Exhibit 10.4

 

 

OFFICER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

 

 

THIS OFFICER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made to be effective as
of the 1st day of January, 2014 (the “Commencement Date”), by and between
TransCoastal Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, (hereinafter called the
“Company”), and Derrick May (hereinafter called the “Officer”).

 

W I T N E S E T H. 

 

WHEREAS, the Officer desires to enter into an employment relationship with the
Company; and.

 

WHEREAS, both the Company and Officer have read and understood the terms and
provisions set forth in this Agreement and have been afforded a reasonable
opportunity to review this Agreement with their respective advisors;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises of each, and other good
and valuable consideration, the parties hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

1.     SERVICES AND DUTIES

 

(a)     Positions. The Officer shall serve as Corporate Secretary, Controller,
and Financial Analyst of the Company. The Officer shall report to the Board of
Directors of the Company, and shall perform all duties consistent with this
position and such other duties generally consistent there with; as such duties
shall be prescribed and/or amended from time to time by the sole member. Your
individual performance, results and compensation will be reviewed during the
Company’s annual performance review period currently scheduled in December of
each year.

 

(b)     Devotion of Time. As of the Commencement Date (as defined above), the
Officer shall devote his full time and attention to the Company. However, it is
understood that the Officer may have certain other business activities in which
he is free to engage, conditioned that such other business activities are
disclosed to the Company, do not interfere with the accomplishment of his
duties, and are not directly competitive so as to be corporate opportunities of
the Company.

 

(c)     No Joint Venture. The provisions of this Agreement, and especially the
compensation provisions, are not intended to create any relationship between the
Parties other than that of employer and employee contracting with each other
solely for the purpose of effecting the provisions of this Agreement, and this
Agreement shall not be construed as creating a partnership or joint venture
between the parties.

 

 
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2.     TERM

 

This Agreement shall begin on the Commencement Date and end on the second (2nd)
year anniversary after the Commencement Date (the “Original Term”). Thereafter,
this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one (1) year terms
unless otherwise terminated as provided herein.

 

3.     COMPENSATION AND RELATED MATTERS

 

(a)     Base Salary. From and after the Commencement Date, the Officer shall
receive an initial base salary (the “Base Salary”) paid by the Company of
$10,000 per month, payable bi-weekly.

 

(b)     Bonus. The Officer shall be eligible for a performance bonus over and
above the Base Salary. The performance bonus shall be equal to six percent (4%)
of any operating income of the Company above a minimum of $150,000 per month up
to a maximum bonus of $15,000 per month.

 

(b)     Shares. The Officer will be eligible for certain common stock incentive
stock grants (ISG’s) based upon performance and job tenure. Upon execution of
this Agreement the Officer will be granted the right to receive up to 50,000
common shares of the Company. Further stock grants will be earned by Officer in
accordance with the following schedule:

 

 

 

 

1.

If Officer, for any fiscal year, has received less than an average of $10,000
per month actual salary and bonus then he shall receive a grant of 75,000 common
shares at year end.

 

 

 

 

2.

If Officer, for any year, has received more than an average of $10,000 per month
actual salary then he shall receive a grant of 50,000 common shares at year end.

 

 

 

Officer will receive the common stock to be issued in accordance with the above
schedule within 30 days of the grant, and vested 1/12th per month.

 

(c)     Expenses. During his employment hereunder, the Officer shall be entitled
to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable business and entertainment
expenses incurred by him in performing services hereunder, provided that the
Officer properly accounts therefor to the Company and adheres to any
reimbursement policy implemented by the Company.

 

 
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(d)     Benefits. The Officer shall be entitled to participate in other benefit
plans to which he is eligible pursuant to Company policy, which may be amended
from time to time in the Company’s discretion and the applicable plan documents
(the “Standard Benefit Plans”). A copy of the Company benefits plan is attached
as Exhibit “A” to this Agreement.

 

(e)     Vacations. The Officer shall be entitled to reasonable vacation
consistent with his position and the Company’s vacation policy.

 

(f)     Education. The Officer shall have any MBA course paid for by the Company
so long as the Officer receives a passing grade in the course.

