EXHIBIT 10.24
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
This Settlement Agreement and release (collectively, the
"Agreement") is made and entered into as of this ____ day of June, 2005, by and
between Tidel Technologies, Inc. ("Tidel"), Tidel Engineering, L.P.
("Engineering" and together with Tidel, the "Company") and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
("▇▇▇▇▇▇"). The Company and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ are referred to herein collectively as the
"Parties."
WHEREAS, the Company loaned $141,563 to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ pursuant to that certain
promissory note dated as of September 27, 2000, in a loan that matured on
October 1, 2002 (the "First Loan");
WHEREAS, the Company loaned an additional $225,000 to ▇▇▇▇▇▇, pursuant to
promissory notes dated October 25, 2000, December 19, 2000 and February 14,
2001, in the respective principal amounts of $50,000, $50,000 and $125,000, all
of which matured on October 1, 2002 (the "Second Loans", and together with the
First Loan, the "Loans");
WHEREAS, payment of the Loans is secured by that certain Stock Pledge
Agreement ("Pledge Agreement") dated as of September 27, 2000 by and between
▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Tidel;
WHEREAS, the Company declared bonuses relating to incremental salary
payments to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (i) on account of 2004 salary in the amount of $10,250, and
(ii) an additional bonus on account of 2005 salary in the amount of $20,500, due
to be paid June 30, 2005 (together, the "Salary Bonuses"), which Salary Bonuses
have not yet been paid to ▇▇▇▇▇▇;
WHEREAS, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the "APA")
dated as of February 19, 2005 by and among NCR Texas LLC and the Company
providing for the sale of certain assets of the Company related to the Company's
business of designing, manufacturing, assembling, marketing and selling certain
automated teller machines;
WHEREAS, in consideration of Executive's work in entering into the APA,
and in connection with the proposed execution of that certain Employment
Agreement by and between ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Engineering dated as of even date herewith
(the "New Employment Agreement"), Engineering declared a bonus payable to ▇▇▇▇▇▇
in an amount equal to $30,000 (the "NCR Bonus"), which NCR Bonus has not yet
been paid to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and will be applied in partial satisfaction of the Loans;
WHEREAS, the parties desire to terminate the Employment Agreement dated as
of January 1, 2000 by and between Engineering and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Old Employment
Agreement") and to enter into the New Employment Agreement;
WHEREAS, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ holds options to purchase 225,500 shares of Tidel's common
stock, par value $.01 (the "Common Stock"), pursuant to the Company's Long-Term
1997 Incentive Plan (the "Plan");
WHEREAS, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ owns in his individual capacity (and not in an Individual
Retirement Account) 90,500 shares of Common Stock (the "▇▇▇▇▇▇ Shares");
WHEREAS, the Loans have been due and payable since October 1, 2002, and
the Company desires to resolve the outstanding Loans;
WHEREAS, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ claims that in 2000 and 2001 the Company, by and through
its then Chief Executive Officer, made certain promises to and agreements with
▇▇▇▇▇▇ upon which ▇▇▇▇▇▇ relied to his detriment, by among other things, not
selling the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Shares, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ has certain claims against the Company
relating to such matter (the "▇▇▇▇▇▇ Claim");
WHEREAS, the parties desire to settle their dispute pursuant to the terms
described herein, including a general release of, inter alia, any and all claims
which ▇▇▇▇▇▇ has or may have against the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Satisfaction of Loans. Upon execution of this Agreement and performance
of the covenants contained herein, and in consideration for the agreements and
covenants made herein, the Parties agree that all accrued and unpaid interest on
the Loans shall be cancelled and forgiven and all principal owed on the Loans
shall be deemed fully satisfied.
2. Delivery of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Shares. Upon execution of this Agreement, and in
consideration for the agreements and covenants made herein, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall deliver
the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Shares to the Company. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ represents and warrants to the Company
that the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Shares represent all shares of Common Stock he holds in his
individual capacity, and that he has not sold any shares of Common Stock since
January 1, 2004.
3. Options. Notwithstanding any terms of the 75,000 Options (as defined
below) or the Plan to the contrary, ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ options to purchase 75,000 shares
of Common Stock for $.25 per share granted March 7, 2005 and expiring March 6,
2015 (the "75,000 Options"), to the extent they are not presently exercisable,
shall be accelerated and fully vest and become fully exercisable immediately
prior to the date of termination of his employment with the Company, whenever
that may occur. Any of the 75,000 Options which ▇▇▇▇▇▇ wishes to exercise must
be exercised within the earlier to occur of (i) 120 days following his
termination of employment with the Company or (ii) following the Company's
delivery of notice to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of an impending (A) sale of all or substantially
all of the assets of Tidel or Engineering, or (B) sale of at least 50% of the
equity interests of Tidel or Engineering, or (C) a Change of Control as defined
in the Plan (any such event, a "Triggering Event"), then no less than 30 days
prior to such Triggering Event, or if notice from the Company is received by
▇▇▇▇▇▇ less than 30 days prior to such Triggering Event, then ten days following
receipt of such notice. The Company's notice to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ hereunder shall briefly
identify the type of impending Triggering Event and its anticipated Closing
Date. Other than as provided hereby, no other terms or provisions of the 75,000
Options shall be amended or altered in any way. All other options to purchase
shares of Common Stock held by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall hereby terminate, effective as of
the date hereof.
