our intellectual property rights in software, documentation, data models, methodologies, data processing systems and related written materials in the international marketplace. In addition, Merrill Lynch holds a patent with respect to the legacy Cicero® technology. We have filed applications for patents on our United Data Model.  Copyright protection is generally available under United States laws and international treaties for our software and printed materials. The effectiveness of these various types of protection can be limited, however, by variations in laws and enforcement procedures from country to country.  We use the registered trademarks “Cicero®” and “Cicero XM®”.

All other product and company names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and are the property of, and may be trademarks of, their respective owners.
 
 
5

 
 
Employees
 
As of December 31, 2009, we employed 25 full time employees.  Our employees are not represented by a union or a collective bargaining agreement.
 
Available Information

Our web address is www.ciceroinc.com.  We make available free of charge through our web site our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Also, the public may read and copy such material at the Security and Exchange Commission’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.  The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the Security and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330.  The Security and Exchange Commission also maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information at www.sec.gov.

Forward Looking and Cautionary Statements

Certain statements contained in this Annual Report may constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("Reform Act"). We may also make forward looking statements in other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in materials delivered to shareholders, in press releases and in other public statements. In addition, our representatives may from time to time make oral forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "projects," and similar expressions, may identify such forward looking statements. In accordance with the Reform Act, set forth below are cautionary statements that accompany those forward looking statements. Readers should carefully review these cautionary statements as they identify certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and from historical trends. The following cautionary statements are not exclusive and are in addition to other factors discussed elsewhere in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in materials incorporated therein by reference: our future success depends on the market acceptance of the Cicero XM product and successful execution of the new strategic direction; general economic or business conditions may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, lower than expected revenues; an unexpected revenue shortfall may adversely affect our business because our expenses are largely fixed; our quarterly operating results may vary significantly because we are not able to accurately predict the amount and timing of individual sales and this may adversely impact our stock price; trends in sales of our products and general economic conditions may affect investors' expectations regarding our financial performance and may adversely affect our stock price; our future results may depend upon the continued growth and business use of the Internet; we may lose market share and be required to reduce prices as a result of competition from our existing competitors, other vendors and information systems departments of customers; we may not have the ability to recruit, train and retain qualified personnel; rapid technological change could render the Company's products obsolete; loss of any one of our major customers could adversely affect our business; our products may contain undetected software errors, which could adversely affect our business; because our technology is complex, we may be exposed to liability claims; we may be unable to enforce or defend our ownership and use of proprietary technology; because we are a technology company, our common stock may be subject to erratic price fluctuations; and we may not have sufficient liquidity and capital resources to meet changing business conditions.

 
6

 
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

We have a history of losses and expect that we will continue to experience losses at least through the first quarter of 2010 .

We experienced operating losses and net losses for each of the years from 1999 through 2009. We incurred a net loss of $2.0 million for 2007, $0.8 million in 2008, and $1.3 million for 2009.  As of December 31, 2009, we had a working capital deficit of $6.5 million and an accumulated deficit of $238 million. Our ability to generate positive cash flow is dependent upon sustaining certain cost reductions and generating sufficient revenues.

Therefore, due to these and other factors, we expect that we will continue to experience net losses through the first quarter of 2010. We have not generated sufficient revenues to pay for all of our operating costs or other expenses and have relied on financing transactions over the last several fiscal years to pay our operating costs and other expenses. Although we believe we have sufficient cash on hand to cover our operating requirements through the calendar year end of December 31, 2010, there can be no assurance that if we are unable to generate sufficient revenue from operations that we will be able to continue to access the capital markets to fund our operations, or that if we are able to do so that it will be on satisfactory terms, especially in light of the current economic crisis. The Company has repositioned itself in the marketplace as a result of the acquisition of the assets of SOAdesk along with its key personnel. By combining the SOAdesk products with the Cicero legacy products, the Company is able to offer a complete Customer Experience Management suite of products. The new products have already received awards from within the industry and new customers have contracted to use the products, thereby generating new revenues. The Company also plans on raising funds through private placements of equity, including its preferred stock, and/or debt. Management believes with the anticipated revenues generated by the new product suite and the additional funding from its capital raising efforts, that the Company will be able to fund its operations through the year ending December 31, 2010.

We depend on an unproven strategy for ongoing revenue.

The Company’s future revenues are entirely dependent on acceptance of Cicero’s products. The Company has experienced negative cash flows from operations for the past three years. At December 31, 2009, the Company had a working capital deficiency of approximately $6,544,000. While the Company has demonstrated some increase in the acceptance of its surface integration product, the Company will need to attract more accounts in the near future. The Company’s success to date has been through some strategic relationships wherein it has been able to establish solutions specific to certain industry verticals such as financial services, contact centers and healthcare.

Economic conditions could adversely affect our revenue growth and cause us not to achieve desired revenue.

Our ability to generate revenue depends on the overall demand for customer experience management software and services. Our business depends on overall economic conditions, the economic and business conditions in our target markets and the spending environment for information technology projects, and specifically for customer experience management in those markets. A weakening of the economy in one or more of our geographic regions, unanticipated major events and economic uncertainties may make more challenging the spending environment for our software and services, reduce capital spending on information technology projects by our customers and prospective customers, result in longer sales cycles for our software and services or cause customers or prospective customers to be more cautious in undertaking larger transactions. Those situations may cause a decrease in our revenue. A decrease in demand for our software and services caused, in part, by a weakening of the economy, may result in a decrease in our revenue rates.

The so-called “penny stock rule” could make it cumbersome for brokers and dealers to trade in our common stock, making the market for our common stock less liquid which could cause the price of our stock to decline.

The Company’s common stock is quoted on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board.  Trading of our common stock on the OTCBB may be subject to certain provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, commonly referred to as the "penny stock" rule. A penny stock is generally defined to be any equity security that has a market price less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. If our stock is deemed to be a penny stock, trading in our stock will be subject to additional sales practice requirements on broker- dealers. These may require a broker-dealer to:

 
·
make a special suitability determination for purchasers of our shares;

 
·
receive the purchaser's written consent to the transaction prior to the purchase; and

 
·
deliver to a prospective purchaser of our stock, prior to the first transaction, a risk disclosure document relating to the penny stock market.

Consequently, penny stock rules may restrict the ability of broker-dealers to trade and/or maintain a market in our common stock. Also, prospective investors may not want to get involved with the additional administrative requirements, which may have a material adverse effect on the trading of our shares.

 
7

 
 
Because we cannot accurately predict the amount and timing of individual sales, our quarterly operating results may vary significantly, which could adversely impact our stock price .
 
Our quarterly operating results have varied significantly in the past, and we expect they will continue to do so in the future. We have derived, and expect to continue to derive in the near term, a significant portion of our revenue from relatively large customer contracts or arrangements. The timing of revenue recognition from those contracts and arrangements has caused and may continue to cause fluctuations in our operating results, particularly on a quarterly basis. Our quarterly revenues and operating results typically depend upon the volume and timing of customer contracts received during a given quarter and the percentage of each contract, which we are able to recognize as revenue during the quarter. Each of these factors is difficult to forecast. As is common in the software industry, the largest portion of software license revenues are typically recognized in the last month of each fiscal quarter and the third and fourth quarters of each fiscal year. We believe these patterns are partly attributable to budgeting and purchasing cycles of our customers and our sales commission policies, which compensate sales personnel for meeting or exceeding periodic quotas.

Furthermore, individual Cicero XM sales are large and each sale can or will account for a large percentage of our revenue and a single sale may have a significant impact on the results of a quarter. The sales of Cicero XM can be classified as generally large in size to a small discrete number of customers. In addition, the substantial commitment of executive time and financial resources that have historically been required in connection with a customer’s decision to purchase our software increases the risk of quarter-to-quarter fluctuations. Our software sales require a significant commitment of time and financial resources because it is an enterprise product. Typically, the purchase of our products involves a significant technical evaluation by the customer and the delays frequently associated with customers’ internal procedures to approve large capital expenditures and to test, implement and accept new technologies that affect key operations. This evaluation process frequently results in a lengthy sales process of several months. It also subjects the sales cycle for our products to a number of significant risks, including our customers’ budgetary constraints and internal acceptance reviews. The length of our sales cycle may vary substantially from customer to customer.
 
Our product revenue may fluctuate from quarter to quarter due to the completion or commencement of significant assignments, the number of working days in a quarter and the utilization rate of services personnel. As a result of these factors, we believe that a period-to-period comparison of our historical results of operations is not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as indications of future performance. In particular, our revenues in the third and fourth quarters of our fiscal years may not be indicative of the revenues for the first and second quarters. Moreover, if our quarterly results do not meet the expectations of our securities analysts and investors, the trading price of our common stock would likely decline.
 
Loss of key personnel associated with Cicero ® development could adversely affect our business .
 
Loss of key executive personnel or the software engineers we have hired with specialized knowledge of the Cicero XM technology could have a significant impact on our execution of our new strategy given that they have specialized knowledge developed over a long period of time with respect to the Cicero XM technology.  Furthermore, because of our restructuring and reduction in the number of employees, we may find it difficult to recruit new employees in the future.
 
Different competitive approaches or internally developed solutions to the same business problem could delay or prevent adoption of Cicero XM .
 
Cicero XM is designed to address in a novel way the problems that large companies face integrating the functionality of different software applications by integrating these applications at the desktop. To effectively penetrate the market for solutions to this disparate application problem, Cicero XM will compete with traditional Enterprise Application Integration, or EAI, solutions that attempt to solve this business problem at the server or back-office level. Server level EAI solutions are currently sold and marketed by companies such as NEON, Mercator, Vitria, and BEA. There can be no assurance that our potential customers will determine that Cicero XM’s desktop integration methodology is superior to traditional middleware EAI solutions provided by the competitors described above in addressing this business problem. Moreover, the information systems departments of our target customers, large financial institutions, are large and may elect to attempt to internally develop an internal solution to this business problem rather than to purchase the Cicero XM product. The legacy Cicero® itself was originally developed internally by Merrill Lynch to solve these integration needs.

 
8

 
Accordingly, we may not be able to provide products and services that compare favorably with the products and services of our competitors or the internally developed solutions of our customers. These competitive pressures could delay or prevent adoption of Cicero XM or require us to reduce the price of our products, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
 
Our ability to compete may be subject to factors outside our control.
 
    We believe that our ability to compete depends in part on a number of competitive factors outside our control, including the ability of our competitors to hire, retain and motivate senior project managers, the ownership by competitors of software used by potential clients, the development by others of software that is competitive with our products and services, the price at which others offer comparable services and the extent of our competitors’ responsiveness to customer needs.
 
The markets for our products are characterized by rapidly changing technologies, evolving industry standards, frequent new product introductions and short product life cycles.

Our future success will depend to a substantial degree upon our ability to enhance our existing products and to develop and introduce, on a timely and cost-effective basis, new products and features that meet changing customer requirements and emerging and evolving industry standards.

   The introduction of new or enhanced products also requires us to manage the transition from older products in order to minimize disruption in customer ordering patterns, as well as ensure that adequate supplies of new products can be delivered to meet customer demand. There can be no assurance that we will successfully develop, introduce or manage the transition to new products.
 
We have in the past, and may in the future, experience delays in the introduction of our products, due to factors internal and external to our business. Any future delays in the introduction or shipment of new or enhanced products, the inability of such products to gain market acceptance or problems associated with new product transitions could adversely affect our results of operations, particularly on a quarterly basis.

We believe that to fully implement our business plan we will be required to enhance our ability to work with the Window 7, Microsoft Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 operating systems as well as the Linux operating system by adding additional development personnel as well as additional direct sales personnel to complement our sales plan.

We may face damage to the reputation of our software and a loss of revenue if our software products fail to perform as intended or contain significant defects.

   Our software products are complex, and significant defects may be found following introduction of new software or enhancements to existing software or in product implementations in varied information technology environments. Internal quality assurance testing and customer testing may reveal product performance issues or desirable feature enhancements that could lead us to reallocate product development resources or postpone the release of new versions of our software. The reallocation of resources or any postponement could cause delays in the development and release of future enhancements to our currently available software, require significant additional professional services work to address operational issues, damage the reputation of our software in the marketplace and result in potential loss of revenue. Although we attempt to resolve all errors that we believe would be considered serious by our partners and customers, our software is not error-free. Undetected errors or performance problems may be discovered in the future, and known errors that we consider minor may be considered serious by our partners and customers. This could result in lost revenue, delays in customer deployment or legal claims and would be detrimental to our reputation. If our software experiences performance problems or ceases to demonstrate technology leadership, we may have to increase our product development costs and divert our product development resources to address the problems.

We may be unable to enforce or defend our ownership and use of proprietary and licensed technology .
 
   Our success depends to a significant degree upon our proprietary and licensed technology. We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright law, contractual restrictions and passwords to protect our proprietary technology. However, these measures provide only limited protection, and there is no guarantee that our protection of our proprietary rights will be adequate. Furthermore, the laws of some jurisdictions outside the United States do not protect proprietary rights as fully as in the United States. In addition, our competitors may independently develop similar technology; duplicate our products or design around our patents or our other intellectual property rights. We may not be able to detect or police the unauthorized use of our products or technology, and litigation may be required in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights, to protect our trade secrets or to determine the validity and scope of our proprietary rights. Additionally, with respect to the legacy Cicero® line of products, there can be no assurance that Merrill Lynch will protect its patents or that we will have the resources to successfully pursue infringers. Any litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights would be expensive and time-consuming, would divert management resources and may not be adequate to protect our business.
 
 
9

 
 
We do not believe that any of our products infringe the proprietary rights of third parties. However, companies in the software industry have experienced substantial litigation regarding intellectual property and third parties could assert claims that we have infringed their intellectual property rights. In addition, we may be required to indemnify our distribution partners and end- users for similar claims made against them. Any claims against us would divert management resources, and could require us to spend significant time and money in litigation, pay damages, develop new intellectual property or acquire licenses to intellectual property that is the subject of the infringement claims. These licenses, if required, may not be available on acceptable terms. As a result, intellectual property claims against us could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
 
As the number of software products in the industry increases and the functionality of these products further overlaps, we believe that software developers and licensors may become increasingly subject to infringement claims. Any such claims, with or without merit, could be time consuming and expensive to defend and could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

Our business may be adversely impacted if we do not provide professional services to implement our solutions.

Customers that license our software typically engage our professional services staff or third-party consultants to assist with product implementation, training and other professional consulting services. We believe that many of our software sales depend, in part, on our ability to provide our customers with these services and to attract and educate third-party consultants to provide similar services. New professional services personnel and service providers require training and education and take time and significant resources to reach full productivity. Competition for qualified personnel and service providers is intense within our industry. Our business may be harmed if we are unable to provide professional services to our customers to effectively implement our solutions of if we are unable to establish and maintain relationships with third-party implementation providers.

Because our software could interfere with the operations of customers, we may be subject to potential product liability and warranty claims by these customers.

Our software enables customers’ software applications to integrate and is often used for mission critical functions or applications. Errors, defects or other performance problems in our software or failure to provide technical support could result in financial or other damages to our customers. Customers could seek damages for losses from us. In addition, the failure of our software and solutions to perform to customers’ expectations could give rise to warranty claims.  The integration of our software with our customer’s applications, increase the risk that a customer may bring a lawsuit us. Even if our software is not at fault, a product liability claim brought against us, even if not successful, could be time consuming and costly to defend and could harm our reputation.

We have not paid any dividends on our common stock and it is likely that no dividends will be paid in the future.
 
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.
 
Provisions of our charter and Bylaws could deter takeover attempts.
 
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance, without stockholder approval, of preferred stock, with such designations, rights and preferences as the board of directors may determine preferences as from time to time. Such designations, rights and preferences established by the board may adversely affect our stockholders. In the event of issuance, the preferred stock could be used, under certain circumstances, as a means of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change of control of the Company. Although we have no present intention to issue any shares of preferred stock in addition to the currently outstanding preferred stock, we may issue preferred stock in the future.

 
10

 
Some of the rights granted to the holders of our Series A-1 Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock could prevent a potential acquirer from buying our Company.

Holders of our Series A-1 and Series B Preferred Stock have the right to block the Company from consummating a merger, sale of all or substantially all of its assets or recapitalization.  Accordingly, the holder of our Series A-1 Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock could prevent the consummation of a transaction in which our stockholders could receive a substantial premium over the current market price for their shares.
 
ITEM 1B.   UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not Applicable

ITEM 2.   PROPERTIES

Our corporate headquarters and United States operations group and administrative functions are based in offices of approximately 5,038 square feet in our Cary, North Carolina office pursuant to a lease expiring in 2010.  We believe that our existing lease will be renegotiated as it expires or that alternative properties can be leased on acceptable terms.  We also believe that our present facilities are suitable for continuing our existing and planned operations.
 
ITEM 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In October 2003, we were served with a summons and complaint in Superior Court of North Carolina regarding unpaid invoices for services rendered by one of our subcontractors.  The amount in dispute was approximately $200,000 and is included in accounts payable. Subsequent to March 31, 2004, we settled this litigation.  Under the terms of the settlement agreement, we agreed to pay a total of $189,000 plus interest over a 19-month period ending November 15, 2005. The Company has not made any additional payments and has a remaining liability of approximately $88,000.

ITEM 4.   [RESERVED]  

 
11

 
PART II
 
ITEM 5.   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

Our common is currently quoted on the Over-The-Counter Bulletin Board. In January 2007 we formally changed our name to Cicero Inc. and now trade under the ticker CICN.  The chart below sets forth the high and low stock prices for the quarters of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.

   
2009
   
2008
 
Quarter
 
High
   
Low
   
High
   
Low
 
First
  $ 0.23     $ 0.08     $ 0.25     $ 0.14  
Second
  $ 0.25     $ 0.13     $ 0.19     $ 0.14  
Third
  $ 0.19     $ 0.12     $ 0.27     $ 0.17  
Fourth
  $ 0.15     $ 0.09     $ 0.20     $ 0.09  
 
The closing price of the common stock on March 3, 2010 was $0.09 per share.

Dividends and Record Stockholders

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We anticipate that all of our earnings will be retained for the operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future   As of March 4, 2010, we had 208 registered stockholders of record.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

In April 2009, the Company issued 120,000 shares of common stock to BluePhoenix Solutions due to a filing deadline penalty.

In April 2009, the Company issued 250,000 shares of common stock to an investor for the conversion of a promissory note.

In June 2009, the Company issued 85,789 shares of common stock to an investor for the conversion of outstanding interest on a loan.

These securities were issued in reliance upon an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2009, about shares of Common Stock outstanding and available for issuance under the Company’s existing equity compensation plans: the 2007 Cicero Stock Option Plan, the Level 8 Systems, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Incentive Plan, the 1995 Non-Qualified Option Plan and the Outside Director Stock Option Plan.
 
 
 
 
 
Plan Category                                                     
 
Number of Securities to
be issued upon exercise
of
outstanding options  
   
 
 
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options
   
Number of securities
remaining available under
equity compensation plans
(excluding securities reflected
in the first column)  
 
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders
    2,707,006     $ 1.10       1,818,774  

ITEM 6.   SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

Not Applicable

 
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ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
General Information

Cicero Inc. provides businesses the ability to maximize every interaction from intra-company back office applications to those that take place between employees, customers and vendors while extending the value of the best of breed applications in which businesses have already invested. The Company provides an innovative and unique combination of application and process integration, automation, presentation and real-time analysis, all without changes to the underlying applications or requiring costly development expenditures. Business integration software addresses the emerging need for a company's information systems to deliver enterprise-wide views of the Company's business information processes.
 
In addition to software products, the Company also provides technical support, training and consulting services as part of its commitment to providing its customers industry-leading integration solutions.  The Company’s consulting team has in-depth experience in developing successful enterprise-class solutions as well as valuable insight into the business information needs of customers in the Global 5000.  Cicero offers services around our integration and customer experience management software products.

This discussion contains forward-looking statements relating to such matters as anticipated financial performance, business prospects, technological developments, new products, research and development activities, liquidity and capital resources and similar matters. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, the Company notes that a variety of factors could cause its actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the Company's forward-looking statements.  See ''Item 1. Business—Forward Looking and Cautionary Statements.''
 
Business Strategy

Management makes operating decisions and assesses performance of the Company’s operations based on one reportable segment, the Software product segment.
 
The Software product segment is comprised of the Cicero XM product.  Cicero XM enables businesses to transform human interaction across the enterprise. Cicero XM enables the flow of data between different applications, regardless of the type and source of the application, eliminating redundant entry and costly mistakes. Cicero XM automates up and down-stream process flows, enforcing compliance and optimizing handle time and provides a task-oriented desktop, reducing training time and enabling delivery of best in class service. Cicero XM captures real-time information about each interaction, guiding the business user through an activity and capturing usage data to spot trends and forecast problems before they occur.

Results of Operations
 
The following table sets forth, for the years indicated, the Company's results of continuing operations expressed as a percentage of revenue and presents information for the three categories of revenue.  The results listed do not include the full software suite of Cicero XM since the acquisition of the SOADesk LLC assets did not occur until January 2010.  The results only include the Cicero Integrator software from the Cicero XM suite.

 
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Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Revenue:
                 
Software
    17.3 %     42.5 %     27.7 %
Maintenance
    47.3 %     25.3 %     16.6 %
Services
    35.4 %     32.2 %     55.7 %
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
                         
Cost of revenue:
                       
Software
    0.8 %     1.5 %     1.0 %
Maintenance
    8.7 %     7.5 %     14.6 %
Services
    47.4 %     27.3 %     36.2 %
Total
    56.8 %     36.2 %     51.8 %
                         
Gross margin
    43.2 %     63.8 %     48.2 %
                         
Operating expenses:
                       
Sales and marketing
    48.2 %     27.6 %     43.5 %
Research and product development
    21.6 %     17.8 %     31.5 %
General and administrative
    52.4 %     37.7 %     75.0 %
Total
    122.2 %     83.1 %     150.0 %
                         
Loss from continuing operations
    (79.0 )%     (19.3 )%     (101.8 )%
Other  (expense), net
    (12.2 )%     (4.5 )%     (7.5 )%
Net loss from continuing operations
    (91.2 )%     (23.8 )%     (109.3 )%

The following table sets forth data for total revenue for continuing operations by geographic origin as a percentage of total revenue for the periods indicated:

   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
United States
    100 %     100 %     100 %

  Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007

Revenue and Gross Margin.    The Company has three categories of revenue: software products, maintenance, and services. Software products revenue is comprised primarily of fees from licensing the Company's proprietary software products. Maintenance revenue is comprised of fees for maintaining, supporting, and providing periodic upgrades to the Company's software products. Services revenue is comprised of fees for consulting and training services related to the Company's software products.
 
The Company's revenues vary from quarter to quarter, due to market conditions, the budgeting and purchasing cycles of customers and the effectiveness of the Company’s sales force.  The Company does not have any material backlog of unfilled software orders and product revenue in any period is substantially dependent upon orders received in that quarter. Because the Company's operating expenses are based on anticipated revenue levels and are relatively fixed over the short term, variations in the timing of the recognition of revenue can cause significant variations in operating results from period to period. Fluctuations in operating results may result in volatility of the price of the Company's common stock.
 
Total revenues decreased 27.6% from $3,452,000 in 2008 to $2,498,000 in 2009.  Revenues increased 91% from $1,808,000 in 2007 to $3,452,000 in 2008.  The decrease in revenues in 2009 is primarily attributable to a decrease in software sales partially offset by an increase in maintenance revenue due to a tiered increase in existing maintenance agreement and renewals of maintenance agreements.  The increase in revenues in 2008 is primarily driven by increased software sales to new customers and corresponding maintenance revenue on new software sales in addition to maintenance revenue from the contract with Merrill Lynch.  Gross profit margin was 43%, 64%, and 48%, for 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.  Under the terms of the OEM agreement with Merrill Lynch, the Company will recognize two components of software revenue. The first component will be runtime licenses, and once those licenses are deployed by Merrill Lynch; the second component will be a monthly subscription fee for each license deployed. The Company may or may not incur additional license revenues under this OEM agreement.
 
 
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Software Products . Software product revenue decreased from $1,467,000 in 2008 to $431,000 in 2009 or approximately 71%.  Software product revenue increased 193% in 2008 from $501,000 in 2007 to $1,467,000 in 2008.  The decrease in software revenue in 2009 is partially attributable to an overall economic slowdown as many companies’ operating and capital budgets were either reduced or frozen.  The increase in software revenue in 2008 is partially attributable to contracts signed with a reseller/partner and sales to one of its customers.

The gross margin on software products was 96% for the year ended December 31, 2009, 97% for the year ended December 31, 2008, and 96% for the year ended December 31, 2007.  Cost of software is composed primarily of royalties to a third party. The original version Cicero® software technology and related patents was licensed by the Company on a worldwide basis from Merrill Lynch in August of 2000 under a license agreement containing standard provisions and a two-year exclusivity period. On January 3, 2002, the license agreement was amended to extend the Company’s exclusive worldwide marketing, sales and development rights to Cicero® in perpetuity (subject to Merrill Lynch’s rights to terminate in the event of bankruptcy or a change in control of the Company) and to grant ownership rights in the Cicero® trademark. The Company is indemnified by Merrill Lynch with regard to the rights granted to Cicero® by them. In consideration for the original Cicero® license we issued to Merrill Lynch 10,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. In consideration for the amendment, the Company issued an additional 2,500 shares of common stock to MLBC, Inc., a Merrill Lynch affiliate and entered into a royalty sharing agreement pursuant to which, the Company pays a royalty of 3% of the sales price for each sale of Cicero® software or related maintenance services. The royalties over the life of the agreement are capped at $20,000,000.

The Company expects to see an increase in software sales coupled with improving margins on software products as Cicero XM gains acceptance in the marketplace. The Company’s expectations are based on its review of the sales cycle that has developed around the Cicero XM product since being released by the Company, its review of the pipeline of prospective customers and their anticipated capital expenditure commitments and budgeting cycles, as well as the status of in-process proof of concepts or beta sites with select corporations.

Maintenance.   Maintenance revenues for the year ended December 31, 2009 increased $309,000 or approximately 35% from 2008.  Maintenance revenues for the year ended December 31, 2008 increased 191% or $573,000 from 2007.  The increase in maintenance revenues for 2009 in primarily attributable to a tiered increase in the Merrill Lynch agreement, and renewals of expiring maintenance agreements.  The increase in maintenance revenues for 2008 is primarily attributed to the increase in new software sales and the OEM contract with Merrill Lynch.

Cost of maintenance is comprised of personnel costs and related overhead and the cost of third-party contracts for the maintenance and support of the Company’s software products. The Company experienced a gross margin on maintenance products of 82%, 70% and 12% for 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Maintenance revenues are expected to increase as a result of our expected increase in sales of the CiceroXM product. The cost of maintenance should increase slightly.

Services.   Services revenue for the year ended December 31, 2009 decreased by $227,000 or approximately 20% over the same period in 2008.  Services revenue for the year ended December 31, 2008 increased by approximately 10% or $105,000 over the same period in 2007.  The decrease in services revenue in 2009 is primarily attributable to lower software product sales as well as general reductions in consulting contracts with existing customers.  The increase in service revenues in 2008 is attributable to consulting engagements that were earned during the past two years.

Cost of services primarily includes personnel and travel costs related to the delivery of services. Services gross margin loss was 34% for fiscal 2009.  Services gross margin was 15% and 35%, for the years ended 2008 and 2007, respectively.  The decrease in gross margin from 2008 to 2009 is due to the decrease in service revenue primarily due to lower software sales and reduction in consulting contracts.

Services revenues are expected to increase as the Cicero XM product gains acceptance.