 

4.     TERMINATION

 

The parties understand and agree that the Officer’s employment hereunder is in
accordance with the above stated term and may be terminated by the Company or
the Officer, under the following circumstances:

 

(a)     Mutual Agreement. Termination by mutual written agreement between the
Officer and the Company.

 

(b)     Death. Employment shall terminate upon the death of the Officer.

 

(c)     Disability. Termination will result if the Officer is unable to perform
his duties on a full-time basis because of Officer’s inability to perform his
duties under this Agreement, with or without reasonable accommodation, for a
period of more than ten (10) days (“Disability”).

 

(d)     Termination of the Officer’s employment for “Cause.” For purposes of
this Agreement, the Company shall have the ability to terminate the Officer’s
employment hereunder for “Cause”.

 

For the purposes of this Agreement “Cause” is defined as committing theft,
fraud, misappropriation, illegal use of drugs or alcohol in the workplace,
embezzlement or acts of similar dishonesty, intentional and willful misconduct
that may subject the company to criminal or civil liability, willful disregard
of company policies and procedures, insubordination or deliberate refusal to
follow the instructions of the Board of Directors, conviction of a felony or any
crime involving moral turpitude, gross negligence in performing duties, or
unreasonably refusing to perform the duties of the position.

 

(e)     Termination Without Cause. Notwithstanding any provisions of this
Agreement to the contrary, the Company may terminate the Officer’s employment
for any reason other than those specified in the foregoing paragraphs (a), (b),
(c) or (d) (or for no reason) at any time effective upon delivery of thirty (30)
days written notice by the sole member.

 

(f)     Voluntary Resignation. The Officer may terminate this Agreement
(“Voluntary Resignation”) at any time effective upon thirty (30) days written
notice to the sole member of the Company.

 

 
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5.     COMPENSATION AND PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION

 

5.01 The Officer shall be entitled to the following compensation from the
Company (in lieu of all other sums payable to the Officer hereunder) upon the
termination of Officer’s employment for reasons other than a change of control.

 

(a)     Mutual Agreement. If the Officer’s employment is terminated as a result
of mutual agreement, the Company shall pay the Officer’s Base Salary, plus a
lump sum payment for the value of all accrued, earned and unused benefits under
the Standard Benefit Plan through the date of termination, and the Officer will
be entitled to receive any vested ISG’s or cash incentives or bonuses that may
have been earned by the Officer prior to the date of termination (for all
purposes of this Agreement, all such accrued, earned and unpaid items through
the applicable date of termination are referred to as the “Earned Amounts”).

 

(b)     Death. If the Officer’s employment is terminated as a result of death,
the Company will pay to the Officer’s estate the Earned Amounts.

 

(c)     Disability. If the Officer’s employment is terminated as a result of
Disability (as defined in Section 4(c) above), the Officer will be provided long
term disability benefits to which he may be eligible (if any) in accordance with
the Company’s then existing Standard Benefit Plans, and the Company shall pay to
the Officer the Earned Amounts.

 

(d)     Termination by the Company without Cause. If the Officer’s employment is
terminated by the Company without Cause, the Company shall pay the Officer the
Earned Amounts plus, if the thirty (30) day written notice by the Officer has
been given, the Company shall look forward fifteen (15) months and vest any
ISG’s in Officer that would have vested during the fifteen (15) month forward
period as well as pay the Officer 12 months base salary depicted in paragraph
3(a).

 

(e)     Termination for Cause. If the Officer’s employment is terminated for
Cause, the Company shall pay the Officer the Earned Amounts only and the Company
shall have no further compensation obligation to the Officer.

 

(f)     Termination by the Officer. If the Officer voluntarily elects to
terminate this Agreement, the Company shall pay the Officer the Earned Amounts
plus, if the thirty (30) day written notice by the Officer has been given, the
Company shall look forward fifteen (15) months and vest any ISG’s in Officer
that would have vested during the fifteen (15) month forward period. If the
Officer should terminate his employment with the Company for any reason and
shall fail to give the required thirty (30) day written notice the Company shall
have no further obligation to the Officer other than the “Earned Amounts”.

