UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

  FORM 8-K

 


 

CURRENT REPORT


Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 26 , 2015

 


 

Internet Patents Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

0-26083

(Commission

File Number)

94-3220749

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

     
 

101 Parkshore Dr., Suite 100

Folsom, California 95630

 
     
 

(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)

 
     
 

(916) 932-2860

(Registrant’s telephone number,

including area code)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

[ ]

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

[ ]

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

[ ]

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

[ ]

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



 

 
 

 

 

Item 2.01. COMPLETION OF ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

 

On March 26, 2015, Internet Patents Corporation (“IPC”) completed its previously announced acquisition of Prism Technologies, LLC pursuant to the merger of Strategic Concepts Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of IPC, with and into Prism. Prism is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of IPC. The transaction was consummated pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) dated November 12, 2014 by and among IPC, Strategic Concepts Acquisition Corp, Prism and Gregory J. Duman as Securityholders Agent.

 

In the transaction, Prism’s former security holders will receive an aggregate of $16.5 million in cash and 3.5 million shares of IPC common stock. Subject to certain conditions, IPC has also agreed to share future revenue related to Prism’s patents with Prism’s former security holders up to a maximum amount of approximately $49.5 million. As described in Item 5.02 below, Gregory J. Duman, a manager, executive officer and security holder of Prism was appointed to IPC’s board of directors.

 

The foregoing is a summary description of certain terms of the Merger Agreement and does not purport to be complete, and it is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the IPC’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 12, 2014.

 

Item 5.02.  DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS.

 

On March 20, 2015, IPC entered into a three-year employment agreement with Gregory J. Duman, who will serve as the President of Prism and will be an executive officer of IPC following the completion of IPC’s acquisition of Prism. Mr. Duman will receive an annual salary of $200,000 and options to purchase 112,500 shares of IPC common stock, which vest over the term of his three-year employment agreement. In addition, Mr. Duman is eligible for customary employee benefits provided to other IPC employees.

 

On March 20, 2015, Prism and Mr. Duman, for the benefit of IPC, entered into a three-year non-competition agreement in connection with the completion of IPC’s acquisition of Prism. The non-competition agreement contains covenants prohibiting Mr. Duman during the term of the agreement from, among other things, (i) competing with Prism’s patent licensing and enforcement business (the “Business”), (ii) performing services or providing products to any client of Prism prior to its acquisition by IPC (a “Client”), (iii) seeking or accepting employment with or becoming a service provider to a Client, or (iv) soliciting employees of IPC or Prism to enter into any employment relationship with or perform services for any Client.

 

The descriptions of Mr. Duman’s employment agreement and non-competition agreement as set forth above are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the employment agreement and non-competition agreement, copies of which are attached as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

On March 19, 2015, the IPC Board of Directors approved a resolution, to be effective as of the completion of the acquisition of Prism, expanding the number of directorships to five and appointed Mr. Gregory J. Duman to serve as a new director. Mr. Duman was appointed as a Class III director, and his term will expire at the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Mr. Duman has been the President, Chief Financial Officer and a director of Prism since its inception in August 2003. Prior to joining Prism, Mr. Duman was Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Transgenomic, Inc., a publicly traded company in the bio-tech industry from 2001 to 2004. Mr. Duman also served on the board of directors of Transgenomic 2000 to 2009. From 2000 to 2001, Mr. Duman was Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Artios, Inc., a privately held provider of electronic transaction exchange between businesses. From 1983 to 2000, Mr. Duman was employed by Applied Communications/ Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. (“TSA”), a publicly traded software company, and served in a variety of capacities including Controller, Chief Financial Officer, and Executive Vice President. Mr. Duman was also a member of TSA’s board of directors and served as Chairman of the board in 2001. Prior to joining TSA, Mr. Duman spent four years in public accounting as a CPA with Arthur Andersen & Co. Mr. Duman earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1979.

 

 
 

 

 

Item 8.01. OTHER EVENTS

 

On March 30, 2015, IPC issued a press release announcing the completion of its acquisition of Prism. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.  

 

Item 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

 

(a)      Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired . It is not practical to provide the required financial statements at this time. Such financial statements will be filed as an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 calendar days after the deadline for filing this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information . See paragraph (a) above.