Sales and Marketing.   Sales and marketing expenses primarily include personnel costs for salespeople, marketing personnel, travel and related overhead, as well as trade show participation and promotional expenses. Sales and marketing expenses increased 26% or approximately $251,000 to $1,203,000 in 2009 and 21% or approximately $166,000 to $952,000 in 2008. The increase in sales and marketing in 2009 is primarily driven by an increase in marketing and trade show participation.  The increase in sales and marketing in 2008 is primarily driven by increased participation in trade shows.  

Sales and marketing expenses are expected to increase as the Company adds additional direct sales personnel and supports the sales function with targeted collateral marketing materials and marketing events.

 
15

 
 
Research and Development.   Research and development expenses primarily include personnel costs for product authors, product developers and product documentation and related overhead.  Research and development expense decreased 12% or $75,000 to $540,000 in 2009 as compared to 2008 and increased by 8% or $46,000 to $615,000 in 2008 as compared to 2007. The decrease in costs in 2009 is primarily due to lower headcount and stock option expense for options issued in 2007 being fully expensed.  The increase in costs in 2008 is primarily driven by an increase in headcount partially offset by overall decrease in overhead expenses.

The Company intends to continue to make a significant investment in research and development while enhancing efficiencies in this area.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses consist of personnel costs for the executive, legal, financial, human resources, investor relations and administrative staff, related overhead, and all non-allocable corporate costs of operating the Company. General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2009 increased by 1% or $9,000 to $1,310,000 over 2008.  The increase in general administrative costs is primarily due to higher costs due to the annual shareholder meeting partially offset by a reduction in stock option expense as options issued in 2007 were fully expensed.  General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2008 decreased by 4% or $55,000 to $1,301,000 over the prior year.  The decrease in general administrative costs is primarily due to a reduction in stock compensation expense partially offset by higher general overhead costs.

General and administrative expenses are expected to slightly increase going forward as a result of the acquisition of the assets of SOAdesk LLC.

Provision for Taxes. The Company’s effective income tax rate for continuing operations differs from the statutory rate primarily because an income tax benefit was not recorded for the net loss incurred in 2009, 2008, and 2007. Because of the Company’s inconsistent earnings history, the deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance.

Impact of Inflation.   Inflation has not had a significant effect on the Company’s operating results during the periods presented.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Operating and Investing Activities

The Company utilized $51,000 of cash for the year ended December 31, 2009.  The Company incurred a net loss of approximately $1,280,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009 in addition to net losses of approximately $2,798,000 for the previous two fiscal years. The Company has experienced negative cash flows from operations for the past three years. At December 31, 2009, the Company had a working capital deficiency of approximately $6,544,000.

Operating activities utilized approximately $1,223,000 in cash, which was primarily comprised of the loss from operations of $1,280,000, a decrease in net liabilities of discontinued operations of $358,000, a decrease in the amounts owing its creditors of $340,000, and a decrease in deferred revenue of $105,000.  This was offset by non-cash charges for depreciation and amortization of approximately $21,000, stock compensation expense of $378,000, a provision for an uncollectible receivable of $62,000, and expense from a stock issuance of $16,000. In addition, the Company had a decrease in accounts receivable of $472,000 and an increase in prepaid and other assets of $90,000.

 The Company utilized approximately $14,000 in cash in the purchase of updating the Company’s network equipment and furniture.

Financing Activities

The Company funded its cash needs during the year ended December 31, 2009 with cash on hand from December 31, 2008, as well as through the use of proceeds from several secured promissory notes in the aggregate amount of $750,000 and other short term borrowings.

 
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The Company funded its cash needs during the year ended December 31, 2008 with cash on hand from December 31, 2007, as well as through the use of proceeds from short term borrowings.

In January 2010, the Company closed an offering of 9,067 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and warrants to purchase 2,266,667 shares of common stock, in excess of $1.35 million (including $500,000 in cash and the cancellation of $860,000 of existing indebtedness owed to two of the investors, including John Steffens, our Chairman of the Board) that was used to provide funding for the acquisition of the assets of SOAdesk LLC.  The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock bears an annual interest of 8% and provides warrants to purchase common stock of the Company at a strike price of $0.25 per share.  The Series B stock may convert into common stock at a conversion rate of $0.15 per share.
 
In March 2009, the Company entered into several secured Promissory Notes with certain investors in the aggregate amount of $750,000. The Notes bear interest at 15% and mature on January 31, 2012. The Notes are secured by the amount due the Company in February 2010 under its contract with Merrill Lynch. In addition, each investor was issued a warrant to purchase common stock of the Company. Under the terms of the warrant, which expires in five years, each Note holder is entitled to purchase 1,000 shares of Cicero common stock for every $1,000 of principal due under the Note. The exercise price on the warrant is $0.20 per share. The shares of common stock underlying the warrants have registration rights and a cashless exercise provision in the event no registration statement is effective for resales, if required.

During 2008, the Company entered into a Revolving Note Agreement with an Investor in which the Company may from time to time borrow up to $500,000. The borrowings are secured by any outstanding receivables at the time of the loans. The loans bear interest at 36% per annum. At December 31, 2009, $300,000 was due and outstanding under the Revolving Note agreement.

The Company had a term loan in the principal amount of $1,971,000 from Bank Hapoalim bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.5%. In October 2007, the Company agreed to restructure the Note payable to Bank Hapoalim and guaranty by BluePhoenix Solutions (formerly Liraz Systems Ltd.). Under a new agreement with BluePhoenix, the Company made a principal reduction payment to Bank Hapoalim in the amount of $300,000. Simultaneously, BluePhoenix paid $1,671,000 to Bank Hapoalim, thereby discharging that indebtedness. The Company and BluePhoenix entered into a new Note in the amount of $1,021,000, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.0% and maturing on December 31, 2011. In addition, BluePhoenix acquired 2,546,149 shares of the Company’s common stock in exchange for $650,000 paid to Bank Hapoalim to retire that indebtedness.  Of the new note payable to BluePhoenix, approximately $350,000 was due on January 31, 2009 and the balance is due on December 31, 2011.  In March 2008, the Company and BluePhoenix agreed to accelerate the principal reduction payment of $350,000 due on January 31, 2009 and $200,000 was paid in March 2008.  The Company paid $100,000 in January 2009.  BluePhoenix agreed to convert $50,000 of the repayment into 195,848 shares of the Company’s common stock in July 2008.
 
In October 2007, the Company entered into a Long Term Promissory Note in the amount of $300,000 with Mr. John L Steffens, our chairman. The Note bears interest at 3% per annum and had an original maturity date of October 30, 2009. In order to bring the interest rate on the Note in compliance with arm’s length transactions, the Company also issued 188,285 warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock at $0.18 each. The warrants were valued using the Black- Scholes method and a fair value of $34,230 was charged to stock compensation expense in the fourth quarter of 2007. The warrants expire in 10 years. The Company used the proceeds from that loan to pay down the debt to Bank Hapoalim as noted above.  In March 2009, the Company and Mr. Steffens agreed to extend the maturity on the above Note to October 2010.  In January 2010, Mr. Steffens agreed to convert his note into Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.

The Company believes that its financing activities and capitalization structure will have a positive impact on the future operations of the Company and its ability to raise additional capital, however, there can be no assurance that management will be successful in executing as anticipated or in a timely manner, especially in light of the current global economic crisis.  If these strategies are unsuccessful, the Company may have to pursue other means of financing that may not be on terms favorable to the Company or its stockholders. The Company has repositioned itself in the marketplace as a result of the acquisition of the assets of SOAdesk along with its key personnel. By combining the SOAdesk products with the Cicero legacy products, the Company is able to offer a complete Customer Experience Management suite of products. The new products have already received awards from within the industry and new customers have contracted to use the products, thereby generating new revenues. The Company also plans on raising funds through private placements of equity, including its preferred stock, and/or debt. Management believes with the anticipated revenues generated by the new product suite and the additional funding from its capital raising efforts, that the Company will be able to fund its operations through the year ending December 31, 2010.

 
17

 
SOAdesk Transaction

On January 15, 2010, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with SOAdesk, LLC (“SOAdesk”) and Vertical Thought, Inc. (“VTI” and, together with SOAdesk, the “Sellers”), pursuant to which the Company acquired the Sellers’ “United Desktop” and “United Data Model” software programs, as well as substantially all of the other assets owned by the Sellers directly or indirectly used (or intended to be used) in or related to Sellers’ business of providing customer interaction consulting and technology services for organizations and contact centers throughout the world (the “Business”). The Company also assumed certain liabilities of the Sellers related to the Business, as described in the Asset Purchase Agreement.

The aggregate consideration payable by the Company to the Sellers consists of the following:

·  $300,000 paid in cash to the Sellers on the closing date;

·  an unsecured convertible note in the aggregate principal amount of $700,000, payable to SOAdesk, with an annual interest rate of 5%,  and convertible into shares of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock (the “Convertible Note”);

·  $525,000, payable in cash to SOAdesk on March 31, 2010;

·  an unsecured convertible note in the aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000, payable to SOAdesk and convertible into shares of the Company’s Common Stock; and

·  certain earn-out payments as described in the Asset Purchase Agreement.

On March 31, 2010, the maturity date of the Convertible Note was extended from March 31, 2010 to September 30, 2010. Furthermore, the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement were amended and the Company issued a new $525,000 convertible promissory note to SOAdesk in lieu of the $525,000 payment. This new note, which carries an annual interest rate of 5%, is payable in shares of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock and matures on June 30, 2010.
 
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company does not have any off balance sheet arrangements. We have no subsidiaries or other unconsolidated limited purpose entities, and we have not guaranteed or otherwise supported the obligations of any other entity.

Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates

The policies discussed below are considered by us to be critical to an understanding of our financial statements because they require us to apply the most judgment and make estimates regarding matters that are inherently uncertain.  Specific risks for these critical accounting policies are described in the following paragraphs.  With respect to the policies discussed below, we note that because of the uncertainties inherent in forecasting, the estimates frequently require adjustment.
 
Our financial statements and related disclosures, which are prepared to conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and accounts receivable and expenses during the period reported.  We are also required to disclose amounts of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements.  Our actual results in future periods could differ from those estimates.  Estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically, and the effects of revisions are reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements in the period they are determined to be necessary.
 
We consider the most significant accounting policies and estimates in our financial statements to be those surrounding: (1) revenue recognition; (2) allowance for doubtful trade accounts receivable; (3) capitalization and valuation of software product technology; and (4) valuation of deferred tax assets.  These accounting policies, the basis for any estimates and potential impact to our Consolidated Financial Statements, should any of the estimates change, are further described as follows:

 
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Revenue Recognition.   Our revenues are derived principally from three sources:  (i) license fees for the use of our software products; (ii) fees for consulting services and training; and (iii) fees for maintenance and technical support.  We generally recognize revenue from software license fees when a license agreement has been signed by both parties, the fee is fixed or determinable; collection of the fee is probable, delivery of our products has occurred and no other significant obligations remain.  We do not have multiple-element arrangements.
 
Revenues from services include fees for consulting services and training.  Revenues from services are recognized on either a time and materials or percentage of completion basis as the services are performed and amounts due from customers are deemed collectible and non-refundable.  Revenues from fixed price service agreements are recognized on a percentage of completion basis in direct proportion to the services provided.  To the extent the actual time to complete such services varies from the estimates made at any reporting date, our revenue and the related gross margins may be impacted in the following period.
 
Allowance for Doubtful Trade Accounts Receivable .  In addition to assessing the probability of collection in conjunction with revenue arrangements, we continually assess the collectability of outstanding invoices.  Assumptions are made regarding the customer’s ability and intent to pay and are based on historical trends, general economic conditions, and current customer data.  Should our actual experience with respect to collections differ from our initial assessment, there could be adjustments to bad debt expense.
 
Capitalization and Valuation of Software Product Technology.   Our policy on capitalized software costs determines the timing of our recognition of certain development costs.  In addition, this policy determines whether the cost is classified as development expense or cost of software revenue.  Management is required to use professional judgment in determining whether development costs meet the criteria for immediate expense or capitalization.  Additionally, we review software product technology assets for net realizable value at each balance sheet date.  Should we experience reductions in revenues because our business or market conditions vary from our current expectations, we may not be able to realize the carrying value of these assets and will record a write down at that time. As of December 31, 2009 and 2008 the Company had $0 in capitalized software product technology.
 
Valuation of Deferred Tax Assets.   Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry forwards.  Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  A valuation allowance is established to the extent that it is more likely than not, that we will be unable to utilize deferred income tax assets in the future.  At December 31, 2009, we had a valuation allowance of $98,867,000 against $98,867,000 of gross deferred tax assets.  We considered all of the available evidence to arrive at our position on the net deferred tax asset; however, should circumstances change and alter our judgment in this regard, it may have an impact on future operating results.

At December 31, 2009, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $236,255,000, which may be applied against future taxable income. These carryforwards will expire at various times between 2010 and 2029. A substantial portion of these carryforwards is limited to future taxable income of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries or limited by Internal Revenue Code Section 382. Thus, the utilization of these carryforwards cannot be assured.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

The FASB has published FASB Accounting Standards Update 2009-13, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605)-Multiple Deliverable Revenue Arrangements which addresses the accounting for multiple-deliverable arrangements to enable vendors to account for products or services (deliverables) separately rather than as a combined unit.  Specifically, this guidance amends the criteria in Subtopic 605-25, Revenue Recognition-Multiple-Element Arrangements, for separating consideration in multiple-deliverable arrangements.  This guidance establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable, which is based on: (a) vendor-specific objective evidence; (b) third-party evidence; or (c) estimates.  This guidance also eliminates the residual method of allocation and requires that arrangement consideration be allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method and also requires expanded disclosures.  FASB Accounting Standards Update 2009-13 is effectively prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of this standard is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 
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In June 2009, the FASB issued guidance now codified as FASB ASC Topic 105, “Generally Accepted Accounting Principles,” as the single source of authoritative nongovernmental U.S. GAAP. FASB ASC Topic 105 does not change current U.S. GAAP, but is intended to simplify user access to all authoritative U.S. GAAP by providing all authoritative literature related to a particular topic in one place. All existing accounting standard documents will be superseded and all other accounting literature not included in the FASB Codification will be considered non-authoritative. These provisions of FASB ASC Topic 105 are effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009 and, accordingly, are effective for the Company for the current fiscal reporting period. The adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations, but will impact the Company’s financial reporting process by eliminating all references to pre-codification standards. On the effective date of this Statement, the Codification superseded all then-existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards, and all other non-grandfathered non-SEC accounting literature not included in the Codification became non-authoritative.
 
In May 2009, the FASB issued guidance now codified as FASB ASC Topic 855, “Subsequent Events,” which establishes general standards of accounting for, and disclosures of, events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. This standard is effective for interim or fiscal periods ending after June 15, 2009. Accordingly, the Company adopted these provisions of FASB ASC Topic 855 on April 1, 2009. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 855 resulted in additional disclosures with respect to subsequent events. See Note 17, Subsequent Events, for this additional disclosure.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued guidance now codified as FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, which is intended to provide additional application guidance and enhanced disclosures regarding fair value measurements and impairments of securities and additional guidelines for estimating fair value in accordance with additional guidance related to the disclosure of impairment losses on securities and the accounting for impairment losses on debt securities. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods ended after June 15, 2009. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
 
In June 2008, the FASB ratified EITF Issue No. 07-5, Determining Whether an Instrument (or an Embedded Feature) Is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock (“EITF 07-5”).  EITF 07-5 provides that an entity should use a two step approach to evaluate whether an equity-linked financial instrument, or embedded feature, is indexed to its own stock, including evaluating the instrument’s contingent exercise and settlement provisions.  It also clarifies on the impact of foreign currency denominated strike prices and market-based employee stock option valuations.  EITF 07-5 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of EITF 07-5 is not expected to havea  material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.
 
In March 2008, the FASB issued guidance now codified as FASB ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”, which requires enhanced disclosures about an entity’s derivative and hedging activities and thereby improves the transparency of financial reporting. This standard is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued guidance now codified as FASB ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations”, which significantly changes the accounting for business combinations in a number of areas including the treatment of contingent consideration, contingencies, acquisition costs, research and development assets and restructuring costs. In addition, changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and acquired income tax uncertainties in a business combination after the measurement period will impact income taxes. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of these provisions will have an effect on accounting for any business acquired after the effective date of this standard.
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued guidance now codified as FASB ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations”, to establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. This pronouncement is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and shall be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the guidance is initially adopted. The adoption of the provisions in this pronouncement would have an impact on the presentation and disclosure of the noncontrolling interest of any non wholly owned businesses acquired in the future.
 
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ITEM 7A.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Not applicable
 
ITEM 8.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The information required by this item appears beginning on page F-1 of this report.
 
ITEM 9.   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

Not applicable

ITEM 9A(T).   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls

Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2009. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files and submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2009, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
 
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, which is composed solely of independent directors, meets regularly with our independent registered public accounting firm, Marcum LLP, and representatives of management to review accounting, financial reporting, internal control and audit matters, as well as the nature and extent of the audit effort. The Audit Committee is responsible for the engagement of the independent auditors. The independent auditors have free access to the Audit Committee.

(b) Management’s Responsibility for Financial Statements

   Our management is responsible for the integrity and objectivity of all information presented in this report. The consolidated financial statements were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and include amounts based on management’s best estimates and judgments. Management believes the consolidated financial statements fairly reflect the form and substance of transactions and that the financial statements fairly represent the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations for the periods and as of the dates stated therein.

(c) Management’s Assessment of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The management of Cicero Inc. is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined by Rules 13a–15(f) and 15(d)-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  This system is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
 
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Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, a system of internal control over financial reporting can only provide reasonable assurance and may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Further, because of changes in conditions, effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting may vary over time.
 
Under the direction of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, management completed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the system of internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework , published by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and has determined that the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2009.

(d) Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

(e) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During our fourth fiscal quarter, there has been no change in our internal control over our financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B.   OTHER INFORMATION

None

 
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PART III

ITEM 10.   DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The following table sets forth certain information about our directors and executive officers:
 
Name
 
Age
 
Position(s)
John L Steffens
 
68
 
Director and Chairman
John Broderick
 
60
 
Director and Chief Executive Officer/Chief Financial Officer
Antony Castagno
 
42
 
Director and Chief Technology Officer
Anthony C. Pizi
 
50
 
Director
Mark Landis
 
68
 
Director
Bruce W. Hasenyager
 
68
 
Director
Jay R. Kingley
 
49
 
Director
Charles B. Porciello
 
74
 
Director
Bruce D. Miller
 
59
 
Director
John W. Atherton
 
67
 
Director
Don Peppers
 
59
 
Director

John L. Steffens
Director since May, 2007.

Mr. Steffens was appointed to our Board of Directors on May 16, 2007 and is the Founder and Managing Director of Spring Mountain Capital, L. P.  Prior to establishing Spring Mountain Capital, Mr. Steffens spent 38 years at Merrill Lynch & Co., where he held numerous senior management positions, including President of Merrill Lynch Consumer Markets, which was later named the Private Client Group, from July 1985 until April 1997, and both Vice Chairman of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (the parent company) and Chairman of its U.S. Private Client Group from April 1997 until July 2001. Mr. Steffens was elected a member of the Board of Directors of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. in April 1986 and served on the board until July 2001. Mr. Steffens was Chairman of the Securities Industry Association during 1994 and 1995, and is currently a Trustee of the Committee for Economic Development. He is the National Chairman Emeritus of the Alliance for Aging Research and serves on the Board of Aozora Bank in Japan.  Mr. Steffens graduated from Dartmouth University in 1963 with a B.A. degree in Economics.  He also attended the Advanced Management Program of the Harvard Business School in 1979.  We believe Mr. Steffen’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his experience in leading complex enterprises and his experience as a senior executive.

John P. Broderick
Director since July 2005.

Mr. Broderick is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and is also a director. Mr. Broderick has served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Company since June 2002, as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company since April 2001, and as Corporate Secretary since August 2001. Prior to joining our Company, Mr. Broderick was Executive Vice President of Swell Inc., a sports media e-commerce company where he oversaw the development of all commerce operations and served as the organization's interim Chief Financial Officer. Previously, Mr. Broderick served as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of North American Operations for Programmer's Paradise, a publicly held (NASDAQ: PROG) international software marketer.  Mr. Broderick received his B.S. in accounting from Villanova University.  We believe Mr. Broderick’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his intimate knowledge of our operations as a result of day to day leadership as our Chief Executive Officer.

Antony Castagno
Director since March 2010.

Mr. Castagno is currently the Chief Technology Officer of the Company and is also a director.  Mr. Castagno brings over 20 years of leadership and technology experience to Cicero and is responsible for the technology vision and execution for Cicero’s Customer Experience software. Prior to joining Cicero in January 2010, Mr. Castagno was the Chief Executive Officer of SOAdesk LLC, which pioneered the Intelligent Agent Desktop and Customer Interaction Management space. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Castagno was the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer for OpenSpan, where he led the development of client side integration. Mr. Castagno graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1989 with a BS in Computer Science. Over the course of Mr. Castagno’s career, he has held leadership and technology positions with Deloitte, Verifone, ADP, Personic and was the founder of Vertical Thought an Atlanta-based technology incubator.  We believe Mr. Castagno’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his experience as Chief Executive Officer of SOADesk, LLC.

 
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Anthony C. Pizi
Director since August 2000.

Mr. Pizi is presently the CIO of the Asset Management Platform Services Group of Deutsche Bank AG. Mr. Pizi was the Company’s Chief Information Officer until August 2007 and served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer from February 2001 to July 2005. Mr. Pizi also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors from December 1, 2000 until March 7, 2005 and from June 1, 2005 until July 22, 2005. Mr. Pizi has been a director since August 2000. Until December 2000, he was First Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Merrill Lynch’s Private Client Technology Architecture and Service Quality Group.  Mr. Pizi’s 16 years with Merrill Lynch included assignments in Corporate MIS, Investment Banking and Private Client. Mr. Pizi earned his B.S. in Engineering from West Virginia University.  We believe Mr. Pizi’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his experience in various senior executive roles at Cicero Inc.
 
Mark Landis
Director since July 2005.

Mr. Mark Landis is the Senior Managing Member of the Security Growth Fund, a newly established private equity firm focused on the electronic security industry. Prior to joining the Security Growth Fund and since 2003, Mr. Landis was the Executive in Residence of The Jordan Company, a private equity firm based in New York. Mr. Landis retired from being President of the North American Security Division of Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. in July of 2003, having joined that company in 1988.  Mr. Landis earned his B.A. from Cornell University and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.  Mr. Landis received his CPCU - Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter from the American Institute for Property and Liability Underwriters.  We believe Mr. Landis’ qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his experience in leading enterprises and his experience as a senior executive.

Bruce W. Hasenyager
Director since October 2002.

Mr. Hasenyager has been a director of the Company since October 2002.  Since November 2004, Mr. Hasenyager has served as Principal of Bergen & Webster Executive Communications.  Prior to that, he served as Director of Business and Technology Development at the Hart eCenter at Southern Methodist University (SMU) and Chief Operating Officer of the Guildhall at SMU. From April 1996 to April 2002, Mr. Hasenyager was a founder and served as Senior Vice President of Technology and Operations and Chief Technology Officer at MobilStar Network Corporation. Prior to April 1996, Mr. Hasenyager held executive and senior management positions in information technology at Chemical Bank, Merrill Lynch, Kidder Peabody, and Citibank.  We believe Mr. Hasenyager’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his many years experience in the industry.

Jay R. Kingley
Director since November 2002.

Mr. Kingley has been a director of the Company since November 2002.  Mr. Kingley is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Kingley Institute LLC, a medical wellness company. Prior to that, Mr. Kingley has served as CEO of Warren Partners, LLC, a software development and consultancy company. Mr. Kingley was Managing Director of a business development function of Zurich Financial Services Group from 1999-2001.  Prior to joining Zurich Financial Services Group, Mr. Kingley was Vice President of Diamond Technology Partners, Inc., a management-consulting firm.  We believe Mr. Kingley’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his experience as Chief Executive Officer of  a software development and consultancy company.

Charles B. Porciello
Director since June 2005.

Mr. Porciello has been a director since June 6, 2005.  Since 2003, Mr. Porciello has been the Chief Executive Officer of Pilar Services, Inc. From 2001 until 2003, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Enterprise Integration Corporation, a minority-owned IT services company.  Prior to that Mr. Porciello worked for various IT companies, developing and facilitating in their growth.   Mr. Porciello retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1982 after serving his country for twenty five years. Mr. Porciello graduated from the U.S. Military Academy with a B.S. in Engineering and received his Masters Degree in Management from the University of Nebraska.  We believe Mr. Porciello’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his experience as Chief Operating Officer of an IT service company and his many years of experience in the industry.

 
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Bruce D. Miller
Director since July 2005.

Mr. Bruce D. Miller has been a General Partner of Delphi Partners, Ltd. a privately-owned investment partnership since 1989.  He is the treasurer and a director of American Season Corporation.  Mr. Miller is a board member of Cape Air/Nantucket Airlines, Inc.  Mr. Miller is a trustee of the Egan Maritime Foundation and is involved in other non-profit activities.  Mr. Miller received his B.S. in Finance from Lehigh University and subsequently earned an M.B.A. from Lehigh.  We believe Mr. Miller’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his experience as General Partner of a privately owned investment partnership.

John W. Atherton
Director since May 2006.

Mr. Atherton has been a director since May 12, 2006. Since 2005, Mr. Atherton has been the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CityFed Financial, a publicly held financial holding company, based in Nantucket, Massachusetts. He served as Chairman of CityFed Financial from 1991 until 2005. Mr. Atherton received his B.A. degree from Wesleyan University (Middletown, Connecticut) and an M.B.A. with Distinction from Babson College (Wellesley, Massachusetts).  We believe Mr. Atherton’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his experience as Chief Financial Officer and Chairman of a financial holding company.

Don Peppers
Director since June 2007.

Mr. Peppers has been a director since June 20, 2007.  Mr. Peppers formed Marketing 1:1, Inc. in January 1992 which became Peppers & Rogers Group, a customer-centered management consulting firm with offices located in the United States, Europe, Latin America and South Africa.  From October 1990 to January 1992, Mr. Peppers was the Chief Executive Officer of Perkins/Butler Direct Marketing, a top-20 U.S.-direct-marketing agency.  Prior to marketing and advertising, he worked as an economist in the oil business and as the director of accounting for a regional airline. Mr. Peppers holds a Bachelor's Degree in astronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, and a Master's Degree in public affairs from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School.  We believe Mr. Pepper’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his experience his years of experience providing strategic advisory services to organizations.

Mr. Mark Landis is the father in law of Mr. Anthony Pizi.  There are no other family relationships between or among the above directors or executive officers.
 
Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is composed of Mr. Bruce Miller, Mr. Bruce Hasenyager and Mr. John W. Atherton. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee include the appointment of, retention, replacement, compensation and overseeing the work of the Company’s independent accountants and tax professionals. The Audit Committee reviews with the independent accountants the results of the audit engagement, approves professional services provided by the accountants including the scope of non-audit services, if any, and reviews the adequacy of our internal accounting controls. The Audit Committee met formally four times during our fiscal year ended December 31, 2009. Each member attended every meeting while they were appointed to the Audit Committee. The Board of Directors has determined that the members of the Audit Committee are independent as defined in Rule 4350(d) of the National Association of Securities Dealers’ listing standards. Mr. John W. Atherton was designated the “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S due to his experience as a Chief Financial Officer of a public company.

Code of Ethics and Conduct
 
Our Board of Directors has adopted a code of ethics and a code of conduct that applies to all of our directors, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and employees.  We will provide copies of our code of conduct and code of ethics without charge upon request. To obtain a copy of the code of ethics or code of conduct, please send your written request to Cicero Inc., Suite 542, 8000 Regency Pkwy, Cary, North Carolina 27518, Attn: Corporate Secretary.  The code of ethics is also available on the Company’s website at www.ciceroinc.com.