 

5.02 Termination of Employment Following a Change in Control.

 

(a)     Termination And Change In Control. In the event that Officer’s
employment is terminated; (i) during the period beginning on the date a third
person executes an agreement with the Company whereby the third party(ies) will
purchase fifty percent (50%) or more of the assets or equity of the Company (the
“Change in Control”) or otherwise begins a tender or exchange offer, circulates
a proxy to stockholders, or takes other steps to effect a Change in Control and
ending on the complete abandonment of that effort or (ii) at any time within two
(2) years following the date on which a Change in Control occurs, then the
Company shall provide to Officer the rights and benefits described in this
Section 5 in lieu of all other benefits of a severance nature under Section 5.01
of this Agreement. The specific arrangements referred to in this Section 5.02
are not intended to exclude Officer’s participation in other benefit plans in
which Officer currently participates or which are or may become available to
Officer personnel generally in the class or category of Officer or to preclude
other compensation or benefits as may be authorized by the Board of Directors
from time to time.

 

 
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(b)     Accrued Benefits. The Company shall pay to the Officer in a lump sum in
cash, subject to Section 11 below, within 30 days after the Date of Termination,
or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, the sum of (1) the Officer’s
Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore
paid, (2) any accrued but unpaid Bonus, (3) any accrued but unpaid Commissions,
and (4) any accrued vacation.

 

(c)     Additional Payment. The Company shall pay to the Officer in a lump sum
in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination, an amount equal to three
(3) times the sum of (x) the Officer’s Annual Base Salary and (y) an amount
equal to the highest amount of Bonus received by Officer for any fiscal year in
the last three (3) fiscal years.

 

(d)     Continuation of Benefits. For three (3) years after the Officer’s Date
of Termination, or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the
appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, the Company shall continue to pay
the Benefit Amount or if the Fringe Benefits are provided by the Company the
benefits to the Officer and/or the Officer’s family at least equal to those
which would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs,
practices and policies described in Section 3(f) of this Agreement if the
Officer’s employment had not been terminated or, if more favorable to the
Officer, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other
peer Officers of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families,
provided, however, that if the Officer becomes reemployed with another employer
and is eligible to receive medical or other welfare benefits under another
employer provided plan, the medical and other welfare benefits described herein
shall be secondary to those provided under such other plan during such
applicable period of eligibility. For purposes of determining eligibility (but
not the time of commencement of benefits) of the Officer for retiree benefits
pursuant to such plans, practices, programs and policies, the Officer shall be
considered to have remained employed until three (3) years after the Date of
Termination and to have retired on the last day of such period.

 

If due to insurance company or Internal Revenue Service restrictions, the
Officer is ineligible to continue to be covered under the terms of any such
benefit plan or program, or in the event Officer is eligible but the benefits
applicable to Officer under any such plan or program after termination of
employment are not substantially equivalent to the benefits applicable to
Officer immediately prior to termination or, if more favorable to the Officer,
during the three-year period thereafter, the Company shall provide such
substantially equivalent benefits, or such additional benefits as may be
necessary to make the Officer whole through other sources.

 

(e)     Acceleration of Vesting. All stock, stock options, restricted stock
awards, long term incentive plan benefits and any other equity awards or
benefits that are subject to vesting based upon the continued employment of the
Officer shall automatically become vested, unrestricted and/or exercisable, as
the case may be.

 

 
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(f)     Outplacement Services. Full outplacement services provided by the
professional outplacement consulting firm of Officer’s choosing, to a maximum of
$30,000, provided that all expenses reimbursable under this subsection (vi) must
be incurred and reimbursed no later than December 31 of the second calendar year
following the calendar year in which Officer’s employment is terminated.

 

6.     NON-DISCLOSURE

 

(a)     Confidential Information. By virtue of his employment with the Company,
the Officer will have access to confidential, proprietary, and highly sensitive
information relating to the business of the Company and which is a valuable,
competitive and unique asset of the Company (“Confidential Information”), the
confidentiality of which is essential to the Company’s ability to differentiate
its products and services. Such Confidential Information includes all
information which relates to the business of the Company, which is or has been
disclosed to the Officer orally or in writing by the Company or obtained by
virtue of work performed for the Company, is or was developed by the Company,
and is not generally available to or known by individuals or entities within the
industry in which the Company is or may become engaged or readily accessible by
independent investigation.