4. Salary Bonuses. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and the Company agree that (i) any and all
applicable federal, state and local tax withholding obligations, and the
employee's share of any FICA tax obligations with respect to the payment of the
Salary Bonuses (the "Withholding Taxes") shall
2
be withheld by the Company from the Salary Bonuses and remitted to the proper
taxing authorities, and (ii) any remaining amounts of the Salary Bonuses owing
to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ after satisfaction of such Withholding Taxes shall be retained by the
Company in partial satisfaction of the Loans.
5. Release of the Company by ▇▇▇▇▇▇. Upon execution of this Agreement, in
consideration for the covenants and agreements made in this Agreement, ▇▇▇▇▇▇
and his heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns (the "▇▇▇▇▇▇
RELEASORS") hereby release and discharge Tidel, Engineering and each of their
present and former agents, representatives, shareholders, principals, officers,
directors, employees, partners, joint venturers, affiliates, parents,
subsidiaries, heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns (the
"COMPANY RELEASEES") from all actions, causes of action, suits, debts, dues,
sums of money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills, specialties, covenants,
contracts, controversies, agreements, promises, variances, trespasses, damages,
judgments, extents, executions, claims, and demands whatsoever in law, admiralty
or equity, whether known or unknown, which the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ RELEASORS ever had, now
have or hereafter can, shall or may, have against the COMPANY RELEASEES for,
upon, or by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever from the beginning
of the world to the day of the date of this Agreement, including any claims the
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Releasors have under the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Claims; provided, however, that this
release will not limit or release (a) ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ rights under this Agreement or
▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ rights under the New Employment Agreement, (b) ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ rights to
indemnification from the Company in respect of his services as a director,
officer or employee of the Company or any of their respective subsidiaries as
provided by law, any indemnification agreements to which ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and the Company
or any of their respective subsidiaries are a party, or the certificates of
incorporation or bylaws (or like constitutive documents) of the Company or any
of their respective subsidiaries, (c) subject to this Agreement, ▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ rights
under the option agreements pursuant to which ▇▇▇▇▇▇ has previously been granted
the 75,000 Options or (d) any rights of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ under the Company's 401(k)
Retirement Plan (together, the provisions of clauses (a) through (d), the
"Exceptions").
6. Release of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ by the Company. Upon execution of this Agreement, in
consideration for the covenants and agreements made in this Agreement, the
Company and its successors and assigns (the "COMPANY RELEASORS") hereby release
and discharge ▇▇▇▇▇▇, and his heirs, executors, administrators, successors and
assigns (the "▇▇▇▇▇▇ RELEASEES") from all actions, causes of action, suits,
debts, dues, sums of money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills, specialties,
covenants, contracts, controversies, agreements, promises, variances,
trespasses, damages, judgments, extents, executions, claims, and demands
whatsoever in law, admiralty or equity, whether known or unknown, which the
COMPANY RELEASORS ever had, now have or hereafter can, shall or may, have
against the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ RELEASEES for, upon, or by reason of any matter, cause or
thing whatsoever from the beginning of the world to the day of the date of this
Agreement; provided, however, that this release will not limit or release (a)
the Company's rights under this Agreement or the Company's rights under the New
Employment Agreement, or (b) the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Releasees for any acts of gross
negligence, willful misconduct, or fraud, or for illegal or dishonest acts, or
acts that subject the Company to third party claims.
3
7. Discontinuance of the Claim. Upon execution of the Agreement, and in
consideration for the covenants made in this Agreement, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ hereby agrees not
to commence any action against the Company.
8. Settlement. The Company denies that it has any liability to ▇▇▇▇▇▇
whatsoever, and enters into this Agreement without admitting any of the
allegations made by ▇▇▇▇▇▇.
9. Employment; Board of Directors.
a. The Old Employment Agreement has terminated as of the date
hereof pursuant to and as provided in the New Employment Agreement. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
acknowledges that other than as set forth in this Settlement Agreement,
including the Exceptions, and in the New Employment Agreement, the Company has
no other obligations to ▇▇▇▇▇▇.
b. Effective upon the date hereof and the execution and
delivery of the New Employment Agreement, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ hereby resigns from the Board
of Directors of Tidel and each of its subsidiaries.