 
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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company’s officers, directors and persons who own more than ten percent of the Company’s Common Stock (collectively, “Reporting Persons”) to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC and Nasdaq.  Reporting Persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Based solely on its review of the copies of such reports received by it and written representations all Section 16(a) reports were filed in a timely manner.

ITEM 11.   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

Compensation Committee Membership and Organization

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has responsibility for establishing, implementing and monitoring adherence with the Company’s compensation philosophy. Its duties include:

·        
Setting the total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and evaluating his performance based on corporate goals and objectives;
 
·        
Reviewing and approving the Chief Executives Officer’s decisions relevant to the total compensation of the Company’s other executive officer;
 
·        
Making recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to equity-based plans in order to allow us to attract and retain qualified personnel; and
 
·        
Reviewing director compensation levels and practices, and recommending, from time to time, changes in such compensation levels and practices of the Board of Directors.
 
The members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Kingley and Porciello. None of the current members of the Compensation Committee has served as an executive officer of the Company, and no executive officer of the Company has served as a member of the Compensation Committee of any other entity of which Messrs. Kingley and Porciello have served as executive officers. Mr. Porciello is the Chief Executive Officer of Pilar Services Inc., a reseller partner.  We recognized no revenue with Pilar Services Inc. during 2009 and 2008.  There were no interlocking relationships between us and other entities that might affect the determination of the compensation of the directors and executive officers of the Company. The Compensation Committee meets on an as necessary basis during the year.

General Compensation Philosophy

As a technology company, we operate in an extremely competitive and rapidly changing industry. We believe that the skill, talent, judgment and dedication of our executive officers are critical factors affecting the long term value of our company. The Compensation Committee’s philosophy and objectives in setting compensation policies for executive officers are to align pay with performance, while at the same time providing fair, reasonable and competitive compensation that will allow us to retain and attract superior executive talent. The Compensation Committee strongly believes that executive compensation should align executives’ interests with those of shareholders by rewarding achievement of specific annual, long-term and strategic goals by the Company, with an ultimate objective of providing long-term stockholder value. The specific goals that our current executive compensation program rewards are focused primarily on revenue growth and profitability. To that end, the Compensation Committee believes executive compensation packages provided by the Company to its executive officers should include a mix of both cash and equity based compensation that reward performance as measured against established goals. As a result, the principal elements of our executive compensation are base salary, non-equity incentive plan compensation, long-term equity incentives generally in the form of stock options and/or restricted stock and post-termination severance and acceleration of stock option vesting upon termination and/or a change in control.

Our goal is to maintain an executive compensation program that will fairly compensate our executives, attract and retain qualified executives who are able to contribute to our long-term success, induce performance consistent with clearly defined corporate goals and align our executives long-term interests with those of our shareholders. The decision on the total compensation for our executive officers is based primarily on an assessment of each individual’s performance and the potential to enhance long-term stockholder value. Often, judgment is utilized in lieu of total reliance upon rigid guidelines or formulas in determining the amount and mix of compensation for each executive officer. Factors affecting such judgment include performance compared to strategic goals established for the individual and the Company at the beginning of the year, the nature and scope of the executive’s responsibilities and effectiveness in leading initiatives to achieve corporate goals.

 
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Role of Chief Executive Officer in Compensation Decisions
 
The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors determines the base salary (and any bonus and equity-based compensation) for each executive officer annually. John Broderick, our Chief Executive Officer, confers with members of the Compensation Committee, and makes recommendations, regarding the compensation of all executive officers other than himself. He does not participate in the Compensation Committee's deliberations regarding his own compensation. In determining the compensation of our executive officers, the Compensation Committee does not engage in any benchmarking of total compensation or any material element of compensation.

Components of Executive Compensation

The compensation program for our Named Executive Officers consists of:

     ·        
Base salary;
     ·        
Non-equity incentive plan compensation;
     ·        
Long-term incentive compensation; and
     ·        
Other benefits

Base Salary

The Company provides our executive officers and other employees with base salary to compensate them for services rendered during the fiscal year. The Compensation Committee considered the scope and accountability associated with each executive officer’s position and such factors as the performance and experience of each executive officer, individual leadership and level of responsibility when approving the base salary levels for fiscal year 2010.

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation

Non-equity incentive plan compensation for our executive officers is designed to reward performance against key corporate goals and for certain of our executives for performance against individual business development goals. Our chief executive officer’s incentive targets are designed to motivate management to exceed specific goals related to profitability objectives. We believe that these metrics closely correlate to stockholder value. We believe that these metrics also correlate to stockholder value and individual performance. No executive achieved a non-equity incentive bonus in fiscal 2009.  Our Chief Executive Officer achieved a non-equity bonus of $25,000 in fiscal 2008.

Our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Broderick, is eligible for non-equity incentive plan compensation with a target bonus of $75,000 for achieving targeted pretax income for fiscal 2010.

Our Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Castagno, is eligible for non-equity incentive plan compensation with a target bonus of $75,000 for achieving targeted pretax income for fiscal 2010.
 
Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards

The Company presently has one equity-based compensation plan, entitled Cicero Inc. 2007 Employee Stock Option Plan. The Plan provides for the grant of incentive and non-qualified stock options to employees, and the grant of non-qualified options to consultants and to directors and advisory board members. In addition, various other types of stock-based awards, such a stock appreciation rights, may be granted under the Plan. The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, which determines the individuals eligible to receive options or other awards under the Plan, the terms and conditions of those awards, the applicable vesting schedule, the option price and term for any granted options, and all other terms and conditions governing the option grants and other awards made under the Plan. Under the 2007 Plan, 4,500,000 shares of our common stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to options or restricted stock awards; at December 31, 2009, 1,818,774 shares were available for future option grants and awards. The Company’s previous equity-based compensation plan, entitled Level 8 Systems 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan, expired during fiscal 2007. There are 24,580 options outstanding under that plan.

 
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To date, awards have been mainly in the form of non-qualified stock options granted under the Plans. The Compensation Committee grant these stock-based incentive awards from time to time for the purpose of attracting and retaining key executives, motivating them to attain the Company's long-range financial objectives, and closely aligning their financial interests with long-term stockholder interests and share value.
 
Grants to other employees are typically made upon initial employment and then periodically as the Compensation Committee so determines. The Compensation Committee has empowered our Chief Executive Officer to issue grants of up to 75,000 options to new employees at the fair market value of the stock on the date of employment. Any proposed option grants in excess of that amount require Compensation Committee approval. Our stock options typically vest over two years with one third being immediately vested upon the date of grant and one third vesting on each of the next two anniversaries of the date of grant.  During fiscal 2009, the Company granted options to purchase 475,000 shares to employees.

We account for equity compensation paid to all of our employees under the rules of Financial Accounting Standards Board guidance now codified as ASC 718 “Compensation – Stock Compensation”, which requires us to estimate and record compensation expense over the service period of the award. All equity awards to our employees, including executive officers, and to our directors have been granted and reflected in our consolidated financial statements, based upon the applicable accounting guidance, at fair market value on the date of grant. Generally, the granting of a non-qualified stock option to our executive officers is not a taxable event to those employees, provided, however, that the exercise of such stock would result in taxable income to the optionee equal to the difference between the fair market value of the stock on the exercise date and the exercise price paid for such stock. Similarly, a restricted stock award subject to a vesting requirement is also not taxable to our executive officers unless such individual makes an election under section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In the absence of a section 83(b) election, the value of the restricted stock award becomes taxable to the recipient as the restriction lapses.

Other Benefits
 
Our executive officers participate in benefit programs that are substantially the same as all other eligible employees of the Company.

The following summary compensation table sets forth the compensation earned by all persons serving as the Company’s executive officers during fiscal year 2008 and 2009.

Summary Compensation Table
 
Name and
Principal
Position
 
Fiscal
Year
   
Salary
   
Stock Awards
   
Option Awards
   
Non- Equity
Incentive
Plan Compensation
(1)
   
 
All Other
Compensation
(2)
   
 
 
Total
 
John P. Broderick
Chief Executive Officer Chief /Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary
 
2009
    $ 175,000       --       --       --     $ 10,139     $ 185,139  
   
2008
    $ 175,000       --       --     $ 25,000     $ 6,780     $ 206,780  
 
      (1)       
Non-equity incentive plan compensation includes a bonus for certain revenue transactions for named executive earned during fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.  The revenue transaction was the acceptance of the first contract greater then $300,000.
    
      (2)       
Other compensation includes the Company’s portion of major medical insurance premiums and long term disability premiums for named executives during fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 
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Grants of Plan Based Awards
 
The Company did not award any stock options to the named executive during fiscal 2009 and 2008.  The Company did not award any stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) during fiscal 2009 and 2008.

The following table presents the number and values of exercisable options as of December 31, 2009 by the named executive.

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2009
 
   
Option Awards
 
Stock Awards
 Name                 
 
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options # Exercisable (Vested)
   
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options# Unexercisable (Unvested)
   
Option Exercise price ($)
 
Option Expiration date
 
Number of Shares of Stock That Have Not Vested
 
Market Value of Shares of Stock That Have Not Vested
John P. Broderick
    500 (1)     --     $ 404.00  
05/17/2011
       
      250 (2)     --     $ 175.00  
09/25/2011
       
      909 (3)     --     $ 174.00  
12/03/2011
       
      1,000 (4)     --     $ 39.00  
07/08/2012
       
      4,950 (5)     --     $ 26.00  
04/24/2013
       
      5,000 (6)     --     $ 31.00  
02/18/2014
       
      549,360 (7)     --     $ 0.51  
08/17/2017
       
                             
549,630 (8)
 
$  60,459
 
 
     (1)     These options were granted on May 17, 2001. This stock option vested and became exercisable in four equal installments with the first installment vesting on May 17, 2002.
 
     (2)     These options were granted on September 25, 2001. This stock option vested and became exercisable in four equal annual installments with the first installment vesting on September 25, 2002.
 
     (3)     These options were granted on December 3, 2001. This stock option vested and became exercisable in three equal annual installments with the first installment vesting on December 3, 2001.
 
     (4)     These options were granted on July 8, 2002.  This stock option vested and became exercisable in three equal annual installments with the first installment vesting on July 8, 2002.
 
     (5)     These options were granted on April 24, 2003. This stock option vested and became exercisable in three equal annual installments with the first installment vesting on April 24, 2003.
 
     (6)     These options were granted on February 18, 2004. This stock option vested and became exercisable in three equal annual installments with the first installment vesting on February 18, 2004.
 
     (7)     These options were granted on August 17, 2007. This stock option vests in three equal installments with the first installment vesting on August 17, 2007.
 
     (8)     These are restricted stock granted on August 17, 2007.  The shares will vest to him upon his resignation or termination or a change of control.
 
Options Exercised and Stock Vested

The named executive did not exercise any options during the year ended December 31, 2009. All of Mr. Broderick’s outstanding options are fully vested.

 
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Employment Agreements, Termination of Employment and Change-In-Control Arrangements

Under the employment agreement between the Company and Mr. Broderick effective January 1, 2010, we agreed to pay Mr. Broderick an annual base salary of $175,000 and performance bonuses in cash of up to $275,000 per annum based upon exceeding certain revenue goals and operating metrics, as determined by the Compensation Committee, in its discretion.  Upon termination of Mr. Broderick’s employment by the Company without cause, we agreed to pay Mr. Broderick a lump sum payment of one year of Mr. Broderick’s then current base salary within 30 days of termination and any unpaid deferred salaries and bonuses. In the event there occurs a substantial change in Mr. Broderick’s job duties, there is a decrease in or failure to provide the compensation or vested benefits under the employment agreement or there is a change in control of the Company, we agreed to pay Mr. Broderick a lump sum payment of one year of Mr. Broderick’s then current base salary within thirty (30) days of termination. Mr. Broderick will have thirty (30) days from the date written notice is given about either a change in his duties or the announcement and closing of a transaction resulting in a change in control of the Company to resign and execute his rights under this agreement. If Mr. Broderick’s employment is terminated for any reason, Mr. Broderick has agreed that, for two (2) year after such termination, he will not directly or indirectly solicit or divert business from us or assist any business in attempting to do so or solicit or hire any person who was our employee during the term of his employment agreement or assist any business in attempting to do so.

Under the employment agreement between the Company and Mr. Castagno effective January 1, 2010, we agreed to pay Mr. Castagno an annual base salary of $150,000 and performance bonuses in cash of up to $250,000 per annum based upon exceeding certain revenue goals and operating metrics, as determined by the Compensation Committee, in its discretion.  Upon termination of Mr. Castagno’s employment by the Company without cause, we agreed to pay Mr. Castagno an amount equivalent to six (6) months of Mr. Castagno’s then current base salary within in equal semi-monthly installments over the six (6) month period following the termination. If Mr. Castagno’s employment is terminated for any reason, Mr. Castagno has agreed that, for two (2) year after such termination, he will not directly or indirectly solicit or divert business from us or assist any business in attempting to do so or solicit or hire any person who was our employee during the term of his employment agreement or assist any business in attempting to do so.
 
Estimated Payments and Benefits Upon Termination

The amount of compensation and benefits payable to named executive has been estimated in the table below. Since all options held by the executive are out-of-the-money, we have not estimated any value for option acceleration. Deferred compensation reflects amounts voluntarily deferred from salaries during fiscal 2004 and 2005 plus accrued but unpaid bonuses from 2003.

   
Base Salary
   
Restricted Shares Award
   
Deferred Compensation
   
Total Compensation and Benefits
 
John P. Broderick
                       
  Death
  $ --     $ 60,459     $ 175,000     $ 235,459  
  Disability
    --       60,459       175,000       235,459  
  Involuntary termination     without cause
    175,000       60,459       175,000       410,459  
  Change in Control
    175,000       60,459       175,000       410,459  
Antony Castagno
                               
  Involuntary termination     without cause
    75,000       --       --       75,000  
 
The amounts shown in the table above do not include payments and benefits to the extent they are provided on a non-discriminatory basis to salaried employees generally upon termination, such as unreimbursed business expenses payable.


 
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Director Compensation

In 2007, the Board of Directors approved the 2007 Cicero Employee Stock Option Plan which permits the issuance of incentive and nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, and restricted and unrestricted stock to employees, officers, directors, consultants, and advisors. The aggregate number of shares of common stock which may be issued under this Plan shall not exceed 4,500,000 shares upon the exercise of awards and provide that the term of each award be determined by the Board of Directors . In August 2007, outside directors were each granted an option to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock at a price equal to the fair market value on the date of grant. The value of these awards was $2,609.  These options vested on the one year anniversary of the date of grant provided that the director is still a member of the Board of Directors. In addition, each outside director who serves on either the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee or as the Chairman of the Board, were each granted an additional option to purchase 3,000 shares of common stock at a price equal to the fair value on the date of grant. The value of these awards was $1,565.  These options also vested on the one year anniversary of the date of grant and carry the same service requirements.

In May 1999, stockholders of the Company approved the Outside Director Stock Incentive Plan of the Company. Under this plan, the outside directors may be granted an option to purchase 120 shares of common stock at a price equal to the fair market value of the common stock as of the grant date. In January 2002, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the Outside Director Stock Incentive Plan to provide an increase in the number of options to be granted to outside directors to 240.  These options vest over a three-year period in equal increments upon the eligible director’s election to the Board, with the initial increment vesting on the date of grant.  The Outside Director Stock Incentive Plan also permits eligible directors to receive partial payment of director fees in common stock in lieu of cash, subject to approval by the Board of Directors. In addition, the plan permits the Board of Directors to grant discretionary awards to eligible directors under the plan.  None of the Company’s directors received additional monetary compensation for serving on the Board of Directors of the Company in 2009.

In October 2002, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the stock incentive plan for all non-management directors. Under the amendment, each non-management director will receive 1,000 options to purchase common stock of the Company at the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. These shares will vest in three equal increments with the initial increment vesting on the date of grant. The option grant contains an acceleration of vesting provision should the Company incur a change in control. A change in control is defined as a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another unaffiliated entity, or the merger of an unaffiliated entity into the Company or another subsidiary thereof with the effect that immediately after such transaction the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the transaction hold less than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of all securities generally entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the entity surviving such merger or consolidation.  Under the amendment, there will be no additional compensation awarded for committee participation.  The shares allocated to the Board of Directors were issued out of the Level 8 Systems, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Plan.

No compensation was paid, accrued or expensed during Fiscal 2009 by us to each of our non-employee directors who served during Fiscal 2009.
 
ITEM 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.

         The following table sets forth information as of February 28, 2010 with respect to beneficial ownership of shares by (i) each person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding common stock, (ii) each of the Company’s directors, (iii) the executive officers of the Company named in the Summary Compensation Table (the “Named Executives”) and (iv) all current directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each person listed is c/o Cicero Inc., 8000 Regency Parkway, Suite 542, Cary, North Carolina 27518.

The named person has furnished stock ownership information to the Company. Beneficial ownership as reported in this section was determined in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission regulations and includes shares as to which a person possesses sole or shared voting and/or investment power and shares that may be acquired on or before April 29, 2010 upon the exercise of stock options as well as exercise of warrants. The chart is based on 47,098,185 common shares outstanding as of February 28, 2010.   Except as otherwise stated in the footnotes below, the named persons have sole voting and investment power with regard to the shares shown as beneficially owned by such persons.

 
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Common Stock
 
Name of Beneficial Owner
 
No. of Shares
   
Percent of Class
 
John L. Steffens (1)
    13,635,756 (2)     24.5 %
Jonathan Gallen (3)
    11,094,139 (4)     23.3 %
Mark and Carolyn P. Landis (5)
    5,109,863 (6)     10.5 %
SOAdesk LLC
    4,666,667 (7)     9.0 %
Anthony C. Pizi
    1,402,634 (8)     3.0 %
Bruce Miller
    2,274,364 (9)     4.8 %
John P. Broderick
    1,114,577 (10)     2.3 %
John W.  Atherton
    156,784 (11)     *  
Bruce W. Hasenyager
    41,652 (12)     *  
Don Peppers
    357,327 (13)     *  
Charles Porciello
    88,286 (14)     *  
Jay R. Kingley
    10,000 (15)     *  
Antony Castagno
    --       *  
All current directors and executive officers as a group (11 persons)
    24,191,243 (16)     41.5 %

*
Represents less than one percent of the outstanding shares.

1
The address of John L. Steffens is 65 East 55 th Street, New York, N.Y. 10022.

2.
Includes 5,160,307 shares of common stock, 14,832 shares of the Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, 6,400,000 shares of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, and 2,052,617 shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants and 8,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable within sixty (60) days. The exercise prices of the warrants are as follows: 14,332 at $10.00 per share, 188,285 at $0.18 per share, 250,000 at $0.20 per share and 1,600,000 at $0.25.  The exercise price of the stock options is $0.51 per share.

3.
The address of Mr. Gallen is 299 Park Avenue New York, New York 10171.

4.
Ahab Partner, L.P. (“Partners”), Ahab International, Ltd. (“International”), Queequeg Partners, L.P. (“Queequeg”) and Queequeg, Ltd. (“Limited,” and collectively with Partners, International, and Queequeg, , the “Funds”) held in aggregate 8,896,136 shares of common stock, 1,667,000 shares of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and warrants to acquire 431,003 shares of common stock. The exercise prices of the warrants are 14,336 at $10.00 and 416,667 at $0.25.  Jonathan Gallen possesses the sole power to vote and the sole power to direct the disposition of all securities of the Company held by the Funds.  In addition, Jonathan Gallen held the power to direct the disposition of 100,000 shares of common stock held in private investment account.  Accordingly, for the purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Mr. Gallen may be deemed to beneficially own 11,094,139 shares of common stock of the Company.

5.
The address of Mark and Carolyn P. Landis is 503 Lake Drive, Princeton, New Jersey 08540.

6.
Includes 3,748,155 shares of common stock, 1,326,136 shares of the Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, 30,572 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants and 5,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable within sixty (60) days. The exercise prices of the warrants and stock options are at $10.00 and $0.51 per share respectively.  Disclaims beneficial ownership of 35,572 shares because they are anti-dilutive.

7.
Includes 4,666,667 shares of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.
 
8.
Includes 1,274,951 shares of common stock, 111,016 shares of the Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, 11,667 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants and 5,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable within sixty (60) days.  The exercise prices of warrants and stock options are $10.00 and $0.51 per share of common stock, respectively.
 
9.
Consists of 1,740,388 shares of common stock, 13,195 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants and 8,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable within sixty (60) days.  The exercise prices of the warrants and stock options are $10.00 and $0.51 per share of common stock, respectively.  Mr. Miller has sole or shared voting or dispositive power with respect to the securities held by Delphi Partners, Ltd., which holds 509,267 shares of common stock and 3,514 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants with an exercise price at $10.00 per share.
 
 
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10.
Includes 3,248 shares of common stock.  561,969 shares subject to stock options exercisable within sixty (60) days and 549,360 shares of restricted stock that is awarded upon resignation or termination and change of control.  The exercise prices of stock options range from $0.51 to $404 per share of common stock.

11.
Includes 148,784 shares of common stock, and 100 shares of common stock held in a self-directed IRA and 8,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable within sixty (60) days.  The exercise price of stock options is $0.51 per share of common stock.

12.
Consists of 32,652 shares of common stock and 9,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable within sixty (60) days.  The exercise prices of stock options are as follows: 1,000 at $35.00 per share and 8,000 at $0.51 per share of common stock.  Disclaims beneficial ownership of 1,000 shares of common stock because they are anti-dilutive.
 
13.
Includes 352,327 shares of common stock and 5,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable within sixty (60) days. The exercise price of stock options is $0.51 per share of common stock.

14. 
Consists of 80,286 shares of common stock and 8,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable within sixty (60) days. The exercise price of stock options is $0.51 per share of common stock.
 
15.
Consists of 1,000 shares of common stock and 9,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable within sixty (60) days. The exercise prices of stock options are as follows: 1,000 at $34.00 per share and 8,000 at $0.51 per share of common stock.
 
16.
Includes shares issuable upon exercise of options and warrants exercisable within sixty (60) days as described in Notes 7-14 to our financial statements.

ITEM 13.   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Loans from Related Parties

In December 2009, the Company entered into a short term note   payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Note bears interest at 12% per year and is unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $100,000.

 
33

 
 
In October 2009, the Company entered into two short term note   payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Notes bear interest at 12% per year and are unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $75,000.

In September 2009, the Company entered into a short term note   payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Note bears interest at 10% per year and is unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $150,000.

In June 2008, the Company entered into a short term note payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Note bears interest at 10% per year and is unsecured. The Company made a principal payment of $55,000 during fiscal 2008.  At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $45,000.

   In October 2007, the Company entered into a long-term promissory note with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman on the Board of Directors, as part of the restructuring of the Note payable to Bank Hapoalim.  The Note bears interest of 3% and matures in October 2009. The Company also granted Mr. Steffens in October 2002 188,285 warrants to purchase common stock at $0.18 each. The Company used the Black Scholes method to value the warrants and recorded a stock compensation charge and additional paid-in capital in the amount of $34,230. In March 2009, the Company and Mr. Steffens agreed to extend the maturity on the above note to October 31, 2010.  At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $300,000.

In November 2007, the Company entered into a short term note   payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Note bears interest at 6% per year and is unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $40,000.

All these notes were converted into 4,733 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Shares at $150 per share in January 2010 as part of the Company’s issuance of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock bears an annual interest of 8% and provides warrants to purchase common stock of the Company at a strike price of $0.25 per share.  The Series B stock may convert into common stock at a conversion rate of $0.15 per share.  The total principal converted was $710,000.

During 2005, the Company entered into short term notes   payable with Anthony Pizi, the Company’s former Chief Information Officer, for various working capital needs. The Notes bear interest at 1% per month and are unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Pizi in the amount of $9,000.

Borrowings and Commitments from BluePhoenix Solutions

BluePhoenix Solutions guaranteed certain debt obligations of the Company. In October 2007, the Company agreed to restructure the Note payable to Bank Hapoalim and guaranty by BluePhoenix Solutions. Under a new agreement with BluePhoenix, the Company made a principal reduction payment to Bank Hapoalim in the amount of $300,000. Simultaneously, BluePhoenix paid $1,671,000 to Bank Hapoalim, thereby discharging that indebtedness. The Company and BluePhoenix entered into a new Note in the amount of $1,021,000, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.0% and maturing on December 31, 2011. In addition, BluePhoenix acquired 2,546,149 shares of the Company’s common stock in exchange for $650,000 paid to Bank Hapoalim to retire that indebtedness.  Of the new note payable to BluePhoenix, approximately $350,000 is due on January 31, 2009 and the balance is due on December 31, 2011.  In March 2008, the amended the terms if its Notes Payable with BluePhoenix Solutions.  The Company and BluePhoenix agreed to accelerate that principal originally due on January 31, 2009 to March and April 2008 in return for a conversion of $50,000 of debt into 195,848 shares of the Company’s common stock.  In March 2008, the Company paid $200,000 plus accrued interest and subsequently paid $100,000 plus accrued interest.

Director Independence

Our board of directors currently consists of eleven members.  They are John L. Steffens, John P. Broderick, Antony Castagno, Mark Landis, Anthony C. Pizi, Bruce Hasenyager, Jay Kingley, Bruce D. Miller, Charles Porciello, John W. Atherton, and Don Peppers.  Mr. Steffens is the Company’s Chairman of the Board and Mr. Broderick is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.  The Company’s stock is quoted on the Over The Counter Bulletin Board, which does not have director independence requirements. Under Item 407(a) of Regulation S-K, the Company has chosen to measure the independence of its directors under the definition of independence used by the American Stock Exchange, which can be found in the AMEX Company Guide, §121(A)(2) (2007).  Under such definition, Messrs. Steffens, Landis, Pizi, Hasenyager, Kingley, Miller, Porciello, Atherton and Peppers are independent directors.

ITEM 14.   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Marcum LLP audited our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.  Margolis & Company P.C., whose practice was combined with Marcum LLP as of September 1, 2009, audited our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
 
 
34

 
 
Audit Fees

Audit fees include fees for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements, fees for the review of the Company’s interim financial statements, and fees for services that are normally provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. The aggregate fees billed by Marcum LLP for professional services rendered to our company for the audit of the Company's annual financial statements for fiscal years 2009 and 2008 (and reviews of quarterly financial statements on form 10-Q) were $65,000 and $44,000, respectively.

Audit-Related Fees

Audit-related fees include fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements. There were no audit-related fees billed by Marcum LLP for fiscal years 2009 and 2008.

Tax Fees

Tax fees include fees for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. There were no fees billed by Marcum LLP for these services in 2009 and 2008.

Other Fees

All other fees include fees for all services except those described above. There were no other fees billed by Marcum LLP for fiscal year 2009.
 
Determination of Auditor Independence

The Audit Committee considered the provision of non-audit services by Marcum LLP and determined that the provision of such services was consistent with maintaining the independence of Marcum LLP.

Audit Committee’s Pre-Approval Policies

The Audit Committee has adopted a policy that all audit, audit-related, tax and any other non-audit service to be performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee. It is the Company’s policy that all such services be pre-approved prior to commencement of the engagement. The Audit Committee is also required to pre-approve the estimated fees for such services, as well as any subsequent changes to the terms of the engagement.

 
35

 
PART IV
 
 
ITEM 15.   EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
(A)           Financial Statements
 
The following financial statements of the Company and the related reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms thereon are set forth immediately following the Index of Financial Statements which appears on page F-1 of this report:
 
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Report

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2009 and 2008
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007
 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Deficit for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
(B)    Financial Statement Schedules
 
All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.
 