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

INTERNET PATENTS CORPORATION

   
   

Date: March 30, 2015

  By:

/s/ L. Eric Loewe

 
     

Name: L. Eric Loewe

 
      Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary  

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

10.01

 

Employment Agreement between Gregory J. Duman and Internet Patents Corporation dated March 20, 2015.

     

10.02

 

Non-competition Agreement between Gregory J. Duman and Internet Patents Corporation dated March 20, 2015.

     
99.1   Press Release of Internet Patents Corporation dated March 30, 2015.

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made as of March 20, 2015 (the “Effective Date”), between Internet Patents Corporation (IPC”), and Gregory J. Duman, an individual (“Executive”).

 

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, IPC and Prism Technologies, LLC (“Prism”) have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of November 12, 2014 pursuant to which IPC will acquire all of the outstanding membership interests of Prism on the terms set forth therein;

 

WHEREAS, following the Merger, Prism will be a wholly owned subsidiary of IPC that will continue to operate a patent licensing business;

 

WHEREAS, IPC and Executive desire to enter into an agreement providing for the terms of Executive’s continued employment with Prism.

 

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

1.      Employment. IPC hereby employs Executive and Executive hereby accepts employment with IPC, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

2.      Duties of Employee . Executive shall serve as President of Prism, reporting directly to the CEO of IPC, and shall have powers and duties substantially similar to his employment by Prism prior to the Merger. Executive shall not be required to relocate. Executive shall devote his full time and attention to the duties of his position; provided, however, that this Section 2 shall not be construed as preventing Executive from being involved in any other, non-competing business activity.

 

 

3.

Term of Agreement.

 

(a)     Employment Period. This Agreement shall be for a period (the “Employment Period”) beginning on the Effective Date, and if not previously terminated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, ending on the date that is three (3) years subsequent thereto.

 

(b)     Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall mandate or prohibit a continuation of Executive’s employment following the expiration of the term of this Agreement upon such terms as IPC and Executive may mutually agree.

 

 

4.

Employment Period Compensation, Benefits and Expenses.

 

(a)     Annual Base Salary. For services performed by Executive under this Agreement, IPC shall pay Executive an annual base salary during the Employment Period at the rate of $200,000 per year, minus applicable withholdings and deductions, payable at the same times as salaries are payable to other executive employees of IPC (the “Annual Base Salary”). Executive shall be eligible for base salary increases based on the approval by the Compensation Committee of the IPC Board.

 

(b)     Employee Stock Options. Subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of the IPC Board, on the Effective Date, IPC shall grant Executive options to purchase 112,500 shares of IPC Common Stock (the “New Hire Grant”). The New Hire Grant and all future option grants, if any, shall be granted with an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value of a share of IPC Common Stock on the date of the grant and shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the 2008 IPC Stock Option Plan or, with respect to future option grants, the respective option plan in effect at the time.

 

 
 

 

 

(i)     One-half of the New Hire Grant shall vest as follows:

 

33.33% will vest upon the first anniversary date following employment;

 

 

Beginning on the first anniversary date of employment, the remaining 66.67% will vest ratably at end of each of the following 24 months so long as Executive is employed under the Terms of this Agreement.

 

(ii) the remaining one-half of the New Hire Grant shall vest as follows:

 

 

33.33% will vest upon the first anniversary date following employment based on achievements against financial targets for 2015 determined as of the date of this Agreement; 33.33% will vest upon the second anniversary date following employment based on achievements against financial targets for 2016 ; 33.34% will vest upon the third anniversary date following employment based on achievements against financial targets for 2017. The vesting targets will be determined by the Compensation Committee after consultation with Executive and other senior officers.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, all unvested New Hire Grants will immediately vest upon the following events:

 

(A)

Termination of Executive without good cause; or

 

 

(B)

The occurrence of any Change of Control. “ Change in Control ” means (a) a sale of substantially all of the assets of IPC or Prism; (b) a merger or consolidation in which IPC or Prism is not the surviving corporation (other than a merger or consolidation in which stockholders immediately before the merger or consolidation have, immediately after the merger or consolidation, greater stock voting power); (c) a reverse merger in which the Prism is the surviving corporation but the shares of Prism’s common stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise (other than a reverse merger in which stockholders immediately before the merger have, immediately after the merger, greater stock voting power); or (d) any transaction or series of related transactions in which in excess of Prism’s power is transferred, other than the sale by the Company of stock in transactions the primary purpose of which is to raise capital for the Company’s operations and activities.