10. Tax Treatment. The Parties agree that the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement shall be reported for all tax purposes consistent with the
following:
a. The Salary Bonuses in the total amount of $30,750 shall be
treated as wage compensation reported by the Company on IRS Form W-2, Wage and
Tax Statement.
b. The transfer of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Shares by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ to the Company
shall be treated as a payment of principal on the Loans in an amount equal to
the value of such Shares as of the date hereof.
c. In reliance upon the representations and warranties of
▇▇▇▇▇▇ set forth below, the Company agrees that the satisfaction of the
remaining principal balance of the Loans shall not be reported by the Company on
any IRS Form W-2 or IRS Form 1099.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ represents and warrants to the Company that:
i. the forgiveness of the accrued interest of the Loans
should be treated as cancellation of indebtedness under Section 108 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code");
ii. the satisfaction of the remaining principal amount
of the Loans (after application of the NCR Bonus of $30,000, the Salary Bonuses
net of the Withholding Taxes, and the delivery of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Shares) should be
treated as a payment by the Company to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ for the release and settlement of
the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Claim; and
iii. the origin of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Claim is the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Shares
which are capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, and the
settlement of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Claim and delivery of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Shares constitute a
sale or exchange such that, for tax purposes, the portion of the principal
satisfied in exchange for the release and settlement of the
4
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Claim shall be treated to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ as a capital gain (or a reduction of a
capital loss).
11. Non-Assignment. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ represents and warrants that there has been no
assignment or other transfer of any interest in any of the released claims to
any other person or entity not a party to this Agreement.
12. Attorneys' Fees. The Parties agree that each side shall bear their own
respective attorneys' fees and costs in connection with this Settlement
Agreement.
13. Final Agreement. This Agreement and the New Employment Agreement
supersede any prior agreement and statements, written or oral, and constitute
the complete, final and entire understanding of the Parties hereto, and no Party
shall be bound by any terms, covenants, conditions or representations not
expressly contained herein or therein in writing, all of which are agreed to be
immaterial and none of which were relied upon by any Party in entering into this
Agreement or the New Employment Agreement.
14. Non-Modification. This Agreement may not be terminated, modified or
changed orally, and may be changed only by an agreement in writing signed by
both Parties.
15. Notice. All notices, demands, requests, or other communications which
may be or are required to be given or made by any party to any party pursuant to
this Agreement shall be in writing, including by facsimile, and shall be deemed
to have been received on the date of personal delivery, on the third day after
deposit in the U.S. mail if mailed by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid and return receipt requested, on the day after delivery to a nationally
recognized overnight courier service if sent by an overnight delivery service
for next morning delivery, and on the same day if transmitted by facsimile,
addressed as follows:
If to the Company: Tidel Technologies, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: Chairman of the Board
with a copy to: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Frome ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
(which shall not & Wolosky LLP
constitute notice) Park Avenue Tower
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Telecopier No.: 212-451-2222
If to ▇▇▇▇▇▇: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
with a copy to: P. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
(which shall not ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.P.
constitute notice) ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
16. Mutual Drafting of Agreement. The drafting and negotiation of this
Agreement has been participated in by the parties for all purposes and,
accordingly, this Agreement shall be deemed to have been drafted jointly by the
Parties. The Parties have been advised, and have had the opportunity to consult
with and have this Agreement reviewed, by separate and independent counsel prior
to the execution of the Agreement.
17. Binding Upon Affiliates. This Agreement and all obligations, benefits
and undertakings herein shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of
the Parties, their predecessors, administrators, successors, heirs, assigns and
anyone claiming by, through or under any of them.
18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in facsimile
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original. Such
counterparts, when taken together, shall constitute but one agreement.
19. Survival of Provisions. The invalidity, illegality or unenforceability
of any provision of this Agreement pursuant to judicial decree shall not affect
the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, all of
which shall remain in full force and effect. Furthermore, in lieu of any such
invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision there shall be automatically added
as part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid, legal and
enforceable.
20. Authority. The Parties (other than ▇▇▇▇▇▇) to this Agreement represent
and warrant that the officer or individual executing this Agreement on its
behalf has been duly authorized to do so and has the capacity to sign for and
bind the Party for which the officer or individual signs.
21. Agreement Entered Into Voluntarily. The Parties agree that they have
entered into this Agreement voluntarily and knowingly, and that they have
reviewed this Agreement with counsel and fully understand its terms and
conditions.
22. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed made under and shall be
governed by the substantive laws of the State of Texas, excluding its conflict
of laws rules.
6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and the Company have executed this
Agreement the day and year first above written.
TIDEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. TIDEL ENGINEERING, L.P.
By: Tidel Cash Systems, Inc.
Its General Partner
By: ____________________________
Name: __________________________ By:____________________________
Title: _________________________ Name:
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
__________________________________
7