(C)    Exhibits

The exhibits listed under the Exhibit Index are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 
36

 
Exhibit Index
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description

3.1
Certificate of Incorporation of Level 8 Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as amended and restated December 29, 2006 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1 to Level 8’s Form 8-K filed January 17, 2007).
 
3.2
Certificate of Designation relating to Series A1 Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.2 to Level 8’s Form 8-K filed January 17, 2007).

3.3
Certificate of Incorporation of Level 8 Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as amended August 4, 2003 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1 to Level 8’s Form 10-K filed March 31, 2004).

3.4
Bylaws of Level 8 Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.2 to Level 8’s Form 10-K filed April 2, 2002).

3.5
Certificate of Designation relating to Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1 to Level 8’s Form 8-K filed January 20, 2010).
 
3.1
Form of Long term Promissory Note Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.19 to Cicero Inc.’s Form 10-K filed March 31, 2008).
 
4.2
Form of Long term Promissory Note Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.17 to Cicero Inc.’s Form 10-K filed March 31, 2009).

4.3
Form of Amended Long term Promissory Note Stock Purchase Warrant (filed herewith).

10.1
Securities Purchase Agreement for Consortium IV (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.1 to Cicero Inc.’s Form 10-K/A filed July 11, 2007).

10.2
Amended PCA Shell License Agreement, dated as of January 3, 2002, between Level 8 Systems, Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.2 to Level 8's Form 8-K, filed January 11, 2002).

10.3A
PCA Shell License Agreement between Level 8 Systems, Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.2 to Level 8’s Report on Form 8-K, filed September 11, 2000).

10.3B
OEM License Agreement between Cicero Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.12A to Cicero Inc.’s Form 10-K filed March 31, 2008).

10.3C
Software Support and Maintenance Schedule between Cicero Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.12A to Cicero Inc.’s Form 10-K filed March 31, 2008).

10.4
Employment Agreement between John P. Broderick and the Company effective January 1, 2009 (filed herewith).*

10.5
Lease Agreement for Cary, N.C. offices, dated November 7, 2003, between Level 8 Systems, Inc. and Regency Park Corporation (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.17 to Level 8’s Form 10-K, filed March 31, 2004).

10.6
Level 8 Systems Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan, as Amended and Restated (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.2 to Level 8’s Registration Statement of Form S-1/A, filed September 22, 2000, File No. 333-44588).*

10.7A
Fifth Amendment to Level 8 Systems Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.9A to Level 8’s Form 10-K filed April 2, 2002).*

10.8B
Seventh Amendment to Level 8 Systems Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.14 B to Level 8’s Form 10-K, filed March 31, 2004).*

 
37

 
 
10.9
Lease Agreement for Cary, N.C. offices, dated August 16 , 2007, between Cicero Inc. and Regency Park Corporation (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.21 to Cicero Inc.’s Form 10-K filed March 31, 2008).

10.10
Cicero Inc. 2007 Employee Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.22 to Cicero Inc.’s Form 10-K filed March 31, 2008).

10.11
Agreement and Promissory Note of Cicero Inc,, dated October 30, 2007 among Cicero Inc. and BluePhoenix Solutions Ltd. (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.23 to Cicero Inc.’s Form 10-K filed March 31, 2008).

10.12
Promissory Note of Cicero Inc., dated October 29, 2007 among Cicero Inc. and John L. Steffens (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.24 to Cicero Inc.’s Form 10-K filed March 31, 2008).

10.13
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2007, by and among Cicero Inc. and the Purchasers in the February Private Placement (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.25 to Cicero Inc.’s Form 10-K filed March 31, 2008).

10.14
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 15, 2007, by and among Cicero Inc. and the Purchasers in the August Private Placement (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.26 to Cicero Inc.’s Form 10-K filed March 31, 2008).

10.15
Revolving Loan Agreement dated November 3, 2008 among Cicero Inc. and Barbara Sivan (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.15 to Cicero Inc,’s Form 10-K filed March 31, 2009).

10.16
Employment Agreement between John P. Broderick and the Company effective January 1, 2010 (filed herewith).*

10.17
Form of Long Term Promissory Note dated March 31, 2009 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.17 to Cicero Inc,’s Form 10-K filed March 31, 2009).

10.18
Employment Agreement between Antony Castagno and the Company effective January 1, 2010 (filed herewith).*

10.19
Asset Purchase Agreement dated January 15, 2010 between Cicero Inc., Vertical Thought Inc, and SOADesk LLC (incorporated by reference to exhibit 2.1 to Cicero’s Form 8-K filed January 20, 2010).

14.1
Code of Ethics (incorporated by reference to exhibit 14.1 to Level 8’s Form 10-K/A, filed March 31, 2004).

21.1
List of subsidiaries of the Company (filed herewith).

22.1
Consent of Marcum LLP (filed herewith).
 
22.2
Consent of Margolis & Company P.C. (filed herewith).
 
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) (filed herewith).

31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) (filed herewith).

32.1
Certification of John P. Broderick pursuant to 18 USC § 1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
 
*
Management contract or compensatory agreement.
 
 
38

 

SIGNATURES
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
  CICERO INC.  
       
Date:   April 9, 2010
By:
/s/ John P. Broderick       
    Name John P. Broderick  
    Title Chief Executive Officer  
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
39

 
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the year ended December 31, 2009     F-2  
         
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007     F-3  
         
Financial Statements:        
         
Consolidated Balance Sheets               F-4  
         
Consolidated Statements of Operations            F-5  
         
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Deficit              F-6  
         
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss         F-7  
         
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows          F-8  
         
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements          F-10  
 

 
F-1

 
                                                                                                                   
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


To the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Cicero Inc.
Cary, North Carolina

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Cicero Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' deficit, comprehensive loss and cash flows for the year then ended.   The financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Cicero Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
 
/s/ Marcum LLP

Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
March 31, 2010
 
 
 
F-2


 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Cicero Inc.
Cary, North Carolina

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Cicero Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2008, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' deficit, comprehensive loss and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.  The financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Cicero Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.


/s/ Margolis & Company P.C.
 
Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
March 31, 2009
 

 
 
F-3

 

CICERO INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
   
December 31, 2009
   
December 31, 2008
 
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 12     $ 63  
Assets of discontinued operations
    --       71  
Trade accounts receivable, net
    225       759  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    345       255  
Total current assets
    582       1,148  
Property and equipment, net
    39       46  
Total assets
  $ 621     $ 1,194  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
               
Current liabilities:
               
Short-term debt   (Note 4)
  $ 1,886     $ 1,192  
Accounts payable
    2,346       2,258  
Accrued expenses:
               
Salaries, wages, and related items
    1,151       1,051  
Other
    1,500       2,027  
Liabilities of discontinued operations
    --       429  
Deferred revenue
    243       348  
Total current liabilities
    7,126       7,305  
Long-term debt  (Note 5)
    1,421       971  
Total liabilities
    8,547       8,276  
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 12 and 13)
               
Stockholders' deficit:
               
Convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized
Series A-1 – 1,543.6 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2009 and 2008, $500 per share liquidation preference (aggregate liquidation value of $772)
      --         --  
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 215,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively; 47,098,185 and 46,642,396 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively (Note 7)
    47       47  
Additional paid-in-capital
    230,464       230,018  
                 
Accumulated deficit
    (238,437 )     (237,143 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    --       (4 )
Total stockholders' deficit
    (7,926 )     (7,082 )
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit
  $ 621     $ 1,194  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
F-4

 

CICERO INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Revenue:
                 
Software
  $ 431     $ 1,467     $ 501  
Maintenance
    1,182       873       300  
Services
    885       1,112       1,007  
Total operating revenue
    2,498       3,452       1,808  
Cost of revenue:
                       
Software
    19       50       19  
Maintenance
    217       260       264  
Services
    1,183       941       654  
Total cost of revenue
    1,419       1,251       937  
Gross margin
    1,079       2,201       871  
Operating expenses:
                       
Sales and marketing
    1,203       952       786  
Research and product development
    540       615       569  
General and administrative
    1,310       1,301       1,356  
Total operating expenses
    3,053       2,868       2,711  
Loss from continuing operations before other income (charges)
    (1,974 )     (667 )     (1,840 )
Other income (charges):
                       
Interest expense
    (283 )     (223 )     (257 )
Other
    (21 )     67       122  
 
    (304 )     (156 )     (135 )
Loss from continuing operations     (2,278 )     (823 )     (1,975 )
Write off of abandoned assets of discontinued operations
    998       --       --  
                         
Net loss
  $ (1,280 )   $ (823 )   $ (1,975 )
                         
 Earnings per share - basic and diluted                        
        Loss from continuing operations     (0.05 )     (0.02 )     (0.05 )
        Income form diiscontinued operations
  $ 0.02   $   $  
        Net Loss   $ (0.03 )   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.05 )
                         
Average shares outstanding – basic and diluted
    46,970       46,642       36,771  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
F-5

 

CICERO INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
(in thousands)
 
    Common Stock     Preferred Stock                          
    Shares     Amount     Shares     
  Amount
   
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
   
Accumulated
(Deficit) 
   
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
   
Total
 
Balance at December 31, 2006
    35,182     $ 35       2       --     $ 226,407     $ (234,345 )   $ (9 )   $ (7,912 )
Shares issued for private placement
    5,892       6                       1,034                       1,040  
Shares issued for litigation settlement
    25                               50                       50  
Conversion of preferred shares to common
    160                                                       --  
Options issued as compensation
                                    650                       650  
Restricted shares issued as compensation
                                    36                       36  
Warrant issued
                                    34                       34  
Shares issued with refinancing of debt
    2,546       3                       647                       650  
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                                                    (6 )     (6 )
Net loss
                                            (1,975 )             (1,975 )
Balance at December 31, 2007
    43,805       44       2       --       228,858       (236,320 )     (15 )     (7,433 )
Shares issued for loan refinancing
    1,425       1                       362                       363  
Conversion of preferred shares to common
    60                                                       --  
Shares issued for account payable refinancing
    623       1                       159                       160  
Shares issued for loan conversion
    392       1                       100                       101  
Shares issued for loan conversion and under registration rights agreement
    256                               65                       65  
Shares issued for account payable conversion
    81                               21                       21  
Options issued as compensation
                                    417                       417  
Restricted shares issued as compensation
                                    36                       36  
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                                                    11       11  
Net loss
                                            (823 )             (823 )
Balance at December 31, 2008
    46,642       47       2       --       230,018       (237,143 )     (4 )     (7,082 )
Shares issued for loan conversion
    336                               52                       52  
Shares issued under registration rights agreement
    120                               16                       16  
Options issued as compensation
                                    280                       280  
Restricted shares issued as compensation
                                    36                       36  
Warrants issued
                                    62                       62  
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                                            (14 )     4       (10 )
Net loss
                                            (1,280 )             (1,280 )
Balance at December 31, 2009
    47,098     $ 47       2       --     $ 230,464     $ (238,437 )     --     $ (7,926 )
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
F-6

 

CICERO INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(in thousands)

   
Years Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
                   
Net loss
  $ (1,280 )   $ (823 )   $ (1,975 )
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
                       
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    4       11       (6 )
Comprehensive loss
  $ (1,276 )   $ (812 )   $ (1,981 )
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
F-7

 

CICERO INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                 
Net loss
  $ (1,280 )   $ (823 )   $ (1,975 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) operating activities:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
    21       17       10  
Stock compensation expense
    378       453       720  
Issuance of stock under registration rights agreement
    16       15       --  
Provision (credit) for doubtful accounts
    62       (100 )     50  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
                       
Trade accounts receivable and related party receivables
    472       33       (622 )
Assets and liabilities discontinued operations
    (358 )     (18 )     21  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    (90 )     (47 )     (136 )
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (339 )     178       478  
Deferred revenue
    (105 )     240       70  
Net cash used in operating activities
    (1,223 )     (52 )     (1,384 )
Cash flows from investing activities:
                       
Purchases of property and equipment
    (14 )     (41 )     (17 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (14 )     (41 )     (17 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
                       
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net of issuance costs
    --       --       1,040  
Borrowings under short and long-term debt
    1,900       1,395       984  
Repayments of short and long-term debt
    (704 )     (1,500 )     (677 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    1,196       (105 )     1,347  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    (10 )     11       (6 )
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (51 )     (187 )     (60 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    63       250       310  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $ 12     $ 63     $ 250  
           
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
         
Cash paid during the year for:
                       
Income taxes
  $ 2     $ 1     $ 5  
Interest
  $ 288     $ 227     $ 264  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
F-8

 

CICERO INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - CONTINUED

Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities

2009

During April 2009, the Company issued 250,000 shares of common stock for the conversion of debt of $30,000 to an investor who had a short term promissory note with the Company.

During June 2009, the Company issued 85,789 shares of common stock for the conversion of debt of $22,000 to an investor who had a short term promissory note with the Company.

2008

During 2008, the Company issued 1,425,137 of common stock for the conversion of debt and interest of $363,000 to a group of investors who had acquired the short term promissory note due to SDS Merchant Fund.

During April 2008, the Company issued 623,214 shares of common stock to a vendor for the settlement of an accounts payable balance of $159,106.

During July 2008, the Company issued 391,696 shares of common stock to Mr. John L. Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, in exchange for a $100,000 principal payment on a promissory note.

During July 2008, the Company issued 195,848 shares of common stock to BluePhoenix (formerly Liraz Systems Ltd.) in exchange for a $50,000 principal payment on a promissory note.

During July 2008, the Company issued 80,993 shares of common stock to a vendor in exchange for the settlement of an accounts payable balance of $20,678.

2007

During 2007, the Company issued 24,793 shares of common stock to Critical Mass Mail as part of a litigation settlement valued at $50,000.

In October 2007, the Company issued 2,546,149 shares of common stock to BluePhoenix (formerly Liraz Systems Ltd.) in exchange for $650,000 paid to Bank Hapoalim to retire a portion of that indebtedness.


 
F-9

 

CICERO INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1.   SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS, SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS


Cicero Inc., (''Cicero'' or the ''Company''), is a provider of business integration software which enables organizations to integrate new and existing information and processes at the desktop.  Business integration software addresses the emerging need for a company's information systems to deliver enterprise-wide views of the company's business information processes.

Going Concern and Management Plans:

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.  The Company has incurred an operating loss of  approximately $1,974,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009 and has experienced negative cash flows from operations for each of the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007.  At December 31, 2009, the Company had a working capital deficiency of approximately $6,544,000.  The Company has repositioned itself in the marketplace as a result of the acquisition of the assets of SOAdesk along with its key personnel. By combining the SOAdesk products with the Cicero legacy products, the Company is able to offer a complete Customer Experience Management suite of products. The new products have already received awards from within the industry and new customers have contracted to use the products, thereby generating new revenues. The Company also plans on raising funds through private placements of equity, including its preferred stock, and/or debt. Management believes with the anticipated revenues generated by the new product suite and the additional funding from its capital raising efforts, that the Company will be able to fund its operations through the year ending December 31, 2010.

Principles of Consolidation:

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All of the Company's subsidiaries are wholly-owned for the periods presented.

All significant inter-company accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates:

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual amounts could differ from these estimates.

Financial Instruments:
 
  The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments, representing accounts receivable, accounts payable and short-term debt approximate their fair value due to their short term nature.

The fair value and carrying amount of long-term debt were as follows:

 
December 31,
 
2009
 
2008
Fair Value
$1,338,010
 
$685,304
Carrying Value
  1,421,000
 
  971,000

Valuations for long-term debt are determined based on borrowing rates currently available to the Company for loans with similar terms and maturities.

 
F-10

 

Foreign Currency Translation:

The assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate as of the balance sheet date. The resulting translation adjustment is recorded in other comprehensive income as a component of stockholders' equity. Statements of operations items are translated at average rates of exchange during each reporting period.

Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations as incurred.

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

Cash and cash equivalents include all cash balances and highly liquid investments with maturity of three months or less from the date of purchase. For these instruments, the carrying amount is considered to be a reasonable estimate of fair value. The Company places substantially all cash and cash equivalents with various financial institutions. At times, such cash and cash equivalents may be in excess of FDIC insurance limits.

Trade Accounts Receivable:

Trade accounts receivable are stated in the amount management expects to collect from outstanding balances.  Management provides for probable uncollectible amounts through a charge to earnings and a credit to a valuation allowance based on its assessment of the current status of individual accounts.  Balances that are still outstanding after management has used reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the valuation allowance and a credit to trade accounts receivable.  Changes in the valuation allowance have not been material to the financial statements.

Property and Equipment:

Property and equipment purchased in the normal course of business is stated at cost, and property and equipment acquired in business combinations is stated at its fair market value at the acquisition date.  All property and equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives.

Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. The cost and related accumulated depreciation of property and equipment are removed from the accounts upon retirement or other disposition and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Software Development Costs:

The Company capitalizes certain software costs after technological feasibility of the product has been established. Generally, an original estimated economic life of three years is assigned to capitalized software costs, once the product is available for general release to customers. Costs incurred prior to the establishment of technological feasibility are charged to research and product development expense.

Capitalized software costs are amortized over related sales on a product-by-product basis using the straight-line method over the remaining estimated economic life of the product.  There were $0 capitalized software costs as of December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007.

The establishment of technological feasibility and the ongoing assessment of recoverability of capitalized software development costs require considerable judgment by management with respect to certain external factors, including, but not limited to, technological feasibility, anticipated future gross revenue, estimated economic life and changes in software and hardware technologies.

Long-Lived Assets:

The Company reviews the recoverability of long-lived intangible assets when circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable. This evaluation is based on various analyses including undiscounted cash flow projections. In the event undiscounted cash flow projections indicate impairment, the Company would record an impairment based on the fair value of the assets at the date of the impairment. The Company accounts for impairments under the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") guidance now codified as ASC 360 “Property, Plant and Equipment”.

 
F-11

 
 
Revenue Recognition:

Our revenues are derived principally from three sources:  (i) license fees for the use of our software products; (ii) fees for consulting services and training; and (iii) fees for maintenance and technical support.  We generally recognize revenue from software license fees when a license agreement has been signed by both parties, the fee is fixed or determinable; collection of the fee is probable, delivery of our products has occurred and no other significant obligations remain. 

Revenue from recurring maintenance contracts is recognized ratably over the maintenance contract period, which is typically twelve months. Maintenance revenue that is not yet earned is included in deferred revenue.

Revenue from consulting and training services is recognized as services are performed. Any unearned receipts from service contracts result in deferred revenue.

Cost of Revenue:

The primary component of the Company's cost of revenue for its software products is royalties on certain products. The original version Cicero® software technology and related patents was licensed by the Company on a worldwide basis from Merrill Lynch in August of 2000 under a license agreement containing standard provisions and a two-year exclusivity period. On January 3, 2002, the license agreement was amended to extend the Company’s exclusive worldwide marketing, sales and development rights to Cicero® in perpetuity (subject to Merrill Lynch’s rights to terminate in the event of bankruptcy or a change in control of the Company) and to grant ownership rights in the Cicero® trademark. The Company is indemnified by Merrill Lynch with regard to the rights granted to Cicero® by them.  In consideration for the amendment, the Company entered into a royalty sharing agreement pursuant to which, the Company pays a royalty of 3% of the sales price for each sale of Cicero® software or related maintenance services.  The primary component of the Company's cost of revenue for maintenance and services is compensation expense.

Advertising Expenses:

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred.  Advertising expenses were approximately $275,000, $242,000, and $104,000, for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.

Research and Product Development:

Research and product development costs are expensed as incurred.

Income Taxes:

The Company uses FASB guidance now codified as ASC 740 “Income Taxes”', to account for income taxes. This statement requires an asset and liability approach that recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company's financial statements or tax returns. In estimating future tax consequences, all expected future events, other than enactments of changes in the tax law or rates, are generally considered. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is ''more likely than not'' that recorded deferred tax assets will not be realized.  (See Note 6.)

Loss Per Share:

Basic loss per share is computed based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted loss per share is computed based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and any potentially dilutive securities. During 2009, 2008, and 2007, potentially dilutive securities included stock options, warrants to purchase common stock, and preferred stock.

 
F-12

 
 
The following table sets forth the potential shares that are not included in the diluted net loss per share calculation because to do so would be anti-dilutive for the periods presented. The amounts have been restated in accordance with SAB Topic 4 (c ) to reflect the adjustment to the Company’s capitalization as a result of the 100:1 reverse stock split which was approved by the Company in November 2006:

   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Stock options
    2,707,006       2,711,879       2,529,025  
Warrants
    1,389,400       390,400       445,387  
Preferred stock
    1,543,618       1,543,618       1,603,618  
      5,640,024       4,645,897       4,578,030  

In 2009, 2008, and 2007, no dividends were declared on preferred stock.

Stock-Based Compensation:

The Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) guidance now codified as ASC 718 “Compensation – Stock Compensation”, which addresses the accounting for stock-based payment transactions in which an enterprise receives employee services in exchange for (a) equity instruments of the enterprise or (b) liabilities that are based on the fair value of the enterprise’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of such equity instruments.  The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair-value of stock-based awards under ASC 718.  The Company granted 475,000 options in fiscal 2009 at exercise prices between $.11 and $0.15 per share and recognized $280,000 of stock-based compensation.  The Company granted 475,000 options in fiscal 2008 at exercise prices between $.10 and $0.25 per share and recognized $417,000 of stock-based compensation.  The Company granted 2,756,173 options in August 2007 at an exercise price of $0.51 per share.  The Company recognized $650,000 of stock-based compensation.  Additionally, the Company recognized as stock-based compensation approximately $36,000 in fiscal 2009, 2008, and 2007 for the restricted shares issued in 2007 to John Broderick, the Chief Executive Officer.  The Company also recognized approximately $62,000 as stock-based in compensation in 2009 and $34,000 in 2007 for warrants issued in conjunction with promissory notes issued in those respective fiscal years.

The fair value of the Company's stock-based awards to employees was estimated as of the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, using the following weighted-average assumptions:

   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
                   
Expected life (in years)
 
10.0 years
   
10.0 years
   
10.0 years
 
Expected volatility
    147%-156 %     106%-151 %     166 %
Risk free interest rate
    0.15%-0.18 %     0.15%-4.24 %     5.25 %
Expected dividend yield
    0 %     0 %     0 %


Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

The FASB has published FASB Accounting Standards Update 2009-13, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605)-Multiple Deliverable Revenue Arrangements which addresses the accounting for multiple-deliverable arrangements to enable vendors to account for products or services (deliverables) separately rather than as a combined unit.  Specifically, this guidance amends the criteria in Subtopic 605-25, Revenue Recognition-Multiple-Element Arrangements, for separating consideration in multiple-deliverable arrangements.  This guidance establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable, which is based on: (a) vendor-specific objective evidence; (b) third-party evidence; or (c) estimates.  This guidance also eliminates the residual method of allocation and requires that arrangement consideration be allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method and also requires expanded disclosures.  FASB Accounting Standards Update 2009-13 is effectively prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of this standard is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 
F-13

 
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued guidance now codified as FASB ASC Topic 105, “Generally Accepted Accounting Principles,” as the single source of authoritative nongovernmental U.S. GAAP. FASB ASC Topic 105 does not change current U.S. GAAP, but is intended to simplify user access to all authoritative U.S. GAAP by providing all authoritative literature related to a particular topic in one place. All existing accounting standard documents will be superseded and all other accounting literature not included in the FASB Codification will be considered non-authoritative. These provisions of FASB ASC Topic 105 are effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009 and, accordingly, are effective for the Company for the current fiscal reporting period. The adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations, but will impact the Company’s financial reporting process by eliminating all references to pre-codification standards. On the effective date of this Statement, the Codification superseded all then-existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards, and all other non-grandfathered non-SEC accounting literature not included in the Codification became non-authoritative.

In May 2009, the FASB issued guidance now codified as FASB ASC Topic 855, “Subsequent Events,” which establishes general standards of accounting for, and disclosures of, events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. This standard is effective for interim or fiscal periods ending after June 15, 2009. Accordingly, the Company adopted these provisions of FASB ASC Topic 855 on April 1, 2009. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 855 resulted in additional disclosures with respect to subsequent events. See Note 17, Subsequent Events, for this additional disclosure.

In April 2009, the FASB issued guidance now codified as FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, which is intended to provide additional application guidance and enhanced disclosures regarding fair value measurements and impairments of securities and additional guidelines for estimating fair value in accordance with additional guidance related to the disclosure of impairment losses on securities and the accounting for impairment losses on debt securities. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods ended after June 15, 2009. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In June 2008, the FASB ratified EITF Issue No. 07-5, Determining Whether an Instrument (or an Embedded Feature) Is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock (“EITF 07-5”).  EITF 07-5 provides that an entity should use a two step approach to evaluate whether an equity-linked financial instrument, or embedded feature, is indexed to its own stock, including evaluating the instrument’s contingent exercise and settlement provisions.  It also clarifies on the impact of foreign currency denominated strike prices and market-based employee stock option valuations.  EITF 07-5 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of EITF 07-5 is not expected to havea  material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In March 2008, the FASB issued guidance now codified as FASB ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”, which requires enhanced disclosures about an entity’s derivative and hedging activities and thereby improves the transparency of financial reporting. This standard is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In December 2007, the FASB issued guidance now codified as FASB ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations”, which significantly changes the accounting for business combinations in a number of areas including the treatment of contingent consideration, contingencies, acquisition costs, research and development assets and restructuring costs. In addition, changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and acquired income tax uncertainties in a business combination after the measurement period will impact income taxes. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of these provisions will have an effect on accounting for any business acquired after the effective date of this standard.

In December 2007, the FASB issued guidance now codified as FASB ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations”, to establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. This pronouncement is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and shall be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the guidance is initially adopted. The adoption of the provisions in this pronouncement would have an impact on the presentation and disclosure of the noncontrolling interest of any non wholly owned businesses acquired in the future.

 
F-14

 


NOTE 2.   ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Trade accounts receivable was composed of the following at December 31 (in thousands):

   
2009
   
2008
 
Current trade accounts receivable
  $ 287     $ 759  
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts
    62       --  
    $ 225     $ 759  


NOTE 3.   PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment was composed of the following at December 31 (in thousands):

   
2009
   
2008
 
Computer equipment
  $ 292     $ 283  
Furniture and fixtures
    24       19  
Office equipment
    164       164  
      480       466  
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (441 )     (420 )
                 
    $ 39     $ 46  

Depreciation and amortization expense of property and equipment was $21,000, $17,000, and $10,000, for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.
 
NOTE 4.  SHORT-TERM DEBT

Term loan, notes payable, and notes payable to related party consist of the following at December 31 (in thousands):

   
2009
   
2008
 
Term loan (a)
  $ --     $ 100  
Note payable related party (b)
    719       94  
Notes payable (c)
    1,167       998  
    $ 1,886     $ 1,192  
 
     (a)    
At December 31, 2008, the Company was indebted to BluePhoenix Solutions for the current portion of the related long term debt of $100,000. (See Note 5)
 
 
     (b)    
At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for the current portion of the related long term debt of $300,000. (See Note 5, 11 and 16)

In December 2009, the Company entered into a short term note payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Note bears interest at 12% per year and is unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $100,000. (See Note 11)

In October 2009, the Company entered into a short term note payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Note bears interest at 12% per year and is unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $75,000. (See Note 11)

 

 
F-15

 

                      
In September 2009, the Company entered into a short term note payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Note bears interest at 10% per year and is unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $150,000. (See Note 11)

In September 2009, the Company entered into a short term note payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Note bears interest at 10% per year and is unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $150,000. (See Note 11)

In June 2008, the Company entered into a short term note payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Note bears interest at 10% per year and is unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $45,000. (See Note 11)

In November 2007, the Company entered into a short term note payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Note bears interest at 6% per year and is unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $40,000.   (See Note 11)

All these notes were converted into 4,733 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Shares at $150 per share in January 2010 as part of the Company’s issuance of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.  The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock bears an annual interest of 8% and provides warrants to purchase common stock of the Company at a strike price of $0.25 per share.  The Series B stock may convert into common stock at a conversion rate of $0.15 per share.  The total principal converted was $710,000.