 

 

(c)

Incentive Compensation. Executive shall be entitled to participate in any incentive compensation plan approved by the Compensation Committee.

 

 

(d)

Employee Benefit Plans. During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to participate in or receive the benefits of any employee benefit plan currently in effect at IPC and available to similarly situated employees, including without limitation those benefits set forth in Schedule A, and subject to the eligibility and terms of each such plan, until such time that the IPC Board authorizes a change in such benefits. IPC shall not make any changes in such plans or benefits which would adversely affect Executive’s rights or benefits thereunder, unless such change occurs pursuant to a program applicable to all officers of IPC and does not result in a proportionately greater adverse change in the rights of or benefits to Executive as compared with any other executive officer of IPC. Nothing paid to Executive under any plan or arrangement presently in effect or made available in the future shall be deemed to be in lieu of the salary payable to Executive pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof.

 

 

(e)

Perquisites and Business Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to receive customary and normal perquisites provided to other similarly situated officers of IPC. During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all customary and usual expenses incurred by him, which are properly accounted for, in accordance with the policies and procedures established by IPC for its officers.

 

 
 

 

 

5.      Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3(a) of this Agreement, this Agreement may be terminated by IPC for Cause (as defined herein). As used in this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean Executive:

 

 

willfully fails or refuses to substantially perform the Executive’s responsibilities under this Agreement, after written demand for substantial performance has been given by the IPC Board that specifically identifies how the Executive has failed to perform such responsibilities after being provided with a reasonable opportunity of thirty (30) days to cure the failure to perform;

 

 

engages in gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Corporation or IPC;

 

 

materially fails to adhere to any written policy of IPC generally applicable to officers of IPC after being provided with a reasonable opportunity of thirty (30) days to comply with such policy or cure the failure to comply;

 

 

is convicted of a felony or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a felony;

 

 

materially breaches Section 9 of this Agreement;

 

 

engages in any act of fraud (including misappropriation of IPC’s funds or property) in connection with the business of IPC; or

 

 

is disqualified or barred by any governmental or self-regulatory authority from serving in the capacity contemplated by this Agreement.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, no act or omission on the part of the Executive shall be considered “willful” unless the IPC Board determines that it is done or omitted in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the act or omission was in the best interests of IPC. Any act or omission based upon a resolution duly adopted by the IPC Board or upon advice of IPC’s outside counsel shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in the best interests of IPC.

 

If this Agreement is terminated for Cause, all of Executive’s rights under this Agreement shall cease as of the effective date of such termination, except that IPC shall pay to Executive the unpaid portion, if any, of his Annual Base Salary, unpaid but incurred expenses, and any accrued benefits due under IPC’s employee benefit plans through the date of termination.

 

6.      Death. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3(a) of this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate automatically upon Executive’s death and Executive’s rights under this Agreement shall cease as of the date of such termination, except that (i) IPC shall pay to Executive’s spouse, personal representative, or estate the unpaid portion, if any, of his Annual Base Salary through date of death plus any unpaid but accrued expenses and (ii) IPC shall provide to Executive’s dependents any benefits due under IPC’s employee benefit plans.

 

7.      Disability. Executive and IPC agree that if Executive becomes disabled and becomes eligible for employer-provided short-term and/or long-term disability benefits, or worker’s compensation benefits, then IPC’s obligation to pay Executive his Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by the amount of the disability or worker’s compensation benefits received by Executive.

 

 
 

 

 

Executive and IPC agree that if, in the reasonable judgment of the IPC Board, Executive is unable, as a result of illness or injury, to perform the essential functions of his position with or without a reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to himself or others for a period of six months, IPC will suffer an undue hardship in continuing Executive’s employment as set forth in this agreement. Accordingly, this Agreement shall terminate at the end of the six-month period, and all of Executive’s rights under this Agreement shall cease, with the exception of those rights which Executive may have under IPC’s employee benefit plans or as otherwise stated herein.