 

The Confidential Information sought to be protected includes, without
limitation, information pertaining to: (i) the identities of customers and
clients with which or whom the Company does or seeks to do business, as well as
the point of contact persons and decision-makers at these customers and clients,
including their names, addresses, e-mail addresses and positions; (ii) the past
or present purchasing history and the past and/or current job requirements of
each past and/or existing customer and client; (iii) the volume of business and
the nature of the business relationship between the Company and its customers
and clients; (iv) the pricing of the Company’s services, including any
deviations from its standard pricing for particular customers and clients;
(v) the Company’s business plans and strategy, including customer or client
assignments and rearrangements, sales and administrative staff expansions,
marketing and sales plans and strategy, proposed adjustments in compensation of
sales personnel, revenue, expense and profit projections, industry analyses, and
any proposed or actual implemented technology changes; (vi) information
regarding the Company’s employees, including their identities, skills, talents,
knowledge, experience, and compensation; (vii) the Company’s financial results
and business condition; and (viii) computer programs and software developed by
the Company and tailored to the Company’s needs by its employees, independent
contractors, consultants or vendors; (ix) information relating to the Company’s
architects, designers, contractors, or persons likely to become architects,
designers, or contractors; (x) any past or present merchandise or supply sources
in the future; (xi) technical and non-technical information including patent,
copyright, trade secret, proprietary information, methods, ideas, concepts,
designs, inventions, know-how, processes, software programs, software source
documents and formulae related to the current, future and proposed products and
services of the Company including research, experimental work, development,
design details and specifications and engineering, financial statements,
forecasts, plans (whether business, strategic, marketing or other), client
lists, prospective client lists, sales data, sales analysis, equipment and other
assets, prices, costs, sources of supplies, pricing methods, personnel,
marketing research, and business relationships, whether or not marked
“Confidential” or “Proprietary”.

  

 
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Confidential Information may be contained on the Company’s computer network, in
computerized documents or files, or in any written or printed documents,
including any written reports summarizing such information.

 

(b)     Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information. The Officer acknowledges
that the Company’s Confidential Information will be disclosed to the Officer
throughout his employment at the Company in order to enable the Officer to
perform his duties for the Company. The Officer further acknowledges that, prior
to his employment at the Company, Officer was either unfamiliar with the
Company’s Confidential Information or Officer developed such Confidential
Information for the benefit of the Company and was otherwise compensated for
such services outside of the terms of this Agreement.

 

Finally, Officer acknowledges that the unauthorized disclosure of Confidential
Information could place the Company at a competitive disadvantage. Consequently,
Officer agrees (i) not to use, publish, disclose or divulge, directly or
indirectly, at any time, any Confidential Information for his own benefit and
for the benefit of any person, entity, or corporation other than the Company, to
any person who is not a current employee of the Company, without the express,
written consent of the Company and except in the performance of the duties
assigned to him by the Company; (ii)  not to make copies of Confidential
Information without the prior written consent of the Company; (iii) to take
reasonable precautions to protect against the inadvertent disclosure of such
Confidential Information or theft or misappropriation by others; and (iv) not to
use such Confidential Information except in connection with the specific duties
of the Officer in connection with his employment.

 

(c)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the confidentiality and nondisclosure
provisions contained herein with respect to any portion of the Confidential
Information shall terminate when the Officer can document that the Confidential
Information:

 

(i)     was in the public domain at the same time it was communicated to the
Officer by the Company;

 

(ii)     entered the public domain subsequent to the time it was communicated to
the Officer by the Company through no fault of the Officer;

 

(iii)     was in the Officer’s possession free of any obligation of confidence
at the time it was communicated to the Officer by the Company;

 

(iv)     was rightfully communicated to the Officer free of any obligation of
confidence subsequent to the time it was communicated to the Officer by the
Company;

 

(v)     was developed by the Officer independently of and without any reference
to any information communicated to the Officer by the Company; or

 

 
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(vi)     was communicated in response to a valid subpoena or order by a court or
by a governmental body, provided that the Officer complies with the provisions
of Section 6(e) below.