Fr
om time to time the Company entered into promissory notes with one of the Company’s directors and the former Chief Information Officer, Anthony Pizi.  The notes bear interest at 12% per annum. As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company was indebted to Anthony Pizi in the amount of $9,000.
 
     (c)    
The Company has issued a series of short term promissory notes with private lenders, which provide for short term borrowings, both secured by accounts receivable and unsecured.  In addition, the Company has settled certain litigation and agreed to issue a series of promissory notes to support its obligations in the aggregate principal amount of $88,000. The notes bear interest between 10% and 36% per annum.
 

NOTE 5.   LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term loan and notes payable to related party consist of the following at December 31(in thousands):

   
2009
   
2008
 
Term loan (a)
  $ 671     $ 671  
Note payable, related party (b)
    --       300  
Other long-term debt (c)
    750       --  
    $ 1,421     $ 971  
 
     (a)        
In October 2007, the Company, in conjunction with Blue Phoenix Solutions, retired the note payable to Bank Hapoalim and entered into a new unsecured note with Blue Phoenix Solutions in the principal amount of $1,021,000 with interest at LIBOR plus 1% (approximately 2.2% at December 31, 2009) maturing in December 2011. Interest is payable quarterly. During 2008, the Company paid $200,000 against the principal and BluePhoenix converted $50,000 of principal into 195,848 shares of Cicero common stock. In January 2009, the Company paid $100,000 against the principal.  At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to BluePhoenix Solutions in the amount of $671,000.
 
     (b)        
In October 2007, the Company entered into a long-term unsecured note with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, as part of the restructuring of the note payable to Bank Hapoalim.  The note bears interest of 3% and matured in October 2009.  In March 2009, the Company and Mr. Steffens agreed to extend the maturity on the above Note until October 2010.  In April 2009, the Company awarded Mr. Steffens, in consideration for the extended maturity, 250,000 warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock at a price of $0.20 per share. These warrants expire in five years. The Company utilized the Black-Scholes formula to calculate the value of these warrants which amounted to $12,000 and were included in general and administrative expenses.  At December 31, 2009, the Company had classified the $300,000 balance to short term debt.
 
     (c)        
In March 2009, the Company entered into several secured Promissory Notes with certain investors in the aggregate amount of $750,000. The Notes bear interest at 15% and mature on January 31, 2012. The Notes are secured by the amount due the Company in February 2010 under its contract with Merrill Lynch. In addition, each investor was issued a warrant to purchase common stock of the Company. Under the terms of the warrant, which expires in five years, each Note holder is entitled to purchase 1,000 shares of Cicero common stock for every $1,000 of principal due under the Note. The exercise price on the warrant is $0.20 per share. The shares of common stock underlying the warrants have registration rights and a cashless exercise provision in the event no registration statement is effective for resales, if required.  The Company has allocated the proceeds received from the Note and Warrant Offering to determine the fair value of the warrants issued and is amortizing such amount under the terms of the notes as additional interest expense in the amount of $50,349.  At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to these investors in the amount of $750,000.

 
F-16

 

Scheduled maturities of the above long-term debt are as follows:

Year
     
2011
  $ 671  
2012
  $ 750  
 
NOTE 6.   INCOME TAXES

The Company follows the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes”, and recognizes the financial statement beneit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit.  For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon settlement with the relelvant tax authority.  The Company applies ASC Topic 740 to all tax positions for which the statute of limitations remains open.
 
The Company has identified its federal tax return and its state tax return in North Carolina as "major" tax jurisdictions. Based on the Company's evaluation, it has been concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in the Company's financial statements. The evaluation was performed for the tax years 2007 through 2009, the only period subject to examination. The Company believes that its income tax positons and deductions will be sustained on audit and does not anticipate any adjustments that will result in a material change to its financial position.
 
The Company's policy for recording interest and penalties associated with audits is to record such items as a component of income tax expense. There were no amounts accrued for penalties and interest as of or during the period for the tax years 2007, 2008 and 2009. The Company does not expect its uncertain tax position to change during the next twelve months. Management is currently unaware of any issues under review that could result in significant payment, accurals or material deviations from its position.

A reconciliation of expected income tax at the statutory federal rate with the actual income tax provision is as follows for the years ended December 31 (in thousands):

   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Expected income tax benefit at statutory rate (34%)
  $ (418 )   $ (280 )   $ (672 )
State taxes, net of federal tax benefit.
    (73 )     (49 )     (118 )
Effect of change in valuation allowance
    488       326       788  
Non-deductible expenses
    3       3       2  
Total
  $ --     $ --     $ --  

Significant components of the net deferred tax asset (liability) at December 31 were as follows:

   
2009
   
2008
 
Current assets:
           
Accrued expenses, non-tax deductible
  $ 246     $ 371  
Deferred revenue
    97       139  
Noncurrent assets:
               
Stock compensation expense
    428       296  
Loss carryforwards
    94,501       93,217  
Depreciation and amortization
    3,595       4,356  
      98,867       98,379  
                 
Less: valuation allowance
    (98,867 )     (98,379 )
                 
    $ --     $ --  

At December 31, 2009, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $236,255,000, which may be applied against future taxable income. These carryforwards will expire at various times between 2010 and 2029. A substantial portion of these carryforwards are restricted to future taxable income of certain of the Company's subsidiaries or limited by Internal Revenue Code Section 382. Thus, the utilization of these carryforwards cannot be assured. Net operating loss carryforwards include tax deductions for the disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options. When the Company utilizes the net operating loss related to these deductions, the tax benefit will be reflected in additional paid-in capital and not as a reduction of tax expense. The total amount of these deductions included in the net operating loss carryforwards is $21,177,000.

 
F-17

 
 
The undistributed earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries are not subject to additional foreign income taxes nor considered to be subject to U.S. income taxes unless remitted as dividends. The Company intends to reinvest such undistributed earnings indefinitely; accordingly, no provision has been made for U.S. taxes on those earnings. The determination of the amount of the unrecognized deferred tax liability related to the undistributed earnings is not practicable.

The Company provided a full valuation allowance on the total amount of its deferred tax assets at December 31, 2009 and 2008 since management does not believe that it is more likely than not that these assets will be realized.

NOTE 7.   STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common Stock :

In June 2009, the Company issued 85,789 shares of common stock for the conversion of debt of $22,000 to an investor who had a short term promissory note with the Company originally entered into in October 2008.

In April 2009, the Company issued 120,000 shares of common stock were issued to BluePhoenix Solutions due to a filing deadline penalty.

In April 2009, the Company issued 250,000 shares of common stock for the conversion of debt of $30,000 to an investor who had entered into a short term promissory note with the Company in April 2009.

In July 2008, the Company issued 80,993 shares of common stock to a vendor for the settlement of an account payable balance of $20,678.

In July 2008, the Company issued 195,848 shares of common stock to BluePhoenix Solutions in lieu of repayment of $50,000 of debt.  An additional 60,000 shares of common stock were issued to BluePhoenix due to a filing deadline penalty.

In July 2008, the Company converted $100,000 of principal of short term notes with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors into 391,696 shares of the Company’s common stock.

In April 2008, the Company issued 623,214 shares of common stock to a vendor for the settlement of an accounts payable balance of $159,106.

In March 2008, the Company was notified that a group of investors, including two members of the Board of Directors, acquired a short term promissory note due SDS Merchant Fund in the principal amount of $250,000. The note is unsecured and bears interest at 10% per annum. Also in March, our Board of Directors approved a resolution to convert this debt plus accrued interest into common stock of the Company. The total principal and interest amounted to $363,838 and was converted into 1,425,137 shares of common stock. Mr. John Steffens, the Company’s Chairman, acquired 475,141 shares and Mr. Bruce Miller, also a member of our Board of Directors, acquired 474,998 shares.

During 2007, the Company completed two common stock financing rounds wherein it raised a total of $1,033,000 of capital from several new investors as well as certain members of its Board of Directors. In February 2007, the Company sold 3,723,007 shares of its common stock for $0.1343 per share for a total of $500,000.  In October 2007, the Company completed a private sale of shares of its common stock to a group of investors, four of which are members of our Board of Directors. Under the terms of that agreement, the Company sold 2,169,311 shares of its common stock for $0.2457 per share for a total of $533,000.

Stock Grants :

In August 2007, the Company issued Mr. John P. Broderick, our Chief Executive Officer, a restricted stock award in the amount of 549,360 shares which will vest to him upon his resignation or termination.  The Company used the Black-Scholes method to value these shares and assumed a life of 10 years.  The Company recorded compensation expense of approximately $36,000 for fiscal 2009 and 2008.

 
F-18

 
 
Stock Options :

In 2007, the Board of Directors approved the 2007 Cicero Employee Stock Option Plan which permits the issuance of incentive and nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, and restricted and unrestricted stock to employees, officers, directors, consultants, and advisors. The aggregate number of shares of common stock which may be issued under this Plan shall not exceed 4,500,000 shares upon the exercise of awards and provide that the term of each award be determined by the Board of Directors.  The Company also has a stock incentive plan for outside directors and the Company has set aside 1,200 shares of common stock for issuance under this plan. The Company's 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan expired during 2007.

Under the terms of the Plans, the exercise price of the incentive stock options may not be less than the fair market value of the stock on the date of the award and the options are exercisable for a period not to exceed ten years from date of grant. Stock appreciation rights entitle the recipients to receive the excess of the fair market value of the Company's stock on the exercise date, as determined by the Board of Directors, over the fair market value on the date of grant. Performance shares entitle recipients to acquire Company stock upon the attainment of specific performance goals set by the Board of Directors. Restricted stock entitles recipients to acquire Company stock subject to the right of the Company to repurchase the shares in the event conditions specified by the Board are not satisfied prior to the end of the restriction period. The Board may also grant unrestricted stock to participants at a cost not less than 85% of fair market value on the date of sale. Options granted vest at varying periods up to five years and expire in ten years.

Activity for stock options issued under these plans for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007 was as follows:
 
   
Number of Options
   
Option Price
Per Share
   
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
 
Balance at December 31, 2006
    45,315       12.00-3,931.00     $ 120.61  
Granted
    2,756,173       0.51     $ 0.51  
Forfeited
    (270,413 )     0.51-612.50     $ 12.21  
Expired
    (2,050 )     1,473.00     $ 1,473.00  
Balance at December 31, 2007
    2,529,025       0.51-3,931.00     $ 1.35  
     Granted
    475,000       0.10-0.25     $ 0.19  
     Forfeited
    (292,146 )     0.17-1,881.25     $ 0.74  
Balance at December 31, 2008
    2,711,879       0.10-3,931.25     $ 1.22  
     Granted
    475,000       0.11-0.15     $ 0.12  
     Forfeited
    (478,333 )     0.11-1,881.25     $ 0.78  
Balance at December 31, 2009
    2,707,006       0.10-3,931.25     $ 1.10  
                                                     

Activity for non-vested stock options under these plans for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009 was as follows:
 
   
Number of Options
   
Option Price
Per Share
   
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
 
Balance at December 31, 2008
    1,023,692       0.10-0.51     $ 0.42  
     Granted
    475,000       0.11-0.15     $ 0.12  
     Vested
    1,043,689       0.11-0.51     $ 0.40  
     Forfeited
    (116,669 )     0.11-0.15     $ 0.12  
Balance at December 31, 2009
    338,334       0.10-0.25     $ 0.15  
                                                    

There were 475,000 options granted during 2009 and 2008, respectively, and 2,756,173 options granted during 2007. The weighted average grant date fair value of options issued during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 was equal to $0.12, $0.19 and $0.51 per share, respectively. There were no option grants issued below fair market value during 2009, 2008 and 2007.

At December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, options to purchase 2,368,672, 1,688,187, and 888,634 shares of common stock were exercisable, respectively, pursuant to the plans at prices ranging from $0.10 to $3,931.25. The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2009:

 
 
EXERCISE PRICE
   
 
 
 
NUMBER
OUTSTANDING
   
REMAINING CONTRACTUAL
LIFE FOR OPTIONS
OUTSTANDING
   
 
 
 
NUMBER
EXERCISABLE
   
 
WEIGHTED
AVERAGE
EXERCISE
PRICE
 
                           
$ 0.10-0.50       723,333       8.8       384,999     $ 0.18  
  0.51-0.51       1,959,093       7.6       1,959,093       0.51  
  0.52-393.12       23,150       3.4       23,150       42.40  
  393.13-786.25       1,340       1.2       1,340       531.84  
  786.26-3,931.25       90       0.6       90       1,895.83  
                                     
          2,707,006       7.9       2,368,672     $ 1.24  

Preferred Stock :

As part of the recapitalization plan approved by shareholders in November 2006, the Company offered to exchange its existing Series A-3, B-3, C and D preferred shares at reduced conversion rates in exchange for shares of a new Series A-1 preferred stock in Cicero Inc. This proposal also required approval by existing preferred shareholders as a class. The new conversion prices with respect to the Series A-3, B-3 and D preferred stock were negotiated with the holders of each series based upon such factors as the current conversion price in relation to the market, the dollar amount represented by such series and, waiver of anti-dilution, liquidation preferences, seniority and other senior rights.  The conversion price for the Series C preferred stock was determined in relation to the conversion price for the Series D preferred stock.  The Board of Directors determined the new conversion price of each series of Level 8 preferred stock after discussion and review of those rights, ranks and privileges that were being waived by the present holders of preferred stock.  Among those rights being waived are anti-dilution protection, liquidation preferences and seniority.

The holders of the Series A-1 preferred stock shall have the rights and preferences set forth in the Certificate of Designations filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware upon the approval of the Recapitalization.  The rights and interests of the Series A-1 preferred stock of the Company will be substantially similar to the rights interests of each of the series of  the former Level 8 preferred stock other than for (i) anti-dilution protections that have been permanently waived and (ii) certain voting, redemption and other rights that holders of Series A-1 preferred stock will not be entitled to.  All shares of Series A-1 preferred stock will have a liquidation preference pari passu with all other Series A-1 preferred stock.

The Series A-1 preferred stock is convertible at any time at the option of the holder into an initial conversion ratio of 1,000 shares of Common Stock for each share of Series A-1 preferred stock.  The initial conversion ratio shall be adjusted in the event of any stock splits, stock dividends and other recapitalizations.  The Series A-1 preferred stock is also convertible on an automatic basis in the event that (i) the Company closes on an additional $5,000,000 equity financing from strategic or institutional investors, or (ii) the Company has four consecutive quarters of positive cash flow as reflected on the Company’s financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and filed with the Commission.  The holders of Series A-1 preferred stock are entitled to receive equivalent dividends on an as-converted basis whenever the Company declares a dividend on its Common Stock, other than dividends payable in shares of Common Stock.  The holders of the Series A-1 preferred stock are entitled to a liquidation preference of $500 per share of Series A-1 preferred stock upon the liquidation of the Company.  The Series A-1 preferred stock is not redeemable.

The holders of Series A-1 preferred stock also possess the following voting rights.  Each share of Series A-1 preferred stock shall represent that number of votes equal to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a share of Series A-1 preferred stock.  The holders of Series A-1 preferred stock and the holders of Common Stock shall vote together as a class on all matters except: (i) regarding the election of the Board of Directors of the Company (as set forth below); (ii) as required by law; or (iii) regarding certain corporate actions to be taken by the Company (as set forth below).

 
F-19

 
 
The approval of at least two-thirds of the holders of Series A-1 preferred stock voting together as a class, shall be required in order for the Company to: (i) merge or sell all or substantially all of its assets or to recapitalize or reorganize; (ii) authorize the issuance of any equity security having any right, preference or priority superior to or on parity with the Series A-1 preferred stock; (iii) redeem, repurchase or acquire indirectly or directly any of its equity securities, or to pay any dividends on the Company’s equity securities; (iv) amend or repeal any provisions of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences or privileges of the Series A-1 preferred stock; (v) effectuate a significant change in the principal business of the Company as conducted at the effective time of the Recapitalization; (vi) make any loan or advance to any entity other than in the ordinary course of business unless such entity is wholly owned by the Company; (vii) make any loan or advance to any person, including any employees or directors of the Company or any subsidiary, except in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to an approved employee stock or option plan; and (viii) guarantee, directly or indirectly any indebtedness or obligations, except for trade accounts of any subsidiary arising in the ordinary course of business.   In addition, the unanimous vote of the Board of Directors is required for any liquidation, dissolution, recapitalization or reorganization of the Company.   The voting rights of the holders of Series A-1 preferred stock set forth in this paragraph shall be terminated immediately upon the closing by the Company of at least an additional $5,000,000 equity financing from strategic or institutional investors.

In addition to the voting rights described above, the holders of a majority of the shares of Series A-1 preferred stock are entitled to appoint two observers to the Company’s Board of Directors who shall be entitled to receive all information received by members of the Board of Directors, and shall attend and participate without a vote at all meetings of the Company’s Board of Directors and any committees thereof.  At the option of a majority of the holders of Series A-1 preferred stock, such holders may elect to temporarily or permanently exchange their board observer rights for two seats on the Company’s Board of Directors, each having all voting and other rights attendant to any member of the Company’s Board of Directors. There are three current Board of Directrs that are holder of the Series A-1 preferred stock. As part of the Recapitalization, the right of the holders of Series A-1 preferred stock to elect a majority of the voting members of the Company’s Board of Directors shall be terminated.

Stock Warrants:

The Company values warrants based on the Black-Scholes pricing model.  Warrants granted in 2009, 2007, 2006 and 2005 were valued using the following assumptions:

   
Expected Life in Years
   
Expected Volatility
   
Risk Free Interest Rate
 
Expected Dividend
 
Fair Value of
Common Stock
   
Number of
Outstanding Warrants
 
                                 
Early Adopter Warrants
    4       104 %     4 %
None
  $ 1.50       201,115  
Long Term Promissory Note Warrants
    10       168 %     5.25 %
None
  $ 0.18       188,285  
Long Term Promissory Note Warrants
    5       149 %     2.85 %
None
  $ 0.20       250,000  
Secured Promissory Note Warrants
    5       149 %     2.85 %
None
  $ 0.20       750,000  
 
NOTE 8.   EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Company sponsors one defined contribution plan for its employees - the Cicero Inc 401(K) Plan.  Under the terms of the Plan, the Company, at its discretion, provides a 50% matching contribution up to 6% of an employee’s salary.  Participants must be eligible and employed at December 31 of each calendar year to be eligible for employer matching contributions.  The Company opted not to make any matching contributions for 2009, 2008, and 2007.

NOTE 9.   SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS AND CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

In 2009, three customers accounted for 50.9%, 28.9% and 12.7% of operating revenues and one of those customers accounted for 89% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2009.  In 2008, two customers accounted for 51.2% and 34.1% of operating revenues and represented 57.4%and 32.3% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2008.  In 2007, one customer accounted for 87.2% of operating revenues and represented 100% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2007.

 
F-20

 
 

NOTE 10.   FOREIGN CURRENCIES

The Company’s net foreign currency transaction losses/ (gains) were $3,000, $(6,000), and $15,000, for the years ended 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.


NOTE 11.   RELATED PARTY INFORMATION

In December 2009, the Company entered into a short term note   payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Note bears interest at 12% per year and is unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $100,000.

In October 2009, the Company entered into two short term notes   payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Notes bear interest at 12% per year and are unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $75,000.

In September 2009, the Company entered into a short term note   payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Note bears interest at 10% per year and is unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $150,000.

In June 2008, the Company entered into a short term note payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Note bears interest at 10% per year and is unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $45,000.

In October 2007, the Company entered into a long-term promissory note with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman on the Board of Directors, as part of the restructuring of the Note payable to Bank Hapoalim.  The Note bears interest of 3% and matures in October 2009. The Company also granted in October 2007 Mr. Steffens 188,285 warrants to purchase common stock at $0.18 each. The Company used the Black Scholes method to value the warrants and recorded a stock compensation charge and additional paid-in capital in the amount of $34,230. In March 2009, the Company and Mr. Steffens agreed to extend the maturity on the above note to October 31, 2010.  At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $300,000.

In November 2007, the Company entered into a short term note   payable with John L. (Launny) Steffens, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for various working capital needs. The Note bears interest at 6% per year and is unsecured. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to Mr. Steffens in the amount of $40,000.

All these notes were converted into 4,733 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Shares at $150 per share in January 2010 as part of the Company’s issuance of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock bears an annual interest of 8% and provides warrants to purchase common stock of the Company at a strike price of $0.25 per share.  The Series B stock may convert into common stock at a conversion rate of $0.15 per share.  The total principal converted was $710,000.

BluePhoenix Solutions, formerly Liraz Systems Ltd., the Company’s former principal stockholder, guaranteed certain debt obligations of the Company. In November 2006, the Company and BluePhoenix Solutions agreed to extend the guaranty and with the approval of the lender, agreed to extend the maturity of the debt obligation until October 31, 2007. The Company issued 60,000 shares of common stock to BluePhoenix in exchange for this debt extension.  In October 2007, the Company agreed to restructure the note payable to Bank Hapoalim and guaranty by BluePhoenix Solutions. Under a new agreement with BluePhoenix, the Company made a principal reduction payment to Bank Hapoalim in the amount of $300,000. Simultaneously, BluePhoenix paid $1,671,000 to Bank Hapoalim, thereby discharging that indebtedness. The Company and BluePhoenix entered into a new Note in the amount of $1,021,000, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.0% and maturing on December 31, 2011. In addition, BluePhoenix acquired 2,546,149 shares of the Company’s common stock in exchange for $650,000 paid to Bank Hapoalim to retire that indebtedness.  Of the new note payable to BluePhoenix, approximately $350,000 was due on January 31, 2009 and the balance is due on December 31, 2011.  During 2008, the Company paid $200,000 against the principal and BluePhoenix converted $50,000 of principal into 195,848 shares of Cicero common stock. In January 2009, the Company paid $100,000 against the principal. At December 31, 2009, the Company was indebted to BluePhoenix Solutions in the amount of $671,000.

 
F-21

 

NOTE 12.   LEASE COMMITMENTS AND EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

The Company leases certain facilities and equipment under various operating leases.  Future minimum lease commitments on operating leases that have initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2009 consisted of only one lease as follows (in thousands):

   
Lease
Commitments
 
       
2010
  $ 110  
2011
    1  
    $ 111  

Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007 was $97,000, $93,000, and $74,000, respectively.  As of December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, the Company had no sublease arrangements.
 
Under the employment agreement between the Company and Mr. Broderick effective January 1, 2010, we agreed to pay Mr. Broderick an annual base salary of $175,000 and performance bonuses in cash of up to $275,000 per annum based upon exceeding certain revenue goals and operating metrics, as determined by the Compensation Committee, in its discretion.  Upon termination of Mr. Broderick’s employment by the Company without cause, we agreed to pay Mr. Broderick a lump sum payment of one year of Mr. Broderick’s then current base salary within 30 days of termination and any unpaid deferred salaries and bonuses. In the event there occurs a substantial change in Mr. Broderick’s job duties, there is a decrease in or failure to provide the compensation or vested benefits under the employment agreement or there is a change in control of the Company, we agreed to pay Mr. Broderick a lump sum payment of one year of Mr. Broderick’s then current base salary within thirty (30) days of termination. Mr. Broderick will have thirty (30) days from the date written notice is given about either a change in his duties or the announcement and closing of a transaction resulting in a change in control of the Company to resign and execute his rights under this agreement. If Mr. Broderick’s employment is terminated for any reason, Mr. Broderick has agreed that, for two (2) year after such termination, he will not directly or indirectly solicit or divert business from us or assist any business in attempting to do so or solicit or hire any person who was our employee during the term of his employment agreement or assist any business in attempting to do so.

Under the employment agreement between the Company and Mr. Castagno effective January 1, 2010, we agreed to pay Mr. Castagno an annual base salary of $150,000 and performance bonuses in cash of up to $250,000 per annum based upon exceeding certain revenue goals and operating metrics, as determined by the Compensation Committee, in its discretion.  Upon termination of Mr. Castagno’s employment by the Company without cause, we agreed to pay Mr. Castagno an amount equivalent to six (6) months of Mr. Castagno’s then current base salary within in equal semi-monthly installments over the six (6) month period following the termination. If Mr. Castagno’s employment is terminated for any reason, Mr. Castagno has agreed that, for two (2) year after such termination, he will not directly or indirectly solicit or divert business from us or assist any business in attempting to do so or solicit or hire any person who was our employee during the term of his employment agreement or assist any business in attempting to do so.

NOTE 13.   CONTINGENCIES

Various lawsuits and claims have been brought against us in the normal course of our business.

In October 2003, we were served with a summons and complaint in Superior Court of North Carolina regarding unpaid invoices for services rendered by one of our subcontractors.  The amount in dispute was approximately $200,000 and is included in accounts payable. Subsequent to March 31, 2004, we settled this litigation.  Under the terms of the settlement agreement, we agreed to pay a total of $189,000 plus interest over a 19-month period ending November 15, 2005. The Company has not made any additional payments and has a remaining liability of approximately $88,000.

Under the indemnification clause of the Company’s standard reseller agreements and software license agreements, the Company agrees to defend the reseller/licensee against third party claims asserting infringement by the Company’s products of certain intellectual property rights, which may include patents, copyrights, trademarks or trade secrets, and to pay any judgments entered on such claims against the reseller/licensee.

NOTE 14.   DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

The Company had classified certain assets and liabilities as assets and liabilities of discontinued operations.  These assets and liabilities related to foreign subsidiaries of the Company for which there have been no operations for the past several years.  In addition, as part of the Company’s reorganization charge in 2001, the Company had established a tax reserve specifically for foreign operations.  The Company believes that the foreign assets and liabilities are worthless and there is no expectation of any tax exposure on these operations.  As such, as of December 31, 2009, the Company has written off $74,000 of foreign assets, $445,000 of foreign liabilities and $626,000 of related tax reserves as Gain on Discontinued Operations on the accompanying Statement of Operations.

 
F-22

 


NOTE 15.   SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

 
 
First
Quarter
   
Second
Quarter
   
Third
Quarter
   
Fourth
Quarter
 
   
(In thousands, except per share data )
 
2009:
                       
Net revenues
  $ 769     $ 644     $ 546     $ 539  
Gross margin
    373       243       208       256  
Net income/(loss)
    (402 )     (707 )     (599 )     430  
Net income/(loss) per share – basic and diluted
  $ (0.01 )   $ (0.01 )   $ (0.01 )     --  
                                 
2008:
                               
Net revenues   $ 470     $ 1,427     $ 578     $ 977  
Gross margin     230       1,153       264       554  
                                 
Net income/(loss)      (485 )     430       (553 )      (215 )
Net income/(loss) per share – basic and diluted   $ (0.01 )   $ 0.01     $ (0.01 )   $ (0.01 )
                                                                                                                                                                                     

NOTE 16.   SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On January 15, 2010, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with SOAdesk, LLC (“SOAdesk”) and Vertical Thought, Inc. (“VTI” and, together with SOAdesk, the “Sellers”), pursuant to which the Company acquired the Sellers’ “United Desktop” and “United Data Model” software programs, as well as substantially all of the other assets owned by the Sellers directly or indirectly used (or intended to be used) in or related to Sellers’ business of providing customer interaction consulting and technology services for organizations and contact centers throughout the world (the “Business”). The Company also assumed certain liabilities of the Sellers related to the Business, as described in the Asset Purchase Agreement.