 

8.      Rights in Event of Termination of Employment Without Cause. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3(a) of this Agreement, this Agreement may be terminated by IPC for a reason other than Cause or Disability. In the event that IPC breaches this Agreement or Executive’s employment is involuntarily terminated by IPC without Cause (other than for Death or Disability) during the term of this Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to receive, in accordance with, and subject to, Section 10 of this Agreement, a lump sum cash payment equal to the amount of Annual Base Salary Executive would have been paid over the then remaining term of the Employment Period. The amount shall be subject to federal, state and local tax withholdings. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Section 5 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of payment or the benefit provided for in this Section 5 be reduced by any compensation earned by Executive as the result of employment by another employer or by reason of Executive’s receipt of or right to receive any retirement or other benefits after the date of termination of employment or otherwise.

 

9.      Unauthorized Disclosure. During the term of his employment hereunder, or at any later time, Executive shall not, without the written consent of IPC (except as may be required pursuant to a subpoena or other legal process), knowingly disclose to any person, other than an employee of IPC or a person to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance by Executive of his duties as an executive of IPC, any material confidential information obtained by him while in the employ of IPC with respect to any of IPC’s or any of their subsidiaries’ services, products, improvements, formulas, designs or styles, processes, customers, methods of business or any business practices the disclosure of which could be or will be damaging to IPC; provided, however, that confidential information shall not include (i) any information known generally to the public (other than as a result of unauthorized disclosure by Executive or any person with the assistance, consent or direction of Executive), (ii) any information of a type not otherwise considered confidential by persons engaged in the same business or a business similar to that conducted by IPC or any information that must be disclosed as required by law, (iii) any information that, at the time of disclosure is, or thereafter becomes available to Executive on a non-confidential basis from a third-party source, provided that, to Executive’s knowledge, such third party is not and was not prohibited from disclosing such confidential information to Executive by any contractual obligation, (iv) any information that was known by or in the possession of Executive prior to being disclosed by or on behalf of IPC or any of their subsidiaries and (v) any information that was or is independently developed by Executive without reference to or use of any of such confidential information.

 

10.      Requirement of Release; Cessation and Recovery on Competition. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive’s entitlement to any payments under Section 8 shall be contingent upon Executive’s prior agreement with and signature to a complete release agreement in the form as mutually agreed by the parties. Such release agreement shall be executed, if at all, and the applicable payments and benefits contingent upon the execution of such agreement shall be provided or commence being provided, if at all, within sixty (60) days following the date of termination; provided, however, that if such sixty (60) day period begins in one taxable year and ends in a second taxable year, the payments and benefits will be provided or commence being provided, if at all, in the second taxable year.[Omitted]

 

11.      Notices. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be deemed properly given if in writing and (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt), (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested), (c) on the date sent by facsimile or e-mail of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next business day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient or (d) on the third day after the date mailed by registered or certified U.S. mail, postage prepaid with return receipt requested to Executive’s address, in the case of notices to Executive, and to the principal executive office of IPC, in the case of notice to IPC. Any such notice must be sent to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10:

 

 
 

 

 

If to IPC

Attention: General Counsel, Internet Patents Corporation

101 Parkshore Dr.

Suite 100

Folsom, CA 95630

 

If to Executive:

Gregory J. Duman

17540 Baywood Circle

Omaha Nebraska 68130  

 

12.      Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and an executive officer specifically designated by the Compensation Committee of the IPC Board of Directors. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

13.      Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable by any party, except by IPC to any successor in interest to its business.

 

14.      Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes and replaces any prior written or oral agreements between them respecting the within subject matter.

 

15.      Successors; Binding Agreement. IPC provide for any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of IPC to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that IPC would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “IPC” shall mean IPC as defined previously and any successor to its respective business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law or otherwise.

 

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees or legatees. If Executive should die following termination of Executive’s employment without Cause, and any amounts would be payable to Executive under this Agreement if Executive had continued to live, all such amounts shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to Executive’s devisee, legatee, or other designee, or, if there is no such designee, to Executive’s estate.