 

(d)     Survival of Officer’s Obligations. Officer understands and agrees that
his obligations under this Section shall survive the termination of this
Agreement and/or his employment with the Company. Officer further understands
and agrees that his obligations under this Section are in addition to, and not
in limitation or preemption of, all other obligations of confidentiality which
he may have to the Company under general legal or equitable principles, or other
policies implemented by the Company.

 

(e)     Certain Disclosures. In the event that the Officer receives a request to
disclose all or any part of the Confidential Information under the terms of a
subpoena or order issued by a court or by a governmental body, the Officer
agrees (i) to notify the Company immediately of the existence, terms, and
circumstances surrounding such request, (ii) to consult with the Officer on the
advisability of taking legal available steps to resist or narrow such request,
and (iii) if disclosure of such Confidential Information is required to prevent
the Officer from being held in contempt or subject to other penalty, to furnish
only such portion of the Confidential Information as, in the opinion of counsel
to the Officer, it is legally compelled to disclose and to exercise its best
efforts to obtain an order or other reliable assurance that confidential
treatment will be accorded to the disclosed Confidential Information.

 

7.     RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY

 

Officer acknowledges that all memoranda, notes, correspondence, databases,
computer discs, computer files, computer equipment and/or accessories, pagers,
telephones, passwords or pass codes, records, reports, manuals, books, papers,
letters, CD Roms or DVD media, flash drives, keys, Internet database access
codes, client profile data, job orders, client and customer lists, contracts,
software programs, information and records, drafts of instructions, guides and
manuals, and other documentation (whether in draft or final form), and other
sales, financial or technological information relating to the Company’s
business, and any and all other documents containing Confidential Information
furnished to Officer by any representative of the Company or otherwise acquired
or developed by him in connection with his association with the Company
(collectively, “Recipient Materials”) shall at all times be the property of the
Company. Within twenty-four (24) hours of the termination of his employment for
any reason, Officer will return to the Company any Recipient Materials which are
in his possession, custody or control.

 

8.     NON-SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS/CLIENTS

 

(a)     Access to Confidential Information. Officer acknowledges that the
special relationship of trust and confidence between him, the Company, and its
clients and customers creates a high risk and opportunity for Officer to
misappropriate the relationship and goodwill existing between the Company and
its clients and customers. Officer further acknowledges and agrees that it is
fair and reasonable for the Company to take steps to protect itself from the
risk of such misappropriation. Officer further acknowledges that, at the outset
of his employment with the Company and/or throughout his employment with the
Company, Officer has been or will be provided with access to and informed of the
Company’s Confidential Information, which will enable him to benefit from the
Company’s goodwill and know-how. 

 

 
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(b)     Inevitable Disclosure. Officer acknowledges that it would be inevitable
in the performance of his duties as a director, officer, employee, investor,
agent or consultant of any person, association, entity, or company which
competes with the Company, or which intends to or may compete with the Company,
to disclose and/or use the Company’s Confidential Information, as well as to
misappropriate the Company’s goodwill and know-how, to or for the benefit of
such other person, association, entity, or company. Officer also acknowledges
that, in exchange for the execution of the non-solicitation restriction set
forth in this Section 8(b), he has received substantial, valuable consideration,
including the consideration set forth in Sections 3 and 5 above. Officer further
acknowledges and agrees that this consideration constitutes fair and adequate
consideration for the execution of the non-solicitation restriction set forth in
this Section.