The aggregate consideration payable by the Company to the Sellers consists of the following:
 
●    
$300,000 paid in cash to the Sellers on the closing date;

●    
an unsecured convertible note in the aggregate principal amount of $700,000, payable to SOAdesk, with an annual interest rate of 5%,  and convertible into shares of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock (the “Convertible Note”);
   
●    
$525,000, payable in cash to SOAdesk on March 31, 2010;

●    
an unsecured convertible note in the aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000, payable to SOAdesk and convertible into shares of the Company’s Common Stock; and
 
●    
certain earn-out payments as described in the Asset Purchase Agreement.
    
On March 31, 2010, the maturity date of the unsecured Convertible Note was extended from March 31, 2010 to September 30, 2010. Furthermore, the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement were amended and the Company issued a new $525,000 convertible promissory note to SOAdesk in lieu of the $525,000 payment. This new note, which carries an annual interest rate of 5%, is payable in shares of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock and matures on June 30, 2010.
 
Simultaneously with the acquisition of the assets of SOAdesk LLC, the Company also closed an initial round of Series B round of Convertible Preferred Stock, of approximately $1.36 million.  The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock bears an annual interest of 8% and provides warrants to purchase common stock of the Company at a strike price of $0.25 per share.  The Series B stock may convert into common stock at a conversion rate of $0.15 per share.  Of the $1.36 million raised, the Company’s Chairman, Mr. John Steffens invested $910,000 through a combination of cash and debt retirement.

The Company evaluates events that have occurred after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued.  Based upon the evaluation, the Company did not identify any recognized or non-recognized subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements.

 
F-23

 
Exhibit 4.3


THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY.
 
April 16, 2009
 
250,000 Shares          Warrant No. 2009APN-01
 
CICERO, INC.
STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT

THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT JOHN L. STEFFENS (the “ Holder ”), or its registered assigns, is entitled, at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as hereinafter defined), to purchase from CICERO, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) (the Company and the Holder are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “ Parties ” and individually as a “ Party ”), 250,000 shares of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined and subject to adjustment as provided herein), in whole or in part, at a purchase price of $0.20 per share (subject to adjustment as provided herein), on the terms and conditions and pursuant to the provisions hereinafter set forth.
 
1.   DEFINITIONS
 
As used in this Warrant, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:
 
Additional Shares of Common Stock ” shall mean all shares of Common Stock issued by the Company after the Closing, other than Warrant Stock.
 
Business Day ” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banks are required or permitted to be closed in the State of New York.
 
Closing Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
 
Commission ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other Federal agency then administering the Securities Act and other Federal securities laws.
 
 
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Exhibit 4.3
Common Stock ” shall mean (except where the context otherwise indicates) the common stock, $.001 par value, of the Company as constituted on the Closing Date, and any capital stock into which such Common Stock may thereafter be changed, and shall also include (i) capital stock of the Company of any other class (regardless of how denominated) issued to the holders of shares of Common Stock upon any reclassification thereof which is also not preferred as to dividends or assets over any other class of stock of the Company and which is not subject to redemption and (ii) shares of common stock of any successor or acquiring corporation (as defined in Section 4.4) received by or distributed to the holders of Common Stock of the Company in the circumstances contemplated by Section 4.4.
 
Convertible Securities ” shall mean evidences of indebtedness, shares of stock or other securities which are convertible into or exchangeable, with or without payment of additional consideration in cash or property, for Additional Shares of Common Stock, either immediately or upon the occurrence of a specified date or a specified event.
 
Current Market Price ” shall mean, in respect of any share of Common Stock on any date herein specified (i) the closing sales price on such day on the NASDAQ National Market System (“NASDAQ”) or the principal stock exchange on which such Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading, (ii) if no sale takes place on such day on NASDAQ or any such exchange, the average of the last reported closing bid and asked prices on such day as officially quoted on NASDAQ or any such exchange, (iii) if the Common Stock is not then listed or admitted to trading on NASDAQ or any stock exchange, the average of the last reported closing bid and asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as furnished by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System or the National Quotation Bureau, Inc., (iv) if neither such corporation at the time is engaged in the business of reporting such prices, as furnished by any similar firm then engaged in such business, or (v) if there is no such firm, as furnished by any member of the NASD selected mutually by the Holder and the Company or, if they cannot agree upon such selection, as selected by two such members of the NASD, one of which shall be selected by the Holder and one of which shall be selected by the Company.
 
Current Warrant Price ” shall mean, in respect of a share of Common Stock at any date herein specified, $0.20 per share of Common Stock as of the date hereof, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
 
" Date of Exercise " shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).
 
Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.
 
Exercise Period ” shall mean the period during which this Warrant is exercisable pursuant to Section 2.1.
 
Expiration Date ” shall mean April 16, 2014.
 
Holder ” shall mean the Person in whose name the Warrant set forth herein is registered on the books of the Company maintained for such purpose.
 
 
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Exhibit 4.3
 
NASD ” shall mean the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or any successor corporation thereto.
 
Other Property ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.
 
Outstanding ” shall mean, when used with reference to Common Stock, at any date as of which the number of shares thereof is to be determined, all issued shares of Common Stock, except shares then owned or held by or for the account of the Company or any subsidiary thereof, and shall include all shares issuable in respect of outstanding scrip or any certificates representing fractional interests in shares of Common Stock.
 
Person ” shall mean any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, institution, public benefit corporation, entity or government (whether Federal, state, county, city, municipal or otherwise, including, without limitation, any instrumentality, division, agency, body or department thereof).
 
" Proceeding " shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.8.
 
Restricted Common Stock ” shall mean shares of Common Stock which are, or which upon their issuance on the exercise of this Warrant would be, evidenced by a certificate bearing the restrictive legend set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
 
Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
 
" Trading Day(s) " shall mean any day on which the primary market on which such shares of Common Stock are listed is open for trading.
 
Warrants ” shall mean this Warrant and all warrants issued upon transfer, division or combination of, or in substitution for, any thereof.  All Warrants shall at all times be identical as to terms and conditions and date, except as to the number of shares of Common Stock for which they may be exercised.
 
Warrant Price ” shall mean an amount equal to (i) the number of shares of Common Stock being purchased upon exercise of this Warrant pursuant to Section 2.1, multiplied by (ii) the Current Warrant Price as of the date of such exercise.
 
Warrant Stock ” shall mean the shares of Common Stock purchased by the holders of the Warrants upon the exercise thereof.
 
2.   EXERCISE OF WARRANT
 
2.1.           Manner of Exercise .  (a) From and after the Closing Date and until 6:30 P.M., New York time, on the Expiration Date, the Holder may exercise this Warrant, for all or any part of the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder.
 
 
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Exhibit 4.3
 
(b)  In order to exercise this Warrant, in whole or in part, the Holder shall deliver to the Company at its office at 8000 Regency Parkway, Suite 542, Cary, North Carolina 27518 or at the office or agency designated by the Company pursuant to Section 13, (i) a written notice of the Holder’s election to exercise this Warrant, which notice shall specify the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased, (ii) payment of the Warrant Price and (iii) this Warrant.  Such notice shall be substantially in the form of the subscription form appearing at the end of this Warrant as Exhibit A , duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney.  Upon receipt thereof, the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, and in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter, issue or cause to be issued and deliver or cause to be delivered to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing the aggregate number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise, together with cash in lieu of any fraction of a share, as hereinafter provided.  The stock certificate or certificates so delivered shall be, to the extent possible, in such denomination or denominations as such Holder shall request in the notice and shall be registered in the name of the Holder or, subject to Section 8, such other name as shall be designated in the notice.  This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised and such certificate or certificates shall be deemed to have been issued, and the Holder or any other Person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such shares for all purposes, as of the date the notice, together with the cash or check or checks and this Warrant, is received by the Company as described above and all taxes required to be paid by the Holder, if any, pursuant to Section 2.2 prior to the issuance of such shares have been paid (such date, the " Date of Exercise ").  If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the time of delivery of the certificate or certificates representing Warrant Stock, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased shares of Common Stock called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant, or, at the request of the Holder, appropriate notation may be made on this Warrant and the same returned to the Holder.  Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to register shares in the name of any Person who acquired this Warrant (or part hereof) or any Warrant Stock otherwise than in accordance with this Warrant. If the Company fails to deliver to the Holder the required Warrant Stock in accordance with and pursuant to this Section by the third Trading Day after the Date of Exercise, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.
 
(c)  The Company's obligations to issue and deliver Warrant Stock in accordance with the terms hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by the Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by the Holder or any other Person of any obligation to the Company or any violation or alleged violation of law by the Holder or any other Person, and irrespective of any other circumstance which might otherwise limit such obligation of the Company to the Holder in connection with the issuance of Warrant Stock.
 
(d)  Payment of the Warrant Price shall be made at the option of the Holder by (i) wire transfer to an account designated by the Company, (ii) certified or official bank check, and/or (iii) by the Holder’s surrender to the Company of that number of shares of Warrant Stock (or the right to receive such number of shares) or shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Current Market Price equal to or greater than the Current Warrant Price for all shares then being purchased (including those being surrendered), or (iv) any combination thereof, duly endorsed by or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer duly executed by the Holder or by the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.
 
 
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Exhibit 4.3
 
2.2.            Payment of Taxes .  All shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant pursuant to the terms hereof shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and without any preemptive rights.  The Company shall pay all expenses in connection with, and all taxes and other governmental charges that may be imposed with respect to, the issue or delivery thereof, unless such tax or charge is imposed by law upon the Holder, in which case such taxes or charges shall be paid by the Holder.  The Holder or its transferee shall pay any transfer tax due and payable in respect of a transfer of this Warrant or the Warrant Stock to a party other than the Holder.
 
2.3.            Fractional Shares .  The Company shall not be required to issue a fractional share of Common Stock upon exercise of any Warrant.  As to any fraction of a share which the Holder of one or more Warrants, the rights under which are exercised in the same transaction, would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to the same fraction of (x) the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on the date of exercise, so long as there continues to be a public market for the Common Stock, or (y) in the event there is no public market for the Common Stock, the fair market value thereof as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
2.4.            Continued Validity .  A holder of shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, in whole or in part (other than a holder who acquires such shares after the same have been publicly sold pursuant to a Registration Statement under the Securities Act or sold pursuant to Rule 144 thereunder), shall continue to be entitled to all rights, and subject to all obligations, to which it would have been entitled or obligated, as applicable, as the Holder under Sections 8, 9 and 14 of this Warrant.  The Company will, at the time of each exercise of this Warrant, in whole or in part, upon the request of the holder of the shares of Common Stock issued upon such exercise hereof, acknowledge in writing, in form reasonably satisfactory to such holder, its continuing obligation to afford to such holder all such rights; provided , however , that if such holder shall fail to make any such request, such failure shall not affect the continuing obligation of the Company to afford to such holder all such rights.
 
2.5            Limitation on Exercise .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the number of shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by the Holder upon any exercise of this Warrant (or otherwise in respect hereof) shall be limited to the extent necessary to insure that, following such exercise (or other issuance), the total number of shares of Common Stock then beneficially owned by such Holder and its affiliates and any other Persons whose beneficial ownership of Common Stock would be aggregated with the Holder's for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, does not exceed 4.999% of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (including for such purpose the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise).  For such purposes, beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  Each delivery of a notice of exercise under Section 2.1 will constitute a representation by the Holder that it has evaluated the limitation set forth in this paragraph and determined that issuance of the full number of Warrant Shares requested in such notice of exercise is permitted under this paragraph.  By written notice to the Company, the Holder may waive the provisions of this Section but (i) any such waiver will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Company, and (ii) any such waiver will apply only to the Holder and not to any other holder of Warrants
 
 
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Exhibit 4.3
3.   TRANSFER; DIVISION AND COMBINATION
 
3.1.    Transfer .  Subject to compliance with Section 10, transfer of this Warrant and all rights hereunder, in whole or in part, shall be registered on the books of the Company to be maintained for such purpose, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company specified in Section 2.1 or the office or agency designated by the Company pursuant to Section 11, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney.  Upon such surrender, the Company shall, subject to Section 8, execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees and in the denomination specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled.  A Warrant, if properly assigned in compliance with Section 8, may be exercised by a new Holder for the purchase of shares of Common Stock without having a new Warrant issued.
 
3.2.    Division and Combination .  Subject to Section 8, this Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office or agency of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney.  Subject to compliance with Section 3.1 and with Section 8, as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice.
 
3.3.    Expenses . The Company shall prepare, issue and deliver at its own expense the new Warrant or Warrants to be delivered under this Section 3.
 
3.4.    Maintenance of Books .  The Company agrees to maintain, at its aforesaid office or agency, books for the registration and the registration of transfer of the Warrants.
 
4.   ADJUSTMENTS.
 
The number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable, or the price at which such shares may be purchased upon exercise of this Warrant, shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth in this Section 4.  The Company shall give each Holder notice of any event described below which requires an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4 at the time of such event.
 
4.1.            Stock Dividends, Subdivisions and Combinations .  If at any time the Company shall:
 
 
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Exhibit 4.3
(a)   take a record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend payable in, or other distribution of, Additional Shares of Common Stock;
 
(b)   subdivide its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares of Common Stock; or
 
(c)   combine its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock;
 
then (i) the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately after the occurrence of any such event shall be adjusted to equal the number of shares of Common Stock which a record holder of the same number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to the occurrence of such event would own or be entitled to receive after the happening of such event, and (ii) the Current Warrant Price shall be adjusted to equal (A) the Current Warrant Price multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to the adjustment divided by (B) the number of shares for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately after such adjustment.
 
4.2.            Certain Other Distributions .  If at any time the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive any dividend or other distribution of:
 
(a)   cash;
 
(b)   any evidences of its indebtedness, any shares of its stock or any other securities or property of any nature whatsoever (other than cash, Convertible Securities or Additional Shares of Common Stock); or
 
(c)   any warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any evidences of its indebtedness, any shares of its stock or any other securities or property of any nature whatsoever (other than cash, Convertible Securities or Additional Shares of Common Stock);
 
then (i) the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable shall be adjusted to equal the product of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (A) the numerator of which shall be the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock at the date of taking such record and (B) the denominator of which shall be such Current Market Price per share of Common Stock minus the amount allocable to one share of Common Stock of any such cash so distributable and of the fair value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company) of any and all such evidences of indebtedness, shares of stock, other securities or property or warrants or other subscription or purchase rights so distributable, and (ii) the Current Warrant Price shall be adjusted to equal (A) the Current Warrant Price multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to the adjustment divided by (B) the number of shares for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately after such adjustment.  A reclassification of the Common Stock (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value or from no par value to par value) into shares of Common Stock and shares of any other class of stock shall be deemed a distribution by the Company to the holders of its Common Stock of such shares of such other class of stock within the meaning of this Section 4.2 and, if the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into a larger or smaller number of shares of Common Stock as a part of such reclassification, such change shall be deemed a subdivision or combination, as the case may be, of the outstanding shares of Common Stock within the meaning of Section 4.1.
 
 
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Exhibit 4.3
4.3.            Other Provisions Applicable to Adjustments under this Section .  The following provisions shall be applicable to the making of adjustments of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable and the Current Warrant Price provided for in this Section 4:
 
(a)   When Adjustments to Be Made .The adjustments required by this Section 4 shall be made whenever and as often as any specified event requiring an adjustment shall occur, except that any adjustment of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable that would otherwise be required may be postponed (except in the case of a subdivision or combination of shares of Common Stock, as provided for in Section 4.1) up to, but not beyond the date of exercise if such adjustment either by itself or with other adjustments not previously made adds or subtracts less than 1% of the shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to the making of such adjustment.  Any adjustment representing a change of less than such minimum amount (except as aforesaid) which is postponed shall be carried forward and made as soon as such adjustment, together with other adjustments required by this Section 4 and not previously made, would result in a minimum adjustment or on the date of exercise.  For the purpose of any adjustment, any specified event shall be deemed to have occurred at the close of business on the date of its occurrence.
 
(b)   Fractional Interests .  In computing adjustments under this Section 4, fractional interests in Common Stock shall be taken into account to the nearest 1/10th of a share.
 
(c)   When Adjustment Not Required .  If the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or distribution and shall, thereafter and before the distribution to stockholders thereof, legally abandon its plan to pay or deliver such dividend or distribution, then thereafter no adjustment shall be required by reason of the taking of such record and any such adjustment previously made in respect thereof shall be rescinded and annulled.
 
(d)   Escrow of Warrant Stock .  If after any property becomes distributable pursuant to this Section 4 by reason of the taking of any record of the holders of Common Stock, but prior to the occurrence of the event for which such record is taken, and the Holder exercises this Warrant, any Additional Shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by reason of such adjustment shall be deemed the last shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercised (notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary herein) and such shares or other property shall be held in escrow for the Holder by the Company to be issued to the Holder upon and to the extent that the event actually takes place, upon payment of the then Current Warrant Price.  Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary herein, if the event for which such record was taken fails to occur or is rescinded, then such escrowed shares shall be cancelled by the Company and escrowed property returned.
 
 
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Exhibit 4.3
4.4.            Reorganization, Reclassification, Merger, Consolidation or Disposition of Assets . In case the Company shall reorganize its capital, reclassify its capital stock, consolidate or merge with or into another corporation or other business entity (where the Company is not the surviving corporation or where there is a change in or distribution with respect to the Common Stock of the Company), or sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its property, assets or business to another corporation or other business entity and, pursuant to the terms of such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or disposition of assets, shares of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation, or any cash, shares of stock or other securities or property of any nature whatsoever (including warrants or other subscription or purchase rights) in addition to or in lieu of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation (“ Other Property ”), are to be received by or distributed to the holders of Common Stock of the Company, then each Holder shall have the right thereafter to receive, upon exercise of such Warrant, the number of shares of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and Other Property receivable upon or as a result of such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or disposition of assets by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such event.  In case of any such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or disposition of assets, at the Holder's option and request, any successor to the Company or surviving entity shall expressly assume the due and punctual observance and performance of each and every covenant and condition of this Warrant to be performed and observed by the Company and all the obligations and liabilities hereunder in order to provide for adjustments of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable which shall be as nearly equivalent as practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Section 4 and issue to the Holder a new warrant substantially in the form of this Warrant and consistent with the foregoing provisions and evidencing the Holder's right to purchase the Other Property for the aggregate Current Market Price upon exercise thereof.  For purposes of this Section 4.4, “common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation” shall include stock of such corporation of any class which is not preferred as to dividends or assets over any other class of stock of such corporation and which is not subject to redemption and shall also include any evidences of indebtedness, shares of stock or other securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for any such stock, either immediately or upon the arrival of a specified date or the happening of a specified event and any warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any such stock.  The foregoing provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reorganizations, reclassifications, mergers, consolidations or disposition of assets.

5.   NOTICES TO WARRANT HOLDERS
 
5.1.    Notice of Adjustments . Whenever the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable, or whenever the price at which a share of such Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of the Warrants, shall be adjusted pursuant to Section 4, the Company shall forthwith prepare a certificate to be executed by the chief financial officer of the Company setting forth, in reasonable detail, the event requiring the adjustment and the method by which such adjustment was calculated (including a description of the basis on which the Board of Directors of the Company determined the fair value of any evidences of indebtedness, shares of stock, other securities or property or warrants or other subscription or purchase rights referred to in Section 4.2) specifying the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable and (if such adjustment was made pursuant to Section 4.4) describing the number and kind of any other shares of stock or Other Property for which this Warrant is exercisable, and any change in the purchase price or prices thereof, after giving effect to such adjustment or change.  The Company shall promptly cause a signed copy of such certificate to be delivered to each Holder in accordance with Section 14.2.  The Company shall keep at its office or agency designated pursuant to Section 11 copies of all such certificates and cause the same to be available for inspection at said office during normal business hours by any Holder or any prospective purchaser of a Warrant designated by a Holder thereof.
 
 
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Exhibit 4.3
5.2.    Notice of Corporate Action . If at any time:
 
(a)   the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend (other than a cash dividend payable out of earnings or earned surplus legally available for the payment of dividends under the laws of the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company) or other distribution, or any right to subscribe for or purchase any evidences of its indebtedness, any shares of stock of any class or any other securities or property, or to receive any other right;
 
(b)   there shall be any capital reorganization of the Company, any reclassification or recapitalization of the capital stock of the Company or any consolidation or merger of the Company with, or any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all the property, assets or business of the Company to, another corporation; or
 
(c)   there shall be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company;
 
then, in any one or more of such cases, the Company shall give to the Holder (i) at least ten (10) days’ prior written notice of the date on which a record date shall be selected for such dividend, distribution or right or for determining rights to vote in respect of any such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, disposition, dissolution, liquidation or winding up, and (ii) in the case of any such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, disposition, dissolution, liquidation or winding up, at least ten (10) days’ prior written notice of the date when the same shall take place.  Such notice in accordance with the foregoing clause also shall specify (A) the date on which any such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution or right, the date on which the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to any such dividend, distribution or right, and the amount and character thereof, and (B) the date on which any such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, disposition, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is to take place and the time, if any such time is to be fixed, as of which the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, disposition, dissolution, liquidation or winding up.  Each such written notice shall be sufficiently given if addressed to the Holder and delivered in accordance with Section 14.2.
 
5A.   COMPANY POWER
 
The Company has all corporate power necessary for the authorization, execution and delivery of this Warrant and this Warrant constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights.
 
 
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Exhibit 4.3
6.    RESERVATION AND AUTHORIZATION OF COMMON STOCK; REGISTRATION WITH OR APPROVAL OF ANY GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY

From and after the Closing Date, the Company shall at all times reserve and keep available for issue upon the exercise of Warrants such number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock as will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants.  All shares of Common Stock which shall be so issuable, when issued upon exercise of any Warrant and payment therefor in accordance with the terms of such Warrant, shall be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable, and not subject to preemptive rights.

Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Current Warrant Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.

If any shares of Common Stock required to be reserved for issuance upon exercise of Warrants require registration or qualification with any governmental authority or other governmental approval or filing under any Federal or state law (otherwise than as provided in Section 8) before such shares may be so issued, the Company will in good faith and as expeditiously as possible and at its expense endeavor to cause such shares to be duly registered.
 
7.   TAKING OF RECORD; STOCK AND WARRANT AND WARRANT TRANSFER BOOKS
 
In the case of all dividends or other distributions by the Company to the holders of its Common Stock with respect to which any provision of Section 4 refers to the taking of a record of such holders, the Company will in each such case take such a record and will take such record as of the close of business on a Business Day.  The Company will not at any time, except upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company, close its stock transfer books or Warrant transfer books so as to result in preventing or delaying the exercise or transfer of any Warrant.
 
8.   RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERRABILITY
 
The Warrants and the Warrant Stock shall not be transferred except in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement.

9.   SUPPLYING INFORMATION
 
The Company shall cooperate with each Holder of a Warrant and each holder of Restricted Common Stock in supplying such information as may be reasonably necessary for such holder to complete and file any information reporting forms presently or hereafter required by the Commission as a condition to the availability of an exemption from the Securities Act for the sale of any Warrant or Restricted Common Stock.
 
 
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Exhibit 4.3
10.   LOSS OR MUTILATION
 
Upon receipt by the Company from any Holder of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the ownership of and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant and indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it, and in case of mutilation upon surrender and cancellation hereof, the Company will execute and deliver in lieu hereof a new Warrant of like tenor to such Holder; provided , in the case of mutilation, no indemnity shall be required if this Warrant in identifiable form is surrendered to the Company for cancellation.
 
11.   OFFICE OF COMPANY
 
As long as any of the Warrants remain outstanding, the Company shall maintain an office or agency (which may be the principal executive offices of the Company) where the Warrants may be presented for exercise, registration of transfer, division or combination as provided in this Warrant.
 
12.   FILINGS

So long as the Company has a class of equity securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Company will file on or before the required date all regular or periodic reports (pursuant to the Exchange Act) required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act and will deliver to the Holder promptly upon their becoming available (unless such reports are available through the Commission’s EDGAR system) one copy of each report, notice or proxy statement sent by the Company to its stockholders generally, and of each regular or periodic report (pursuant to the Exchange Act) and any Registration Statement, prospectus or written communication (other than transmittal letters) (pursuant to the Securities Act), filed by the Company with (a) the Commission or (b) any securities exchange on which shares of Common Stock are listed.

13.   NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDERS; LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY

Except as otherwise provided herein, this Warrant shall not entitle the Holder to any rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends and other distributions or to receive notice of or attend meetings of stockholders or any other proceedings of the Company unless and to the extent exercised for shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof.  No provision hereof, in the absence of affirmative action by the Holder to exercise its rights to purchase shares of Common Stock hereunder, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder hereof, shall give rise to any liability of such Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

14.   MISCELLANEOUS
 
14.1.          Nonwaiver and Expenses .  No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of the Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies.  If the Company fails to make, when due, any payments provided for hereunder, or fails to comply with any other provision of this Warrant, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.
 
 
12

 
Exhibit 4.3
14.2.          Notice Generally .  Any notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration, delivery or other communication hereunder to be made pursuant to the provisions of this Warrant shall be sufficiently given or made if in writing and either delivered in person with receipt acknowledged or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by telecopy and confirmed by telecopy answerback, addressed as follows:
 

 
If to the Company:               Cicero, Inc.
8000 Regency Parkway
Suite 542
Cary, NC 27518
Attn: John P. Broderick

If to the Holder: At its last known address appearing on the books and records of the Company maintained for such purpose.

or at such other address as may be substituted by notice given as herein provided.  The giving of any notice required hereunder may be waived in writing by the party entitled to receive such notice.  Every notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication hereunder shall be deemed to have been duly given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number specified in this Section prior to 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a business day, (b) the next business day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number specified in this Section on a day that is not a business day or later than 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any business day, (c) the business day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. As used herein, a “business day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which shall be a federal legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

14.3.          Remedies . Each holder of Warrant and Warrant Stock, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant.  The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
 
14.4.          Successors and Assigns . Subject to the provisions of Sections 3.1 and 8, this Warrant and the rights evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors of the Company and the successors and assigns of the Holder.  The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of all Holders from time to time of this Warrant and, with respect to Section 8 hereof, holders of Warrant Stock, and shall be enforceable by any such Holder or holder of Warrant Stock.
 
 
13

 
Exhibit 4.3
14.5.          Amendment . This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the Holder.
 
14.6           Severability . Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.
 
14.7           Headings . The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.
 
14.8           Governing Law . All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.  Each party agrees that all proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Warrant (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents) (each a " Proceeding ") shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware.  Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of this Warrant), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any Proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such Proceeding is improper.  Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such Proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Warrant and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby. If either party shall commence a Proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Warrant, then the prevailing party in such Proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorneys fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such Proceeding
 
 
14

 
Exhibit 4.3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be duly executed and its corporate seal to be impressed hereon as of the day and year first above written.
 
 

 
  CICERO, INC.  
       
    missing1  
 
 
 
15

 
Exhibit 4.3

EXHIBIT A
 
SUBSCRIPTION FORM
[To be executed only upon exercise of Warrant]
 
The undersigned registered owner of this Warrant irrevocably exercises this Warrant for the purchase of ______ Shares of Common Stock of CICERO, INC., and herewith makes payment therefor, all at the price and on the terms and conditions specified in this Warrant and requests that certificates for the shares of Common Stock hereby purchased (and any securities or other property issuable upon such exercise) be issued in the name of and delivered to _____________ whose address is ________________________________________ and, if such shares of Common Stock shall not include all of the shares of Common Stock issuable as provided in this Warrant, that a new Warrant of like tenor and date for the balance of the shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder be delivered to the undersigned.
 