 

16.      Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

17.      Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic, internal laws of the State of Nebraska, without regard to its conflicts of laws principles. The parties hereto irrevocably submit in any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska or the jurisdiction of any court of the State of Nebraska located in Omaha, Nebraska and waive any and all objections to jurisdiction that they may have under the laws of the State of Nebraska or the United States and any claim or objection that any such court is an inconvenient forum.

 

 
 

 

 

18.      Headings. The section headings of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction or limit the scope or intent of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

19.      Limitations on Payments. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event the payments and benefits payable hereunder to or on behalf of Executive, when added to all other amounts and benefits payable to or on behalf of Executive, would result in the imposition of an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the amounts and benefits payable hereunder shall be reduced to such extent as may be necessary to avoid such imposition. All calculations required to be made under this subsection will be made by IPC’s independent public accountants, subject to the right of Executive’s representative to review the same. The parties recognize that the actual implementation of the provisions of this subsection are complex and agree to deal with each other in good faith to resolve any questions or disagreements arising hereunder.

 

All payments made to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with applicable laws and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

20.      Recovery of Bonuses and Incentive Compensation. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, all bonuses and incentive compensation, but not Annual Base Salary, the portion of New Hire Grants that vest without regard to performance, or payments due Executive under Section 8, paid hereunder (whether in equity or in cash) shall be subject to recovery by IPC in the event that such bonuses or incentive compensation are based on materially inaccurate financial statements or other materially inaccurate performance metric criteria actually provided or approved by Executive; provided that a determination as to the recovery of a bonus or incentive compensation shall be made within fifteen months following the date such bonus or incentive compensation was paid. In the event that the IPC Board determines that a bonus or incentive compensation payment to Executive is recoverable, Executive shall reimburse all or a portion of such bonus or incentive compensation, to the fullest extent permitted by law, as soon as practicable following written notice to Executive by IPC of the same.

 

21.      Application of Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the receipt of any benefits under this Agreement as a result of a termination of employment shall be subject to satisfaction of the condition precedent that Executive undergo a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h) or any successor thereto. In addition, if Executive is deemed to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B), then with regard to any payment or the provisions of any benefit that is required to be delayed pursuant to Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B), such payment or benefit shall not be made or provided prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six (6) month period measured from the date of Executive’s “separation from service” (as such term is defined in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h)), or (ii) the date of Executive’s death (the “Delay Period”). Within ten (10) days following the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments and benefits delayed pursuant to this Section (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid or reimbursed to Executive in a lump sum, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.

 

Any payments made pursuant to Section 8, to the extent of payments made from the date of termination through March 15th of the calendar year following such date, are intended to constitute separate payments for purposes of Treas. Reg. §1.409A-2(b)(2) and thus payable pursuant to the “short-term deferral” rule set forth in Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(4); to the extent such payments are made following said March 15th, they are intended to constitute separate payments for purposes of Treas. Reg. §1.409A-2(b)(2) made upon an involuntary termination from service and payable pursuant to Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), to the maximum extent permitted by said provision.

 

Signature page follows

 

 
 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

 

Internet Patents Corporation

  Gregory J. Duman (“Executive”    

By:

/s/ L. Eric Loewe   Signature: /s/ Gregory J. Duman    

Title:

General Counsel   Date:      

Date:

3/24/2015          

 

 
 

 

 

APPENDIX 1

SCHEDULE A BENEFITS

 

 

Employee benefits currently in effect at IPC:

Medical Insurance Program

Dental Insurance Program

Basic Life Insurance/AD&D Program

Long Term Disability Insurance

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Vision

Unlimited Paid Time Off

General Items Below

Reimbursement for approved expenses, professional dues, continuing education and subscriptions

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT

 

This NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT, dated as of March 20, 2015 (this “ Agreement ”), is made and entered into by and between Gregory J. Duman, the undersigned unitholder (the “ Unitholder ”) of Outstanding Membership Interests of Prism Technologies, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “ Company ”), for the benefit of Internet Patents Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ Parent ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Parent, Strategic Concepts Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“ Merger Sub ”), and the Company have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 12, 2014 (the “ Merger Agreement ”), whereby, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, each Outstanding Membership Interest of the Company, will be converted into the right to receive a portion of the Merger Consideration (as defined in the Merger Agreement);