 

(c)     Non-Solicitation of Customers. Ancillary to the enforceable promises set
forth in this Agreement including, without limitation, the promises contained in
Sections 3, 6 and 7, as well as to protect the vital interests described in
those Sections, Officer agrees that, while he is employed by the Company and for
a period of twelve (12) months following the termination of his employment with
the Company, regardless of the reason for such termination, Officer will not,
without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, alone
or for his own account, or as owner, partner, investor, member, trustee,
officer, director, shareholder, employee, consultant, distributor, advisor,
representative or agent of any partnership, joint venture, corporation, trust,
or other business organization or entity, (i) contact, solicit sales of, or
sell, deliver or place any product, service or system of the kind and character
sold, provided, distributed or placed by Officer on behalf of the Company to any
person, association, corporation or other business organization or entity that
Officer contacted, solicited, called upon, or served, or that he directed others
to solicit, call upon, or serve, on behalf of the Company, during his employment
at the Company; or (ii) contact, solicit, or seek to divert the business or
patronage of any person, association, corporation, or other business
organization or entity with whom or which Officer had business relations on
behalf of the Company or with whom or which he met or communicated, or with whom
or which he directed others to meet or communicate, for the purpose of offering
to sell or place or solicit for sale or placement any product, service, or
system of the kind and character sold, provided or distributed by him, on behalf
of the Company, during his employment at the Company.

 

(d)     Reasonable Restrictions. Officer agrees that the restriction set forth
above is ancillary to an otherwise enforceable agreement, is supported by
independent valuable consideration, and that the limitations as to time,
geographical area, and scope of activity to be restrained by this Section are
reasonable and acceptable, and do not impose any greater restraint than is
reasonably necessary to protect the goodwill and other business interests of the
Company. Officer agrees that if, at some later date, a court of competent
jurisdiction determines that the non-solicitation agreement set forth in this
Section does not meet the criteria set forth in Tex. Bus. & Comm. Code
Ann. 15.50(2), this Section may be reformed by the court and enforced to the
maximum extent permitted under Texas law.

 

 
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(e)     Breach. If Officer is found to have violated any of the provisions of
this Section, Officer agrees that the restrictive period of each covenant so
violated shall be extended by a period of time equal to the period of such
violation by him. Officer understands that his obligations under this Section
shall survive the termination of his employment with the Company and shall not
be assignable by him.

 

9.     NON-SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES AND CONSULTANTS

 

Officer acknowledges that, as part of his employment or association with the
Company, he will become familiar with the salary, pay scale, capabilities,
experiences, skill and desires of the Company’s employees. In order to protect
the confidentiality of such information, Officer agrees that, for a period of
twelve (12) months following the termination of his employment with the Company,
whether such termination occurs at the insistence of Officer or the Company,
Officer shall not recruit, hire, solicit, or attempt to recruit, hire or
solicit, directly or by assisting others, any other employees or consultants
employed by or associated with the Company, nor shall he contact or communicate
with any other employees or consultants of the Company for the purpose of
inducing other employees or consultants to terminate their employment or
association with the Company. For purposes of this covenant, “other employees or
consultants” shall refer to permanent employees, temporary employees, or
consultants who were employed by, doing business with, or associated with the
Company within six (6) months of the time of the attempted recruiting, hiring or
solicitation. Officer’s obligations under this Section 9 shall survive the
termination of this Agreement and Officer’s employment with the Company.

 

10.     REMEDIES

 

In the event that Officer violates any of the provisions set forth in
Sections 6, 7, 8, or 9 of this Agreement, he acknowledges that the Company will
suffer immediate and irreparable harm which cannot be accurately calculated in
monetary damages. Consequently, Officer acknowledges and agrees that the Company
shall be entitled to immediate injunctive relief, either by temporary or
permanent injunction, to prevent such a violation. Officer further acknowledges
and agrees that this injunctive relief shall be in addition to any other legal
or equitable relief, including monetary damages, to which the Company would be
entitled.

 

11.     INVENTIONS, IDEAS/PATENTABLE INVENTIONS

 

(a)     Inventions. Any discovery, invention, design, improvement, concept or
other intellectual properties, either patentable or not, made, developed or
conceived by the Officer during the term of the Agreement, and for one year
after termination thereof, which relate to or are useful in the business or
activities in which the Company is or may become engaged, and which may or may
not also constitute Confidential Information (the “Inventions”), shall be the
exclusive property of the Company and its successors.

 

 
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(b)     Disclosure to the Company. The Officer agrees to disclose promptly, in
writing, if so requested, to the Company, any Inventions that the Officer may
make, develop or conceive during the term of this Agreement by the Company or
its successors.