_______________________________
(Name of Registered Owner)
 
_______________________________
(Signature of Registered Owner)
 
_______________________________
(Street Address)
 
_______________________________
(City)     (State)                                (Zip Code)
 
NOTICE :
The signature on this subscription must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Warrant in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
 
 
16

 
Exhibit 4.3

EXHIBIT B
 
ASSIGNMENT FORM
 
FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned registered owner of this Warrant hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto the Assignee named below all of the rights of the undersigned under this Warrant, with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock set forth below:
 
Name and Address of Assignee           
No. of Shares of 
   
Common Stock  
   
 
­­ ___________________________________                                                   
   _____________
 
 
___________________________________                                                   
   
 

___________________________________                                                   
   
 
 
 ___________________________________                                                   
   
                                                                                                          
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________________ attorney-in-fact to register such transfer on the books of CICERO, INC., maintained for the purpose, with full power of substitution in the premises.
 
 
Dated: __________________   Print Name:____________________________     
   
 
 
    Signature:_____________________________  
   
 
 
    Witness:______________________________   
 
   
NOTICE :
The signature on this subscription must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Warrant in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
 
 
17

 


Exhibit 10.4
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into this 1 st day of January, 2009, by and between CICERO INC, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and John P. Broderick, a resident of the State of New Jersey (the “Employee”).

In consideration of the mutual covenants, promises and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
 
1.
Employment .  The Company hereby employs Employee and Employee hereby accepts such employment upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

2.
Duties of Employee .  Employee will be based in New Jersey or North Carolina at the discretion of the Company.  Employee’s title will be Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary and Employee will report directly to the Board of Directors of the Company.    Employee agrees to perform and discharge such other duties as may be assigned to Employee from time to time by the Company to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board of Directors , and such duties will be consistent with those duties regularly and customarily assigned by the Company to the position of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary.  Employee agrees to comply with all of the Company's policies, standards and regulations and to follow the instructions and directives as promulgated by the Board of Directors of the Company.  Employee will devote Employee's full professional and business-related time, skills and best efforts to such duties and will not, during the term of this Agreement, be engaged (whether or not during normal business hours) in any other business or professional activity, whether or not such activity is pursued for gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage, without the prior written consent of the Board of Directors of the Company.  This Section will not be construed to prevent Employee from (a) investing personal assets in businesses which do not compete with the Company in such form or manner that will not require any services on the part of Employee in the operation or the affairs of the companies in which such investments are made and in which Employee's participation is solely that of an investor; (b) purchasing securities in any corporation whose securities are listed on a national securities exchange or regularly traded in the over-the-counter market, provided that Employee at no time owns, directly or indirectly, in excess of one percent (1%) of the outstanding stock of any class of any such corporation engaged in a business competitive with that of the Company; or (c) participating in conferences, preparing and publishing papers or books, teaching or joining or participating in any professional associations or trade group, so long as the Board of Directors of the Company approves such participation, preparation and publication or teaching prior to Employee’s engaging therein.

3.
Term .  The term of this Agreement will be at-will, and can be terminated by either party at any time, with or without cause, subject to the provisions of Section 4 of this Agreement.

 
1

 
Exhibit 10.4
 
4.
Termination .

 
(a)
Termination by Company for Cause .  The Company may terminate this Agreement and all of its obligations hereunder immediately, including the obligation to pay Employee severance, vacation pay or any further accrued benefits or remuneration, if any of the following events occur:

 
(i)
Employee materially breaches any of the terms or conditions set forth in this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within ten (10) days after Employee's receipt from the Company of written notice of such breach (notwithstanding the foregoing, no cure period shall be applicable to breaches by Employee of Sections 10 through 14  of this Agreement);

 
(ii)
Employee commits any other act materially detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company;

 
(iii)
Employee engages in dishonest or illegal activities or commits or is convicted of any crime involving fraud, deceit or moral turpitude; or

 
(iv)
Employee dies or becomes mentally or physically incapacitated or disabled so as to be unable to perform Employee's duties under this Agreement even with a reasonable accommodation.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Employee's inability adequately to perform services under this Agreement for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days will be conclusive evidence of such mental or physical incapacity or disability, unless such inability  is pursuant to a mental or physical incapacity or disability covered by the Family Medical Leave Act, in which case such sixty (60) day period shall be extended to a one hundred and twenty (120) day period.

 
(b)
Termination by Company Without Cause .  The Company may terminate Employee's employment pursuant to this Agreement for reasons other than those stated in Section 4(a) upon at least thirty (30) days' prior written notice to Employee. In the event Employee's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without cause, the Company shall be obligated to pay Employee a lump sum severance payment equal to twelve (12) months of Employee’s then base salary payable within thirty (30) days  after the date of termination.  In addition, Employee will be entitled to payment of all unused vacation days at his current daily rate and any accrued but unpaid salary or earned bonuses. Any option grants or restricted stock awards made to employee will immediately vest. The  payment to  Employee for  all deferred salaries and earned bonuses will be paid within 30 days by the Company. Other than the severance payments set forth in this Section 4(b), Employee will be entitled to receive no further remuneration and will not be entitled to participate in any Company benefit programs following his termination by the Company, whether such termination is with or without cause.

 
2

 
Exhibit 10.4
 
 
(c)
Termination by Employee for Cause .  In the event of a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company that results in either a substantial reduction or change of title in the Employee’s job duties related to his position as CFO or CEO, ,or a decrease in or a failure to provide the compensation or vested benefits under this Agreement or the Company initiates a substantial reduction or change of title in the Employee’s job duties related to his position as CFO, Employee shall have the right to resign his employment and will be entitled to a lump sum severance payment equal to twelve (12) months of Employee’s then base salary payable within thirty (30) days after  the date of termination  In addition, Employee will be entitled to payment of all unused vacation days at his current daily rate and a lump sum equal to all deferred salaries and earned bonuses. In addition, all Employee’s then outstanding but unvested stock options shall vest one hundred percent (100%).  Employee shall have 12 months from the date written notice is given to Employee about the announcement and closing of a transaction resulting in a Change in Control of the Company that would result in a substantial change in the Employee’s job duties or decrease his compensation or vested benefits under this Agreement to resign or this Section 4(c) shall not apply.  In the event Employee resigns from the Company for any other reason, Employee will not be entitled to receive or accrue any further Company benefits or other remuneration under this Agreement, and Employee specifically agrees that he will not be entitled to receive any severance pay.

For purposes of this Section 4, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if any of the following occur:

 
(i)
the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another unaffiliated entity, or the merger of another unaffiliated entity into the Company or another subsidiary thereof with the effect that immediately after such transaction the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction hold less than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of all securities generally entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the entity surviving such merger or consolidation.  This provision will not apply to any reorganization and reverse merger between the Company and any subsidiary (or any other similar entity established for a similar purpose);

 
(ii)
the sale or transfer of more than fifty-one percent (51%) of the Company’s then outstanding voting stock (other than a restructuring event which results in the continuation of the Company’s business by an affiliated entity) to unaffiliated person or group (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended); or

 
3

 
Exhibit 10.4
 
 
(iii)
the adoption by the stockholders of the Company of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

5.
Compensation and Benefits .
         
 
(a)
Annual Salary .  During the term of this Agreement and for all services rendered by Employee under this Agreement, the Company will pay Employee a base salary of One Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($175,000.00) per annum in equal bi-monthly installments.  Employee will also be entitled to earn a short term incentive compensation as further outlined in Exhibit D.

 
(b)
Incentive Compensation .  Employee is eligible for an  annual bonus upon the Company reaching certain pre tax income levels (after accounting for all bonuses)  as set forth in Exhibit C.  Said bonus will be payable after the annual accounts have been presented to the Compensation Committee. Exhibit C attached hereto provides the benchmarks associated with achieving the Incentive Compensation.

 
(c)
Equity Awards .  Employee is eligible for stock option grants and restricted stock awards as determined by the Compensation Committee.

6.
Vacation.   Employee shall be eligible for four (4) weeks of paid vacation annually, provided that such vacation is scheduled at such times that do not interfere with the Company’s legitimate business needs.

7.
Other Benefits .  Employee will be entitled to such fringe benefits as may be provided from time-to-time by the Company to its employees, including, but not limited to, group health insurance, life and disability insurance, and any other fringe benefits now or hereafter provided by the Company to its employees, if and when Employee meets the eligibility requirements for any such benefit.  The Company reserves the right to change or discontinue any employee benefit plans or programs now being offered to its employees; provided, however, that all benefits provided for employees of the same position and status as Employee will be provided to Employee on an equal basis.

8.
Business Expenses .  Employee will be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses incurred in the discharge of Employee's duties under this Agreement pursuant to the Company's standard reimbursement policies.
 
 
9.
Withholding .  The Company will deduct and withhold from the payments made to Employee under this Agreement, state and federal income taxes, FICA and other amounts normally withheld from compensation due employees.

 
4

 
Exhibit 10.4
 
10.
Non-Disclosure of Proprietary Information .  Employee recognizes and acknowledges that the Trade Secrets (as defined below) and Confidential Information (as defined below) of the Company and its affiliates and all physical embodiments thereof (as they may exist from time-to-time, collectively, the “Proprietary Information”) are valuable, special and unique assets of the Company's and its affiliates' businesses. Employee further acknowledges that access to such Proprietary Information is essential to the performance of Employee's duties under this Agreement.  Therefore, in order to obtain access to such Proprietary Information, Employee agrees that, except with respect to those duties assigned to him by the Company, Employee  will hold in confidence all Proprietary Information and will not reproduce, use, distribute, disclose, publish or otherwise disseminate any Proprietary Information, in whole or in part, and will take no action causing, or fail to take any action necessary to prevent causing, any Proprietary Information to lose its character as Proprietary Information, nor will Employee make use of any such information for Employee's own purposes or for the benefit of any person, firm, corporation, association or other entity (except the Company) under any circumstances.
 
For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Trade Secrets” means information, including, but not limited to, any technical or nontechnical data, formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, drawing, process, financial data, financial plan, product plan, list of actual or potential customers or suppliers, or other information similar to any of the foregoing, which derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can derive economic value from its disclosure or use.  For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Trade Secrets” does not include information that Employee can show by competent proof (i) was known to Employee and reduced to writing prior to disclosure by the Company (but only if Employee promptly notifies the Company of Employee’s prior knowledge); (ii) was generally known to the public at the time the Company disclosed the information to Employee;  (iii) became generally known to the public after disclosure by the Company through no act or omission of Employee; or (iv) was disclosed to Employee by a third party having a bona fide right both to possess the information and to disclose the information to Employee.  The term “Confidential Information” means any data or information of the Company, other than trade secrets, which is valuable to the Company and not generally known to competitors of the Company.  The provisions of this Section 6 will apply to Trade Secrets for so long as such information remains a trade secret and to Confidential Information during Employee’s employment with the Company and for a period of two (2) years following any termination of Employee’s employment with the Company for whatever reason.
 
11.
Non-Solicitation Covenants .  Employee agrees that during Employee's employment by the Company and for a period of  two (2) year following the termination of Employee's employment for whatever reason, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, on Employee's own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of any other individual or entity, divert, solicit or attempt to divert or solicit any individual or entity (i) who is a client of the Company at any time during the six (6)-month period prior to Employee's termination of employment with the Company (“Client”), or was actively sought by the Company as a prospective client, and (ii) with whom Employee had material contact while employed by the Company to provide  similar services or products as such provided by Employee for the Company to such Clients or prospects.  Employee further agrees and represents that during Employee's employment by the Company and for a period of  two (2) year following any termination of Employee's employment for whatever reason, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, on Employee's own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of any other individual or entity, divert, solicit or hire away, or attempt to divert, solicit or hire away, to or for any individual or entity which is engaged in providing similar services or products to that provided by the Company, any person employed by the Company for whom Employee had supervisory responsibility or with whom Employee had material contact while employed by the Company, whether or not such employee is a full-time employee or temporary employee of the Company, whether or not such employee is employed pursuant to written agreement and whether or not such employee is employed for a determined period or at-will.  For purposes of this Agreement, “material contact” exists between Employee and a Client or potential Client when (1) Employee established and/or nurtured the Client or potential Client; (2) the Client or potential Client and Employee interacted to further a business relationship or contract with the Company; (3) Employee had access to confidential information and/or marketing strategies or programs regarding the Client or potential Client; and/or (4) Employee learned of the Client or potential Client through the efforts of the Company providing Employee with confidential Client information, including but not limited to the Client’s identify, for purposes of furthering a business relationship.  

 
5

 
Exhibit 10.4
 
12.
Existing Restrictive Covenants .  Except as provided in Exhibit B, Employee has not entered into any agreement with any employer or former employer: (a) to keep in confidence any confidential information, or (b) to not compete with any former employer.  Employee represents and warrants that Employee's employment with the Company does not and will not breach any agreement which Employee has with any former employer to keep in confidence confidential information or not to compete with any such former employer.  Employee will not disclose to the Company or use on its behalf any confidential information of any other party required to be kept confidential by Employee.

13.
Return of Proprietary Information .  Employee acknowledges that as a result of Employee's employment with the Company, Employee may come into the possession and control of Proprietary Information, such as proprietary documents, drawings, specifications, manuals, notes, computer programs, or other proprietary material.  Employee acknowledges, warrants and agrees that Employee will return to the Company all such items and any copies or excerpts thereof, and any other properties, files or documents obtained as a result of Employee's employment with the Company, immediately upon the termination of Employee's employment with the Company.

14.
Proprietary Rights .  During the course of Employee's employment with the Company, Employee may make, develop or conceive of useful processes, machines, compositions of matter, computer software, algorithms, works of authorship expressing such algorithm, or any other discovery, idea, concept, document or improvement which relates to or is useful to the Company's Business (the “Inventions”), whether or not subject to copyright or patent protection, and which may or may not be considered Proprietary Information.  Employee acknowledges that all such Inventions will be “works made for hire” under United States copyright law and will remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company.  Employee also hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company, in perpetuity, all right, title and interest Employee may have in and to such Inventions, including without limitation, all copyrights, and the right to apply for any form of patent, utility model, industrial design or similar proprietary right recognized by any state, country or jurisdiction.  Employee further agrees, at the Company's request and expense, to do all things and sign all documents or instruments necessary, in the opinion of the Company, to eliminate any ambiguity as to the ownership of, and rights of the Company to, such Inventions, including filing copyright and patent registrations and defending and enforcing in litigation or otherwise all such rights.  
 
Employee will not be obligated to assign to the Company any Invention made by Employee while in the Company's employ which does not relate to any business or activity in which the Company is or may reasonably be expected to become engaged, except that Employee is so obligated if the same relates to or is based on Proprietary Information to which Employee will have had access during and by virtue of Employee's employment or which arises out of work assigned to Employee by the Company.  Employee will not be obligated to assign any Invention which may be wholly conceived by Employee after Employee leaves the employ of the Company, except that Employee is so obligated if such Invention involves the utilization of Proprietary Information obtained while in the employ of the Company.  Employee is not obligated to assign any Invention that relates to or would be useful in any business or activities in which the Company is engaged if such Invention was conceived and reduced to practice by Employee prior to Employee's employment with the Company.  Employee agrees that any such Invention is set forth on Exhibit “A” to this Agreement.
 
 
6

 
Exhibit 10.4
 
15.
Remedies .  Employee agrees and acknowledges that the violation of any of the covenants or agreements contained in Sections 10 through 14 of this Agreement would cause irreparable injury to the Company, that the remedy at law for any such violation or threatened violation thereof would be inadequate, and that the Company will be entitled, in addition to any other remedy, to temporary and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief without the necessity of proving actual damages or posting a bond.

16.
Severability .  In case one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement is for any reason held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the parties agree that it is their intent that the same will not affect any other provision in this Agreement, and this Agreement will be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.  It is the intent of the parties that this Agreement be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law.

17.
Entire Agreement .  This Agreement embodies the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes all prior agreements, oral or written, regarding the subject matter hereof.   No amendment or modification of this Agreement will be valid or binding upon the parties unless made in writing and signed by the parties.

18.
Governing Law .  This Agreement is entered into and will be interpreted and enforced pursuant to the laws of the State of New Jersey.  The parties hereto hereby agree that the appropriate forum and venue for any disputes between any of the parties hereto arising out of this Agreement shall be any federal court in the state where the Employee has his principal place of residence and each of the parties hereto hereby submits to the personal jurisdiction of any such court.  The foregoing shall not limit the rights of any party to obtain execution of judgment in any other jurisdiction.  The parties further agree, to the extent permitted by law, that a final and unappealable judgment against either of them in any action or proceeding contemplated above shall be conclusive and may be enforced in any other jurisdiction within or outside the United States by suit on the judgment, a certified exemplified copy of which shall be conclusive evidence of the fact and amount of such judgment.

 
19. Surviving Terms .  Sections 4, 10, 11, 14, 15 and 18 of this Agreement shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 
7

 
Exhibit 10.4
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
 
 
COMPANY: EMPLOYEE:
   
CICERO, INC.  
   
By:  ____________________________  
  ______________________________________ 
Name:___________________________ John P. Broderick
   
Title:____________________________    
   
 
8

 
Exhibit 10.4
EXHIBIT A

INVENTIONS






Employee represents that there are no Inventions.



_______________________
Employee Initials
 
 
 
9

 
Exhibit 10.4

EXHIBIT B

EXISTING RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

 
10

 
Exhibit 10.4



EXHIBIT C

VARIABLE COMPENSATION


Annual Cash Bonus:

Employee is entitled to an annual cash bonus payable after the Company has reported its results for the year. This annual cash bonus is tied to Operating Net Income before taxes (defined as above)  as per the chart below:


Operating Net Income Net Income Range (before tax)  
 
       
                   
   
From
   
To
   
Variable Compensation
 
                   
   
Less than $1,000,000
         
None
 
Tier 1
  $ $1,000,000     $ 1,699,999     $ 100,000  
Tier 2
  $ 1,700,000     $ 1,999,999     $ 200,000  
Tier 3
 
$ greater than 2,000,000
            $ 300,000  


 
11

 
Exhibit 10.4
EXHIBIT D

SHORT TERM VARIABLE COMPENSATION


In order to reach a targeted compensation for 2009 the Employee will receive a Bonus of $25,000 upon closing and payment of the first contract valued at $300,000 or greater.

EXHIBIT E

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN


Should Employee achieve targeted operating income for fiscal 2009, he would be eligible to participate in an additional deferred compensation plan. The Executive Deferred Compensation Plan would set aside an addition cash payout of $75,000 if Executive Employee achieved targeted operating income in 2009 and 2010. The Deferred Compensation Plan amount would be paid to Employee after the annual accounts have been filed with the regulatory agencies in March, 2011.


 
12

 

Exhibit 10.16

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into this 1 st day of January, 2010, by and between CICERO INC, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and John P. Broderick, a resident of the State of New Jersey (the “Employee”).

In consideration of the mutual covenants, promises and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1.
Employment .  The Company hereby employs Employee and Employee hereby accepts such employment upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

2.
Duties of Employee .  Employee will be based in New Jersey or North Carolina at the discretion of the Company.  Employee’s title will be Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary and Employee will report directly to the Board of Directors of the Company.    Employee agrees to perform and discharge such other duties as may be assigned to Employee from time to time by the Company to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board of Directors , and such duties will be consistent with those duties regularly and customarily assigned by the Company to the position of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary.  Employee agrees to comply with all of the Company's policies, standards and regulations and to follow the instructions and directives as promulgated by the Board of Directors of the Company.  Employee will devote Employee's full professional and business-related time, skills and best efforts to such duties and will not, during the term of this Agreement, be engaged (whether or not during normal business hours) in any other business or professional activity, whether or not such activity is pursued for gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage, without the prior written consent of the Board of Directors of the Company.  This Section will not be construed to prevent Employee from (a) investing personal assets in businesses which do not compete with the Company in such form or manner that will not require any services on the part of Employee in the operation or the affairs of the companies in which such investments are made and in which Employee's participation is solely that of an investor; (b) purchasing securities in any corporation whose securities are listed on a national securities exchange or regularly traded in the over-the-counter market, provided that Employee at no time owns, directly or indirectly, in excess of one percent (1%) of the outstanding stock of any class of any such corporation engaged in a business competitive with that of the Company; or (c) participating in conferences, preparing and publishing papers or books, teaching or joining or participating in any professional associations or trade group, so long as the Board of Directors of the Company approves such participation, preparation and publication or teaching prior to Employee’s engaging therein.

3.
Term .  The term of this Agreement will be at-will, and can be terminated by either party at any time, with or without cause, subject to the provisions of Section 4 of this Agreement. Subject to the provisions of Section4, this Agreement will cover the period January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010 and thereafter successive annual periods unless a party provides the other with written notice of its intention to terminate this Agreement, which notice shall be delivered no later than thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the initial term or any renewal term, as applicable.

 
 

 
 
Exhibit 10.16
 
4.
Termination .

 
(a)
Termination by Company for Cause .  The Company may terminate this Agreement and all of its obligations hereunder immediately, including the obligation to pay Employee severance, vacation pay or any further accrued benefits or remuneration, if any of the following events occur:

 
(i)
Employee improperly performs, or fails to perform, his duties and responsibilities or materially breaches any of the terms or conditions set forth in this Agreement, a Policy, or invention assignment, confidentiality, non-solicitation or non-competition agreement with or for the benefit of the Company, and fails to cure such breach within ten (10) days after Employee's receipt from the Company of written notice of such breach (notwithstanding the foregoing, no cure period shall be applicable to breaches by Employee of Sections 10 through 14 of this Agreement or of provisions of such Policies or agreements relating to any thereof);

 
(ii)
Employee commits any other act materially detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company;
 
 
(iii)
Employee engages in willful misconduct, including fraud or intentional misrepresentation;

 
(iv)
Employee engages in dishonest activities or commits or is convicted of, or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, any felony or a misdemeanor involving fraud, deceit, moral turpitude or unethical business conduct;
 
 
(v)
Employee engages in habitual alcohol or drug abuse that continues after written notice from the Company, which abuse has (a) had an adverse effect on Employee’s productivity or ability to carry out his duties under this Agreement, (b) jeopardized the safety of any other employee of the Company or any person having business relations with the Company, (c) damaged the reputation of the Company, or (d) endangered the Company’s ability to compete for business; or

 
(vi)
Employee dies or becomes mentally or physically incapacitated or disabled so as to be unable to perform Employee's duties under this Agreement even with a reasonable accommodation.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Employee's inability adequately to perform services under this Agreement for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days will be conclusive evidence of such mental or physical incapacity or disability, unless such inability is pursuant to a mental or physical incapacity or disability covered by the Family Medical Leave Act, in which case such sixty (60) day period shall be extended to a one hundred and twenty (120) day period.

 
 

 
 
Exhibit 10.16
 
 
(b)
Termination by Company Without Cause .  The Company may terminate Employee's employment pursuant to this Agreement for reasons other than those stated in Section 4(a) upon at least thirty (30) days' prior written notice to Employee. In the event Employee's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without cause, the Company shall be obligated to pay Employee a lump sum severance payment equal to twelve (12) months of Employee’s then base salary payable within thirty (30) days after the date of termination.  In addition, Employee will be entitled to payment of all unused vacation days at his current daily rate and any accrued but unpaid salary or earned bonuses. Any option grants or restricted stock awards made to employee will immediately vest. The  payment to  Employee for  all deferred salaries and earned bonuses will be paid within 30 days by the Company. Other than the severance payments set forth in this Section 4(b), Employee will be entitled to receive no further remuneration and will not be entitled to participate in any Company benefit programs following his termination by the Company, whether such termination is with or without cause.

 
(c)
Termination by Employee for Cause .  In the event of a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company that results in either a substantial reduction or change of title in the Employee’s job duties related to his position as CFO or CEO, ,or a decrease in or a failure to provide the compensation or vested benefits under this Agreement or the Company initiates a substantial reduction or change of title in the Employee’s job duties related to his position as CFO, Employee shall have the right to resign his employment and will be entitled to a lump sum severance payment equal to twelve (12) months of Employee’s then base salary payable within thirty (30) days after  the date of termination  In addition, Employee will be entitled to payment of all unused vacation days at his current daily rate and a lump sum equal to all deferred salaries and earned bonuses. In addition, all Employee’s then outstanding but unvested stock options shall vest one hundred percent (100%).  Employee shall have 12 months from the date written notice is given to Employee about the announcement and closing of a transaction resulting in a Change in Control of the Company that would result in a substantial change in the Employee’s job duties or decrease his compensation or vested benefits under this Agreement to resign or this Section 4(c) shall not apply.  In the event Employee resigns from the Company for any other reason, Employee will not be entitled to receive or accrue any further Company benefits or other remuneration under this Agreement, and Employee specifically agrees that he will not be entitled to receive any severance pay.

 
 

 
 
Exhibit 10.16
 
For purposes of this Section 4, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if any of the following occur:

 
(i)
the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another unaffiliated entity, or the merger of another unaffiliated entity into the Company or another subsidiary thereof with the effect that immediately after such transaction the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction hold less than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of all securities generally entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the entity surviving such merger or consolidation.  This provision will not apply to any reorganization and reverse merger between the Company and any subsidiary (or any other similar entity established for a similar purpose);

 
(ii)
the sale or transfer of more than fifty-one percent (51%) of the Company’s then outstanding voting stock (other than a restructuring event which results in the continuation of the Company’s business by an affiliated entity) to unaffiliated person or group (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended); or
 
 
(iii)
the adoption by the stockholders of the Company of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
 
5. 
Compensation and Benefits .
 
 
(a)
Annual Salary .  During the term of this Agreement and for all services rendered by Employee under this Agreement, the Company will pay Employee a base salary of One Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($175,000.00) per annum in equal bi-monthly installments.  Employee will also be entitled to earn a short term incentive compensation as further outlined in Exhibit D.

 
(b)
Incentive Compensation .  Employee is eligible for an  annual bonus upon the Company reaching certain pre tax income levels (after accounting for all bonuses)  as set forth in Exhibit C.  Said bonus will be payable after the annual accounts have been presented to the Compensation Committee. Exhibit C attached hereto provides the benchmarks associated with achieving the Incentive Compensation.

 
(c)
Equity Awards .  Employee is eligible for stock option grants and restricted stock awards as determined by the Compensation Committee.

6.
Vacation.   Employee shall be eligible for four (4) weeks of paid vacation annually, provided that such vacation is scheduled at such times that do not interfere with the Company’s legitimate business needs.

7.
Other Benefits .  Employee will be entitled to such fringe benefits as may be provided from time-to-time by the Company to its employees, including, but not limited to, group health insurance, life and disability insurance, and any other fringe benefits now or hereafter provided by the Company to its employees, if and when Employee meets the eligibility requirements for any such benefit.  The Company reserves the right to change or discontinue any employee benefit plans or programs now being offered to its employees; provided, however, that all benefits provided for employees of the same position and status as Employee will be provided to Employee on an equal basis.

 
 

 
 
Exhibit 10.16
 
8.
Business Expenses .  Employee will be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses incurred in the discharge of Employee's duties under this Agreement pursuant to the Company's standard reimbursement policies.
 
9.
Withholding .  The Company will deduct and withhold from the payments made to Employee under this Agreement, state and federal income taxes, FICA and other amounts normally withheld from compensation due employees.

10.
Non-Disclosure of Proprietary Information .  Employee recognizes and acknowledges that the Trade Secrets (as defined below) and Confidential Information (as defined below) of the Company and its affiliates and all physical embodiments thereof (as they may exist from time-to-time, collectively, the “Proprietary Information”) are valuable, special and unique assets of the Company's and its affiliates' businesses. Employee further acknowledges that access to such Proprietary Information is essential to the performance of Employee's duties under this Agreement.  Therefore, in order to obtain access to such Proprietary Information, Employee agrees that, except with respect to those duties assigned to him by the Company, Employee  will hold in confidence all Proprietary Information and will not reproduce, use, distribute, disclose, publish or otherwise disseminate any Proprietary Information, in whole or in part, and will take no action causing, or fail to take any action necessary to prevent causing, any Proprietary Information to lose its character as Proprietary Information, nor will Employee make use of any such information for Employee's own purposes or for the benefit of any person, firm, corporation, association or other entity (except the Company) under any circumstances.
 