 

WHEREAS, the Unitholder holds the number of Outstanding Membership Interests appearing on the signature page hereof;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with consummation of the Merger the Unitholder will receive a portion of the Merger Consideration from Parent; and

 

WHEREAS, as a condition to its willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent has required that the Unitholder agree, and in order to induce Parent to enter into the Merger Agreement the Unitholder has agreed, to enter into this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, the Unitholder agrees as follows:

 

1.       Definitions .      Capitalized terms used in this Agreement not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given such terms in the Merger Agreement

 

2.       Confidentiality and Restrictive Covenants .

 

(a)     (i)      Except as required by law or as authorized in advance by Parent, the Unitholder shall not for a period of one year following the date hereof, directly or indirectly use, disclose, or take any action which may result in the use or disclosure of, any “Confidential Information”.

 

(ii)      “Confidential Information” as used in this Agreement includes all confidential competitive, pricing, marketing, proprietary and other information or materials relating or belonging to the Parent, the Company or any of their Affiliates, (whether or not reduced to writing), including without limitation all confidential or proprietary information furnished or disclosed to or otherwise obtained by the Unitholder in the course of rendering services to the Parent, the Company, or any of their Affiliates, and further includes without limitation: patented or unpatented inventions, discoveries and improvements, organizational, operating and business plans; strategies; research and development; policies and manuals; personnel information (including without limitation the identity of Parent, Company and their Afilliates’ employees, and such employees’ responsibilities, competence and abilities, and compensation); medical information about employees; nonpublic financial information; lists of and information about prospective litigation targets; information concerning planned or pending acquisitions, investments or divestitures;. “Confidential Information” does not include information that lawfully is or becomes generally and publicly known outside of Parent, Company and their Affiliates other than through the Unitholder’s breach of this Agreement or breach by another person of some other obligation.

 

 
 

 

 

(iii)     Nothing herein prohibits the Unitholder from disclosing Confidential Information as legally required pursuant to a validly issued subpoena or order of a court, administrative agency or arbitrator (as applicable) of competent jurisdiction, provided that the Unitholder shall first promptly notify Parent if the Unitholder receives a subpoena, court order or other order requiring any such disclosure, to allow Parent to seek protection therefrom in advance of any such legally compelled disclosure.

 

(b)     Except as expressly authorized by Parent, the Unitholder shall not for a period of three years following the date hereof, for any or no reason, directly or indirectly (whether as a sole proprietor, owner, employer, partner, investor, shareholder, member, employee, consultant, or otherwise)

(i)     Engage in or assist any other person competitive with the Company’s conduct of the Business, or perform services involving the Business in any executive, managerial, sales, marketing, research or other competitive capacity for any person engaged in the Business, anywhere in the United States (the “Territory”), it being understood and agreed that Parent actively conducts and will conduct the Business throughout the Territory and that the Business effectively may be engaged in from any location throughout the Territory; or

 

(ii)      perform services or provide products relating to the Business for or to any Client(as defined below); or

 

(iii)     solicit any Client or prospective Client for the purpose of performing or providing or facilitating the performance or provision of any services or products relating to the Business; or

 

(iv)     seek or accept a position as an officer, director or employee of, or as a consultant or other non-employee service provider to, any Client where the Unitholder’s duties or services for such Client involve engaging in the Business; or

 

(v)     induce, solicit, or attempt to persuade any employee or other agent of the Parent, Company or any of their Affiliates to terminate his or her employment or other relationship or association with the Parent, Company or any such Affiliate in order to enter into any employment relationship with or perform services for any Client;

 

provided, however, that nothing set forth in this Section 2(b) shall prohibit the Unitholder from holding, directly or indirectly, (i) stock in a mutual fund or a diversified investment company, (ii) up to 5% in the aggregate of any class of capital stock or other ownership interests of any company if such stock or other ownership interests are publicly traded and listed on any national or regional stock exchange, and (iii) any equity interests through any non-self-directed employee benefit plan or pension plan.