 

(c)     Work for Hire. The Officer agrees that the Inventions shall be deemed
“work made for hire” and hereby assigns, and agrees to assign, to the Company
all the Officer’s rights, title and interest in any such Inventions, whether or
not during the term of this Agreement such Inventions may be reduced to
practice, and to execute all patent applications, copyright applications,
assignments and other documents, and to take all other steps necessary (but all
at the Company’s expense), to vest in the Company the entire right, title and
interest in and to those Inventions and in and to any patents or copyrights
obtainable therefor in the United States and in foreign countries.

 

(d)     Obligation to Assign Inventions to the Company. The Officer shall not be
obligated to assign to the Company any Invention made by him during the
Relationship or after termination of this Agreement which does not relate to any
business or activity in which the Company is or may become engaged, except that
the Officer is so obligated if the same relates to or is based on Confidential
Information to which the Officer shall have had access during and by virtue of
his employment or arises out of work assigned to him by the Company; nor shall
the Officer be obligated to assign any Inventions which relate to or would be
useful in any business or activities in which the Company is engaged if such
Invention was conceived and reduced by practice by the Officer prior to this
Agreement with the Company, provided that all such Inventions are listed on
Exhibit “B” attached hereto and made known to the Company.

 

12.     SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Company,
Officer, and their respective successors, assigns, personal and legal
representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and
legatees, as applicable.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company may assign this
Agreement (or the same may remain with the Company as a subsidiary of a larger
institution), without the consent of Officer, with such assignee being required
to perform the obligations of the Company hereunder, to any successor of the
Company.

 

13.     COMPLETE AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement among the Company and Officer
concerning the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior written or oral
understandings of the parties.

 

 
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14.     NOTICE

 

For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided
for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given when (i) delivered personally; (ii) sent by telecopy or similar electronic
device and confirmed; (iii) delivered by overnight express; or (iv) sent by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

 If to the Officer:

 

Derrick May

 

 

 

 If to the Company:

 

TransCoastal Corporation

17304 Preston Road

Suite 700

Dallas, TX 75252

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing
in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be
effective only upon receipt.

 

15.     MISCELLANEOUS

 

No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived, or discharged unless
such waiver, modification, or discharge is agreed to in writing, signed by the
Officer and the Company.

 

No waiver by either 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. Either party hereof has made no agreements or
representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the
subject matter, which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement.

 

16.     GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE

 

This Agreement is being made and is intended to be performed in the State of
Texas, and shall be governed, construed, interpreted, and enforced in accordance
with the substantive laws of the State of Texas and venue for any matter in
connection with or arising from this Agreement shall be in Dallas County, Texas.

 

17.     ATTORNEY FEES

 

All legal fees and costs incurred in connection with the resolution of any
dispute or controversy under or in connection with this Agreement shall be borne
by the non-prevailing party.

 

18.     COUNTERPARTS

 

This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the
same agreement.

 

19.     VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT

 

The parties acknowledge that each has had an opportunity to consult with an
attorney or other counselor concerning the meaning, import, and legal
significance of this Agreement, and each has read this Agreement, as signified
by their respective signatures hereto, and each is voluntarily executing the
same after, if sought, advice of counsel for the purposes and consideration
herein expressed.

 

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

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

TransCoastal Corporation, a Delaware corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By: _/s/Stuart Hagler___________________________     Date: January 1, 2014

 

Name: Stuart Hagler___________________________

 

Title: Director and Chief Executive Officer_________

 

 

 

By: _/s/W.A. Westmoreland________ _____________     Date: January 1, 2014

 

Name: Andy Westmoreland______________________

 

Title: Director and President – Operations___________

 

 

 

By: _/s/David May ___________________________      Date: January 1, 2014

 

Name: David May_____________________________

 

Title: Director and President – Acquisitions_________

 

 
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OFFICER: 

 

 

By: _/s/Derrick May ___________________________      Date: January 1, 2014

 

Name: Derrick May____________________________

 

Title: Officer and Controller and Corporate Secretary__

 

 

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