For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Trade Secrets” means information, including, but not limited to, any technical or nontechnical data, formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, drawing, process, financial data, financial plan, product plan, list of actual or potential customers or suppliers, or other information similar to any of the foregoing, which derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can derive economic value from its disclosure or use.  For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Trade Secrets” does not include information that Employee can show by competent proof (i) was known to Employee and reduced to writing prior to disclosure by the Company (but only if Employee promptly notifies the Company of Employee’s prior knowledge); (ii) was generally known to the public at the time the Company disclosed the information to Employee;  (iii) became generally known to the public after disclosure by the Company through no act or omission of Employee; or (iv) was disclosed to Employee by a third party having a bona fide right both to possess the information and to disclose the information to Employee.  The term “Confidential Information” means any data or information of the Company, other than trade secrets, which is valuable to the Company and not generally known to competitors of the Company.  The provisions of this Section 6 will apply to Trade Secrets for so long as such information remains a trade secret and to Confidential Information during Employee’s employment with the Company and for a period of two (2) years following any termination of Employee’s employment with the Company for whatever reason.

 
 

 
 
Exhibit 10.16
 
11
. Non-Solicitation Covenants .  Employee agrees that during Employee's employment by the Company and for a period of  two (2) year following the termination of Employee's employment for whatever reason, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, on Employee's own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of any other individual or entity, divert, solicit or attempt to divert or solicit any individual or entity (i) who is a client of the Company at any time during the six (6)-month period prior to Employee's termination of employment with the Company (“Client”), or was actively sought by the Company as a prospective client, and (ii) with whom Employee had material contact while employed by the Company to provide  similar services or products as such provided by Employee for the Company to such Clients or prospects.  Employee further agrees and represents that during Employee's employment by the Company and for a period of  two (2) year following any termination of Employee's employment for whatever reason, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, on Employee's own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of any other individual or entity, divert, solicit or hire away, or attempt to divert, solicit or hire away, to or for any individual or entity which is engaged in providing similar services or products to that provided by the Company, any person employed by the Company for whom Employee had supervisory responsibility or with whom Employee had material contact while employed by the Company, whether or not such employee is a full-time employee or temporary employee of the Company, whether or not such employee is employed pursuant to written agreement and whether or not such employee is employed for a determined period or at-will.  For purposes of this Agreement, “material contact” exists between Employee and a Client or potential Client when (1) Employee established and/or nurtured the Client or potential Client; (2) the Client or potential Client and Employee interacted to further a business relationship or contract with the Company; (3) Employee had access to confidential information and/or marketing strategies or programs regarding the Client or potential Client; and/or (4) Employee learned of the Client or potential Client through the efforts of the Company providing Employee with confidential Client information, including but not limited to the Client’s identify, for purposes of furthering a business relationship.  

12.
Existing Restrictive Covenants .  Except as provided in Exhibit B, Employee has not entered into any agreement with any employer or former employer: (a) to keep in confidence any confidential information, or (b) to not compete with any former employer.  Employee represents and warrants that Employee's employment with the Company does not and will not breach any agreement which Employee has with any former employer to keep in confidence confidential information or not to compete with any such former employer.  Employee will not disclose to the Company or use on its behalf any confidential information of any other party required to be kept confidential by Employee.

 
 

 
 
Exhibit 10.16
 
13.
Return of Proprietary Information .  Employee acknowledges that as a result of Employee's employment with the Company, Employee may come into the possession and control of Proprietary Information, such as proprietary documents, drawings, specifications, manuals, notes, computer programs, or other proprietary material.  Employee acknowledges, warrants and agrees that Employee will return to the Company all such items and any copies or excerpts thereof, and any other properties, files or documents obtained as a result of Employee's employment with the Company, immediately upon the termination of Employee's employment with the Company.

14.
Proprietary Rights .  During the course of Employee's employment with the Company, Employee may make, develop or conceive of useful processes, machines, compositions of matter, computer software, algorithms, works of authorship expressing such algorithm, or any other discovery, idea, concept, document or improvement which relates to or is useful to the Company's Business (the “Inventions”), whether or not subject to copyright or patent protection, and which may or may not be considered Proprietary Information.  Employee acknowledges that all such Inventions will be “works made for hire” under United States copyright law and will remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company.  Employee also hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company, in perpetuity, all right, title and interest Employee may have in and to such Inventions, including without limitation, all copyrights, and the right to apply for any form of patent, utility model, industrial design or similar proprietary right recognized by any state, country or jurisdiction.  Employee further agrees, at the Company's request and expense, to do all things and sign all documents or instruments necessary, in the opinion of the Company, to eliminate any ambiguity as to the ownership of, and rights of the Company to, such Inventions, including filing copyright and patent registrations and defending and enforcing in litigation or otherwise all such rights.  
 
Employee will not be obligated to assign to the Company any Invention made by Employee while in the Company's employ which does not relate to any business or activity in which the Company is or may reasonably be expected to become engaged, except that Employee is so obligated if the same relates to or is based on Proprietary Information to which Employee will have had access during and by virtue of Employee's employment or which arises out of work assigned to Employee by the Company.  Employee will not be obligated to assign any Invention which may be wholly conceived by Employee after Employee leaves the employ of the Company, except that Employee is so obligated if such Invention involves the utilization of Proprietary Information obtained while in the employ of the Company.  Employee is not obligated to assign any Invention that relates to or would be useful in any business or activities in which the Company is engaged if such Invention was conceived and reduced to practice by Employee prior to Employee's employment with the Company.  Employee agrees that any such Invention is set forth on Exhibit “A” to this Agreement.
 
15.
Remedies .  Employee agrees and acknowledges that the violation of any of the covenants or agreements contained in Sections 10 through 14 of this Agreement would cause irreparable injury to the Company, that the remedy at law for any such violation or threatened violation thereof would be inadequate, and that the Company will be entitled, in addition to any other remedy, to temporary and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief without the necessity of proving actual damages or posting a bond.

 
 

 
 
Exhibit 10.16
 
16.
Severability .  In case one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement is for any reason held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the parties agree that it is their intent that the same will not affect any other provision in this Agreement, and this Agreement will be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.  It is the intent of the parties that this Agreement be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law.

17.
Entire Agreement .  This Agreement embodies the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes all prior agreements, oral or written, regarding the subject matter hereof.   No amendment or modification of this Agreement will be valid or binding upon the parties unless made in writing and signed by the parties.

18.
Governing Law .  This Agreement is entered into and will be interpreted and enforced pursuant to the laws of the State of New Jersey.  The parties hereto hereby agree that the appropriate forum and venue for any disputes between any of the parties hereto arising out of this Agreement shall be any federal court in the state where the Employee has his principal place of residence and each of the parties hereto hereby submits to the personal jurisdiction of any such court.  The foregoing shall not limit the rights of any party to obtain execution of judgment in any other jurisdiction.  The parties further agree, to the extent permitted by law, that a final and unappealable judgment against either of them in any action or proceeding contemplated above shall be conclusive and may be enforced in any other jurisdiction within or outside the United States by suit on the judgment, a certified exemplified copy of which shall be conclusive evidence of the fact and amount of such judgment.

 
19. Surviving Terms .  Sections 4, 10, 11, 14, 15 and 18 of this Agreement shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 
 

 
 
Exhibit 10.16
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
 
 
COMPANY: EMPLOYEE:
   
CICERO, INC.  
   
 By:  ____________________________  
  ______________________________________ 
Name:___________________________ John P. Broderick
   
Title:____________________________    
   
 
 
 

 
 
Exhibit 10.16
 
 
EXHIBIT A

INVENTIONS



 
Employee represents that there are no Inventions.



_______________________
Employee Initials

 
 

 
 
Exhibit 10.16

EXHIBIT B
 
 

 
EXISTING RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
 
 
 

 
 
Exhibit 10.16

 
EXHIBIT C

VARIABLE COMPENSATION


For Fiscal 2010:

Annual Cash Bonus:

Employee is entitled to an annual cash bonus payable after the Company has reported its results for the year. This annual cash bonus is tied to Operating Net Income before taxes as per the chart below:

  Operating Net Income  Range (before tax)    
       
 
From
To
Variable Compensation
       
 
Less than Target Operating Net Income
 
 
None
Tier 1
Achieve Target Operating Net Income up to 120% of Target
 
 
43% of   43% of base compensation
Tier 2
Achieve >120% of Target Net Operating Income ; < 150%
 
 
86% of base compensation
Tier 3
Achieve > 150% of Target Net Operating Income
 
143% of base compensation

Performance significantly in excess of Tier 3 may result in an additional reward at the discretion of the Compensation Committee
 
 
 

 
Exhibit 10.16






EXHIBIT D

SHORT TERM VARIABLE COMPENSATION


In order to reach a targeted compensation for 2010 the Employee will receive a Bonus of $25,000 upon closing and payment of the first contract valued at $300,000 or greater.
Exhibit 10.18

 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into this __ day of January, 2010, by and between CICERO INC, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Antony Castagno, a resident of the State of Georgia (the “Employee”).

In consideration of the mutual covenants, promises and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1.
Employment .  The Company hereby employs Employee and Employee hereby accepts such employment upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

2.
Duties of Employee .  Employee will be based in Georgia or North Carolina at the discretion of the Company.  Employee’s title will be Chief Technology Officer and Employee will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer.  Employee agrees to perform and discharge such other duties as may be assigned to Employee from time to time by the Company to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board of Directors, and such duties will be consistent with those duties regularly and customarily assigned by the Company to the position of Chief Technology Officer.  Employee agrees to comply with all of the Company's policies, standards and regulations and to follow the instructions and directives as promulgated by the Board of Directors of the Company (“Policies”).  Employee will devote Employee's full professional and business-related time, skills and best efforts to such duties and will not, during the term of this Agreement, be engaged (whether or not during normal business hours) in any other business or professional activity, whether or not such activity is pursued for gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage, without the prior written consent of the Board of Directors of the Company.  This Section will not be construed to prevent Employee from (a) investing personal assets in businesses which do not compete with the Company in such form or manner that will not require any services on the part of Employee in the operation or the affairs of the companies in which such investments are made and in which Employee's participation is solely that of an investor; (b) purchasing securities in any corporation whose securities are listed on a national securities exchange or regularly traded in the over-the-counter market, provided that Employee at no time owns, directly or indirectly, in excess of one percent (1%) of the outstanding stock of any class of any such corporation engaged in a business competitive with that of the Company; or (c) participating in conferences, preparing and publishing papers or books, teaching or joining or participating in any professional associations or trade group, so long as the Board of Directors of the Company approves such participation, preparation and publication or teaching prior to Employee’s engaging therein.

 
1

 
 
Exhibit 10.18
 
3.
Term .  The term of this Agreement will be at-will, and can be terminated by either party at any time, with or without cause, subject to the provisions of Section 4 of this Agreement.  Subject to the provisions of Section 4, this Agreement will cover the period January __, 2010 through December 31, 2010 and thereafter successive annual periods unless a party provides the other with written notice of its intention to terminate this Agreement, which notice shall be delivered no later than thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the initial term or any renewal term, as applicable.

4.
Termination .

 
(a)
Termination by Company for Cause .  The Company may terminate this Agreement and all of its obligations hereunder immediately, including the obligation to pay Employee severance, vacation pay or any further accrued benefits or remuneration, if any of the following events occur:

(i)  
Employee improperly performs, or fails to perform, his duties and responsibilities or materially breaches any of the terms or conditions set forth in this Agreement, a Policy, or invention assignment, confidentiality, non-solicitation or non-competition agreement with or for the benefit of the Company, SOAdesk, LLC (“SOAdesk”) or Vertical Thought, Inc. (“VTI”) and fails to cure such breach within ten (10) days after Employee's receipt from the Company of written notice of such breach (notwithstanding the foregoing, no cure period shall be applicable to breaches by Employee of Sections 10 through 14 of this Agreement or of provisions of such Policies or agreements relating to any thereof);
 
(ii)  
Employee commits any other act materially detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company;

(iii)  
Employee engages in willful misconduct, including fraud or intentional misrepresentation;

(iii)  
Employee engages in dishonest activities or commits or is convicted of, or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, any felony or a misdemeanor involving fraud, deceit, moral turpitude or unethical business conduct;

(iv)  
Employee engages in habitual alcohol or drug abuse that continues after written notice from the Company, which abuse has (a) had an adverse effect on Employee’s productivity or ability to carry out his duties under this Agreement, (b) jeopardized the safety of any other employee of the Company or any person having business relations with the Company, (c) damaged the reputation of the Company, or (d) endangered the Company’s ability to compete for business; or

 
(v)
Employee dies or becomes mentally or physically incapacitated or disabled so as to be unable to perform Employee's duties under this Agreement even with a reasonable accommodation.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Employee's inability adequately to perform services under this Agreement for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days will be conclusive evidence of such mental or physical incapacity or disability, unless such inability is pursuant to a mental or physical incapacity or disability covered by the Family Medical Leave Act, in which case such sixty (60) day period shall be extended to a one hundred and twenty (120) day period.

 
2

 
 
Exhibit 10.18
 
 
(b)
Termination by Company Without Cause .  The Company may terminate Employee's employment pursuant to this Agreement for reasons other than those stated in Section 4(a) upon at least thirty (30) days' prior written notice to Employee. In the event Employee's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without cause, and subject to the execution by Employee and effectiveness of a customary release in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, the Company shall be obligated to pay Employee severance payments equal to six (6) months of Employee’s then base salary in the aggregate.  In addition, Employee will be entitled to payment of all unused vacation days at his current daily rate and any accrued but unpaid salary or earned bonuses.  The foregoing severance and other payments shall be payable (subject to the effectiveness of such customary release) in equal semi-monthly installments over the six (6) month period following Employee’s termination in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices. Employee will be entitled to receive no further remuneration and will not be entitled to participate in any Company benefit programs following his termination by the Company, whether such termination is with or without cause.
 
5.
Compensation and Benefits .
 
 
(a)
Annual Salary .  During the term of this Agreement and for all services rendered by Employee under this Agreement, the Company will pay Employee a base salary of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) per annum in equal semi-monthly installments.

 
(b)
Incentive Compensation .  Employee is eligible for an annual bonus upon the Company reaching certain pre tax income levels (after accounting for all bonuses)  as set forth in Exhibit C.  Said bonus will be payable after the annual accounts have been presented to the Compensation Committee. Exhibit C attached hereto provides the benchmarks associated with achieving the Incentive Compensation.

 
(c)
Equity Awards .  Employee is eligible for stock option grants and restricted stock awards as determined by the Compensation Committee.

6.
Vacation.   Employee shall be eligible for four (4) weeks of paid vacation annually, provided that such vacation is scheduled at such times that do not interfere with the Company’s legitimate business needs.

7.
Other Benefits .  Employee will be entitled to such fringe benefits as may be provided from time-to-time by the Company to its employees, including, but not limited to, group health insurance, life and disability insurance, and any other fringe benefits now or hereafter provided by the Company to its employees, if and when Employee meets the eligibility requirements for any such benefit.  The Company reserves the right to change or discontinue any employee benefit plans or programs now being offered to its employees; provided, however, that all benefits provided for employees of the same position and status as Employee will be provided to Employee on an equal basis.

 
3

 
 
Exhibit 10.18
 
8.
Business Expenses .  Employee will be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses incurred in the discharge of Employee's duties under this Agreement pursuant to the Company's standard reimbursement policies.
 
9.
Withholding .  The Company will deduct and withhold from the payments made to Employee under this Agreement, state and federal income taxes, FICA and other amounts normally withheld from compensation due employees.

10.
Non-Disclosure of Proprietary Information .  Employee recognizes and acknowledges that the Trade Secrets (as defined below) and Confidential Information (as defined below) of the Company and its affiliates, including for purposes of this Section 10 any of the same purchased from SOAdesk or VTI, and all physical embodiments thereof (as they may exist from time-to-time, collectively, the “Proprietary Information”) are valuable, special and unique assets of the Company's and its affiliates' businesses. Employee further acknowledges that access to such Proprietary Information is essential to the performance of Employee's duties under this Agreement.  Therefore, in order to obtain access to such Proprietary Information, Employee agrees that, except with respect to those duties assigned to him by the Company, Employee will hold in confidence all Proprietary Information and will not reproduce, use, distribute, disclose, publish or otherwise disseminate any Proprietary Information, in whole or in part, and will take no action causing, or fail to take any action necessary to prevent causing, any Proprietary Information to lose its character as Proprietary Information, nor will Employee make use of any such information for Employee's own purposes or for the benefit of any person, firm, corporation, association or other entity (except the Company) under any circumstances.
 
For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Trade Secrets” means information, including, but not limited to, any technical or nontechnical data, formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, drawing, process, financial data, financial plan, product plan, list of actual or potential customers or suppliers, or other information similar to any of the foregoing, which derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can derive economic value from its disclosure or use.  For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Trade Secrets” does not include information that Employee can show by competent proof (i) was known to Employee and reduced to writing prior to disclosure by the Company (but only if Employee promptly notifies the Company of Employee’s prior knowledge; (ii) was generally known to the public at the time the Company disclosed the information to Employee; (iii) became generally known to the public after disclosure by the Company through no act or omission of Employee; or (iv) was disclosed to Employee by a third party having a bona fide right both to possess the information and to disclose the information to Employee; provided, that clauses (i) through (iv) shall not be available for Trade Secrets of or purchased from SOAdesk or VTI.  The term “Confidential Information” means any data or information of the Company, other than trade secrets, which is valuable to the Company and not generally known to competitors of the Company.  The provisions of this Section 6 will apply to Trade Secrets for so long as such information remains a trade secret and to Confidential Information during Employee’s employment with the Company and for a period of two (2) years following any termination of Employee’s employment with the Company for whatever reason.

 
4

 
 
Exhibit 10.18
 
11.
Non-Solicitation Covenants .  Employee agrees that during Employee's employment by the Company and for a period of two (2) year following the termination of Employee's employment for whatever reason, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, on Employee's own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of any other individual or entity, divert, solicit or attempt to divert or solicit any individual or entity (i) who is a client of the Company or SOAdesk at any time during the six (6)-month period prior to Employee's termination of employment with the Company (“Client”), or was actively sought by the Company or SOAdesk as a prospective client, and (ii) with whom Employee had material contact while employed by or providing services to or for the benefit of the Company, SOAdesk or VTI to provide similar services or products as such provided by Employee for the Company, SOAdesk or VTI to such Clients or prospects.  Employee further agrees and represents that during Employee's employment by the Company and for a period of  two (2) year following any termination of Employee's employment for whatever reason, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, on Employee's own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of any other individual or entity, divert, solicit or hire away, or attempt to divert, solicit or hire away, to or for any individual or entity which is engaged in providing similar services or products to that provided by the Company, SOAdesk or VTI, any person employed by the Company for whom Employee had supervisory responsibility or with whom Employee had material contact while employed by or providing services to or for the benefit of the Company, SOAdesk or VTI, whether or not such employee is a full-time employee or temporary employee of the Company, whether or not such employee is employed pursuant to written agreement and whether or not such employee is employed for a determined period or at-will.  For purposes of this Agreement, “material contact” exists between Employee and a Client or potential Client when (1) Employee established and/or nurtured the Client or potential Client; (2) the Client or potential Client and Employee interacted to further a business relationship or contract with the Company, SOAdesk or VTI; (3) Employee had access to confidential information and/or marketing strategies or programs regarding the Client or potential Client; and/or (4) Employee learned of the Client or potential Client through the efforts of the Company, SOAdesk or VTI providing Employee with confidential Client information, including but not limited to the Client’s identify, for purposes of furthering a business relationship.  

12.
Existing Restrictive Covenants .  Except as provided in Exhibit B, Employee has not entered into any agreement with any employer or former employer: (a) to keep in confidence any confidential information, or (b) to not compete with any former employer.  Employee represents and warrants that Employee's employment with the Company does not and will not breach any agreement which Employee has with any former employer to keep in confidence confidential information or not to compete with any such former employer.  Employee will not disclose to the Company or use on its behalf any confidential information of any other party required to be kept confidential by Employee.

 
5

 
 
Exhibit 10.18
 
13.
Return of Proprietary Information .  Employee acknowledges that as a result of Employee's employment with the Company, Employee may come into the possession and control of Proprietary Information, such as proprietary documents, drawings, specifications, manuals, notes, computer programs, or other proprietary material.  Employee acknowledges, warrants and agrees that Employee will return to the Company all such items and any copies or excerpts thereof, and any other properties, files or documents obtained as a result of Employee's employment with the Company, immediately upon the termination of Employee's employment with the Company.

14.
Proprietary Rights .  During the course of Employee's employment with the Company, Employee may make, develop or conceive of useful processes, machines, compositions of matter, computer software, algorithms, works of authorship expressing such algorithm, or any other discovery, idea, concept, document or improvement which relates to or is useful to the Company's Business (the “Inventions”), whether or not subject to copyright or patent protection, and which may or may not be considered Proprietary Information.  Employee acknowledges that all such Inventions will be “works made for hire” under United States copyright law and will remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company.  Employee also hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company, in perpetuity, all right, title and interest Employee may have in and to such Inventions, including without limitation, all copyrights, and the right to apply for any form of patent, utility model, industrial design or similar proprietary right recognized by any state, country or jurisdiction.  Employee further agrees, at the Company's request and expense, to do all things and sign all documents or instruments necessary, in the opinion of the Company, to eliminate any ambiguity as to the ownership of, and rights of the Company to, such Inventions, including filing copyright and patent registrations and defending and enforcing in litigation or otherwise all such rights.  
 
Employee will not be obligated to assign to the Company any Invention made by Employee while in the Company's employ which does not relate to any business or activity in which the Company is or may reasonably be expected to become engaged, except that Employee is so obligated if the same relates to or is based on Proprietary Information to which Employee has had access during and by virtue of Employee's employment by the Company or providing services to or for the benefit of SOAdesk or VTI or which arises out of work assigned to Employee by the Company, SOAdesk or VTI.  Employee will not be obligated to assign any Invention which may be wholly conceived by Employee after Employee leaves the employ of the Company, except that Employee is so obligated if such Invention involves the utilization of Proprietary Information obtained while in the employ of the Company, SOAdesk or VTI.  Employee is not obligated to assign any Invention that relates to or would be useful in any business or activities in which the Company is engaged if such Invention was conceived and reduced to practice by Employee prior to Employee's employment with the Company, except if conceived while providing service to or for the benefit of SOAdesk or VTI.  Employee agrees that any such Invention is set forth on Exhibit “A” to this Agreement.
 
 
6

 
 
Exhibit 10.18
 
15.
Remedies .  Employee agrees and acknowledges that the violation of any of the covenants or agreements contained in Sections 10 through 14 of this Agreement would cause irreparable injury to the Company, that the remedy at law for any such violation or threatened violation thereof would be inadequate, and that the Company will be entitled, in addition to any other remedy, to temporary and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief without the necessity of proving actual damages or posting a bond.

16.
Severability .  In case one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement is for any reason held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the parties agree that it is their intent that the same will not affect any other provision in this Agreement, and this Agreement will be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.  It is the intent of the parties that this Agreement be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law.

17.
Entire Agreement .  This Agreement embodies the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes all prior agreements, oral or written, regarding the subject matter hereof.  No amendment or modification of this Agreement will be valid or binding upon the parties unless made in writing and signed by the parties.

18.
Governing Law .  This Agreement is entered into and will be interpreted and enforced pursuant to the laws of the State of North Carolina.  The parties hereto hereby agree that the appropriate forum and venue for any disputes between any of the parties hereto arising out of this Agreement shall be any federal court in the state where the Employee has his principal place of residence and each of the parties hereto hereby submits to the personal jurisdiction of any such court.  The foregoing shall not limit the rights of any party to obtain execution of judgment in any other jurisdiction.  The parties further agree, to the extent permitted by law, that a final and unappealable judgment against either of them in any action or proceeding contemplated above shall be conclusive and may be enforced in any other jurisdiction within or outside the United States by suit on the judgment, a certified exemplified copy of which shall be conclusive evidence of the fact and amount of such judgment.

19.
Surviving Terms .  Sections 4, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 18 of this Agreement shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 
7

 

Exhibit 10.18
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 
COMPANY: EMPLOYEE:
   
CICERO, INC.  
   
 By:  ____________________________  
  ______________________________________ 
Name:___________________________ Antony Castagno
   
Title:____________________________    
   
 
 
8

 
 
Exhibit 10.18
 
EXHIBIT A
 
INVENTIONS


 
Employee represents that there are no Inventions.



_________________
Employee Initials
 
 
 
9

 
Exhibit 10.18

 
EXHIBIT B

EXISTING RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

 
 

 
Employee Non-Disclosure, Non-Solicitation, Non-Competition and Assignment Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2005, by and between Tony Castagno and OpenSpan, Inc.
 
 
 
10

 
Exhibit 10.18
EXHIBIT C

VARIABLE COMPENSATION



 
For Fiscal 2010:

Annual Cash Bonus:

Employee is entitled to an annual cash bonus payable after the Company has reported its results for the year. This annual cash bonus is tied to Operating Net Income before taxes as per the chart below:
 
Operating Net Income Range (before tax)  
 
       
                   
   
From
   
To
 
Variable Compensation
 
   
Less than $2,500,000
         
None
 
Tier 1
  $ 2,500,000     $ 2,999,999     $ 75,000  
Tier 2
  $ 3,000,000     $ 4,999,999     $ 150,000  
Tier 3
 
> $5,000,000
            $ 250,000  
 
Performance significantly in excess of Tier 3 may result in an additional reward at the discretion of the Compensation Committee
 
 
11

 
 
 
Exhibit 22.1




INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM’S CONSENT


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement of Cicero Inc. on Form S-8 (File No. 333-160581) of our report dated March 31, 2010   with respect to our audit of the consolidated financial statements of Cicero Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and for the year then ended, which report is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cicero Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2009.


 
/s/ Marcum LLP
 
Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
March 31, 2010



 
 

 

 
Exhibit 22.2




INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM’S CONSENT


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement of Cicero Inc. on Form S-8 (File No. 333-160581) of our report dated March 31, 2009 , relating to the consolidated financial statements of Cicero Inc. and subsidiaries which appears in the Annual Report to Shareholders, which is incorporated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cicero Inc. and Subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.


/s/ Margolis & Company P.C.
 
 
Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
March 31, 2010



 
 

 

 

 
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATIONS

I, John P. Broderick, certify that:

1.      I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cicero Inc.,

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 
a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 
b)
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals;

 
c)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based upon such evaluation; and

 
d)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 
a)
all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 
b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.


     
       
Date: April 9, 2010  
By:
/s/ John P. Broderick  
    Name:  John P. Broderick  
    Title:  Chief Executive Officer  
       

 


 
 

 

 
 

 
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATIONS

I, John P. Broderick, certify that:

1.      I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cicero Inc.,

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 
a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 
b)
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals;

 
c)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based upon such evaluation; and

 
d)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 
a)
all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 
b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

     
       
Date: April 9, 2010  
By:
/s/ John P. Broderick  
    Name:  John P. Broderick  
    Title:  Chief Financial Officer  
       


 

 
 

 

 

 
Exhibit 32.1
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
(18 U.S.C.SECTION 1350)
 
In connection with the accompanying Annual Report of Cicero Inc., formerly Level 8 Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 as filed with the Security Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, John P. Broderick, Chief Executive and Financial Officer of the Company, certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:
 
 
(1)
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 
(2)
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company for the periods presented in the Report.
 
 
 
By: /s/   John P. Broderick                        
 
John P. Broderick
 
Chief Executive and Financial Officer
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
April 9, 2010