 

 
 

 

 

(c)     To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the running of the time periods set forth above shall be tolled during the period of any breach by the Unitholder of this Section 2 and during the period of any dispute involving the breach, applicability, scope, duration or other aspect of any of the provisions of this Section 2, whether or not any party has filed a lawsuit. The provisions of this Section 2 shall remain in full force and effect for the duration of such breach or dispute, until the breach or dispute is fully and finally resolved by either (i) the written agreement of the parties to each such dispute or (ii) a final, non-appealable order from a court of competent jurisdiction, at which point the time-period of such provisions shall again commence running, unless such agreement or order (as applicable) expressly provides otherwise.

 

(d)       As used in this Agreement:

 

(i)     “Client” means any entity that is a defendant in an Open Lawsuit or an entity which uses or intends to use any Intellectual Property of the Company with respect to which Unitholder any time during the one year period preceding the date hereof: (A) performed services relating to the Business on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or (B) or had access to Confidential Information as a result of or in connection with the Unitholder’s services to the Company.

 

4.       Blue-Penciling . If any Governmental Body determines that any of the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 2, or any part thereof, is unenforceable because of the duration, geographic scope, or any other reason, it is the intention of the parties that such court shall have the power to modify any such provision, to the extent necessary to render the provision enforceable (for the maximum duration and geographic scope permissible), and such provision as so modified shall be enforced.

 

5.       Severability of Covenants . If any Governmental Body determines that any of the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 2, or any part thereof, is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, and that such restrictive covenants cannot otherwise be modified or limited pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement, the remainder of the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 2 shall, to the extent enforceable under applicable law, not thereby be affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the portions which have been declared invalid, illegal or unenforceable; provided, that if the economic or legal substance of the principles and transactions contemplated in this Agreement is affected in a manner materially adverse to any party as a result of the determination that a provision hereof is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto agree to negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original interest of parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the principles and transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the closest extent possible.

 

6.       Remedies . If the Unitholder violates any of the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 2, Parent may proceed against the Unitholder in law or in equity for such damages or other relief as a court may deem appropriate. Unitholder acknowledges that a violation of any of the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 2 may cause Parent and its Affiliates irreparable harm which may not be adequately compensated for by money damages. Unitholder therefore agrees that in the event of any actual or threatened violation of any of the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 2, Parent shall not be required to post a bond in seeking injunctive relief against a Restricted Person to prevent any violations of the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 2. The Unitholder further agrees to reimburse Parent and its Affiliates for all costs and expenditures, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs, incurred by any of them in connection with the successful enforcement of any of their rights under Section 2.

 

 
 

 

 

7.      Miscellaneous .

 

(a)      Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or delivered (i) when delivered, if delivered personally, (ii) if transmitted by fax, when confirmation of transmission is received, or (iii) if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by private courier, when received; and shall be addressed as follows:

 

If to Parent, to:

Internet Patents Corporation

101 Parkshore Dr, Suite 100

Folsom, CA 95630

 

 

If to Unitholder, to:
Gregory J. Duman

17540 Baywood Circle

Omaha Nebraska 68130

 

or to such other address as such party may indicate by a notice delivered to the other party hereto.

 

(b)      Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended or shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto and their respective successors) any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(c)      Entire Agreement; Amendments . This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior and/or contemporaneous agreements, understandings or letters of intent with regard to the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement shall not be amended, modified or supplemented except by a written instrument signed by Unitholder and Parent.

 

(d)       Waivers . The failure of Parent to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed to be a waiver of such provision, nor in any way to affect the validity of this Agreement or any part hereof or the right of Parent thereafter to enforce each and every such provision. No waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall be held to constitute a waiver of any other or subsequent breach. Any term or provision of this Agreement may be waived, or the time for its performance may be extended, by Parent. Any such waiver shall be validly and sufficiently given for the purposes of this Agreement only if it is in writing signed by an authorized representative of Parent and shall not be held to constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement.

 

 
 

 

 

(e)      Execution in Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be considered an original instrument, but all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become binding when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the same.

 

(f)      Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws (as opposed to the conflicts of law provisions) of the State of Nebraska.

 

(g)      Submission to Jurisdiction . The parties hereto irrevocably submit in any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska or the jurisdiction of any court of the State of Nebraska located in Omaha, Nebraska and waive any and all objections to jurisdiction that they may have under the laws of the State of Nebraska or the United States and any claim or objection that any such court is an inconvenient forum.

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Agreement have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

Gregory J. Duman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gregory J. Duman

 

 

Name:

Gregory J. Duman

 

 

 

 

 

Internet Patents Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ L. Eric Loewe

 

 

Name:

L. Eric Loewe

 

  Title:   General Counsel and Secretary  

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

News Release

 


Investor Relations Contact:

Jennifer Jarman

The Blueshirt Group

415-217-5866

jennifer@blueshirtgroup.com

 

 

Internet Patents Corporation Announces Completion of Merger with Prism Technologies

 

Company to Host Conference Call at 4:30pm ET on Thursday, April 2

 

 

Sacramento, CA – March 30, 2015 – Internet Patents Corporation (NASDAQ: PTNT) ("IPC"), operator of a patent licensing business focused on its e-commerce technologies, today announced the completion of its merger with Prism Technologies, LLC ("Prism"), a company focused on intellectual property licensing and management.

 

The merger between IPC and Prism was approved by a majority of all IPC stockholders during the Company’s Special Meeting, held on March 17, 2015.

 

“We are pleased to have completed the merger with Prism, having received overwhelming support from our shareholders as more than 73% of the shares held by non-insiders were voted in favor of the transaction,” said Hussein Enan, Chairman and CEO of IPC. “We are excited to welcome Prism’s talented members to our organization and look forward to increased opportunities to build shareholder value through the monetization of our collective assets, which include a broader and more diversified patent portfolio under the direction of an experienced patent licensing team.”

 

“We are particularly excited about the opportunity to further license the Gregg family of patents, which have previously been licensed to 11 companies, including Microsoft, Research in Motion and Adobe. This patent family most recently produced a $27.5 million settlement of patent infringement litigation against one of five wireless carriers. Upcoming trials against Sprint, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular are scheduled in 2015, while the trial against Verizon is scheduled for 2016,” concluded Mr. Enan.

 

The combined entity, which trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “PTNT,” has nine full time and two part-time employees and is led by a seasoned management team with proven experience and expertise in public company leadership, technology development, and intellectual property licensing and management. The executive management teams of both IPC and Prism remain unchanged. Gregory Duman, Prism’s President, has joined IPC’s Board of Directors.

 

 
 

 

 

Conference Call

 

IPC will hold a conference call to discuss the merger on Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. PT (4:30 p.m. ET). The call may be accessed by dialing 888-389-5988 (conference ID: 5571563) at least ten minutes prior to the call. IPC will also offer a live and archived webcast of the conference call, accessible from the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at http://ir.internetpatentscorporation.net/ .

 

About Internet Patents Corporation

 

Headquartered in Sacramento, CA, Internet Patents Corporation (NASDAQ:   PTNT)  operates a patent licensing business focused on its e-commerce technologies.  www.internetpatentscorporation.net

  

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

 

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which include statements expressing the intent, belief or current expectations of Internet Patents Corporation that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, many of which are beyond our control. The words "may," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "target," "goal," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results might differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with Internet Patent Corporation's business and the acquisition, which include, but are not limited to: Forward-looking statements involve certain risks, estimates, assumptions and uncertainties, including: our ability to generate revenues from our business model; our ability to effectively and efficiently manage patent infringement litigation we initiate; the unpredictable nature of patent licensing and patent litigation; the risk that one or more of our patents will be declared invalid; the potential loss of key employees critical to the ongoing success of our business; potential adverse changes in the laws and regulations relating to patents and patent litigation; the risk that the combined company created by the Prism acquisition will not be profitable and the possibility that the expected value creation from the Prism acquisition will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; and changes in the taxation of the combined company's income due to the disallowance or expiration of our net operating losses. Unless legally required, Internet Patents Corporation undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of these and other risk factors disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.