Exhibit 10.3

 

CONSULTING AGREEMENT

 

This Consulting Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 1, 2013 is
entered into by and between Pyramid Oil Company, a California corporation (the
“Company”), and John H. Alexander.

 

WHEREAS, the Consultant resigned, as of the end of business on the date hereof,
from all positions he held with the Company, including his positions as an
officer and director of the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the Consultant and the Consultant desires
to serve the Company on a part-time basis to assist in the transition to new
management upon the terms and provisions set forth herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises set forth herein, the
Company and the Consultant hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                  Consulting Relationship. Beginning as of the date of this
Agreement and continuing through September 30, 2014, the Consultant shall be
available to provide to the Company, on a part-time basis, but in no event
greater than 5 hours per week, the following consulting services (the
“Services”): (i) managing transactional matters; (ii) advising with respect to
the development or disposition of the Company’s assets and properties; and (iii)
any other consulting services as the Company shall determine. The Services shall
be rendered by Consultant primarily in Bakersfield, California.

 

2.                  Fees. In consideration of the Services to be rendered
hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Consultant $10,000 per month through
September 30, 2014, payable $5,000 on the 10th day of each month and $5,000 on
the 25th of each month, in accordance with the Company’s payroll practices.

 

3.                  Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Consultant within
30 days following receipt of appropriate documentation for necessary and
reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses incurred by the Consultant in the
performance of the Services; provided, however, that the Consultant shall not be
authorized to incur on behalf of the Company any expenses in excess of $1,000
without the prior consent of the Company.

 

4.                  Term and Termination. The Consultant shall serve as a
consultant to the Company and shall render the Services to the Company for a
period commencing on October 1, 2013 and terminating September 30, 2014, unless
earlier terminated by either party hereto as set forth in this Section 4. This
Agreement and the Consultant’s rights and obligations hereunder shall, under any
of the following circumstances, terminate in advance of the time specified in
this Section 4, and the Consultant shall have the right to receive only his Fees
that shall be accrued hereunder through the effective date of such termination
and shall have no right to receive any further compensation hereunder from and
after the time of such termination:

 

 

 

 

(a)             Death. This Agreement and the Consultant’s duties hereunder
shall terminate immediately upon the Consultant’s death.

 

(b)            Termination by the Company. In the event that the Consultant
shall become either physically or mentally incapacitated so as to be incapable
of performing his duties as required hereunder, and if such incapacity shall
continue for a period of 30 consecutive days, the Company may, at its option,
terminate this Agreement and the Consultant’s duties hereunder by written notice
to the Consultant at that time or at any time thereafter while such incapacity
continues. The Company may terminate this Agreement for Cause (as hereinafter
defined) at any time upon written notice to the Consultant. “Cause” as used in
this Agreement means that (i) the Consultant has materially breached any of the
material terms or conditions of this Agreement, or (ii) the Consultant has been
charged with a felony or with any intentionally fraudulent act that materially
damages the business or reputation of the Company.

 

(c)             Termination by the Consultant. The Consultant may terminate this
Agreement at any time upon written notice to the Company if the Company shall
have materially breached any of the provisions of this Agreement. In the event
that this Agreement is terminated by the Company for any reason other than as
described in (a) or (b) above, the Company shall pay to the Consultant all
remaining amounts owed to the Consultant under the full term of this Agreement
in one lump sum payment within thirty days of such termination.

 

5.                  Independent Contractor. The Consultant’s relationship with
the Company shall be that of an independent contractor and not that of an
employee of the Company.

 

(a)             No Authority to Bind Company. Neither the Consultant, nor any
partner, agent or employee of the Consultant, has authority to enter into
contracts that bind the Company or create obligations on the part of the Company
without the prior written authorization of the Company.

 

(b)            No Benefits. The Consultant acknowledges and agrees that the
Consultant will not be eligible for any Company employee benefits and, to the
extent the Consultant otherwise would be eligible for any Company employee
benefits but for the express terms of this Agreement, the Consultant hereby
expressly declines to participate in such Company employee benefits.

 

(c)             Withholding; Indemnification. The Consultant shall have full
responsibility for applicable withholding taxes for all compensation paid to the
Consultant under this Agreement, and for compliance with all applicable labor
and employment requirements with respect to the Consultant’s self-employment,
sole proprietorship or other form of business organization. The Consultant
agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Company harmless from any liability
for, or assessment of, any claims or penalties with respect to such withholding
taxes, labor or employment requirements, including any liability for, or
assessment of, withholding taxes imposed on the Company by the relevant taxing
authorities with respect to any compensation paid to the Consultant.

 

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6.                  Proprietary Rights. All work performed and all materials
developed or prepared for the Company by the Consultant in rendering the
Services are the property of the Company and all title and interest therein
shall vest in the Company and shall be deemed to be works made for hire and made
in the course of the services rendered hereunder. To the extent that title to
any such works may not, by operation of law, vest in the Company or such works
may not be considered works made for hire, all rights, title and interest
therein are hereby irrevocably assigned to the Company. The Consultant agrees to
give the Company and any person designated by the Company such reasonable
assistance, at the Company’s expense, as is required to perfect the rights
defined in this Section 6.

 

7.                  Indemnification. The Consultant agrees to indemnify and hold
the Company harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, causes of
action, losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses, including attorneys'
fees and costs, arising from a breach of any of the Consultant’s representations
and warranties herein or attributable to or resulting from the Consultant's
gross negligence or willful misconduct in rendering the Services to the Company.
The Consultant warrants and represents that the Consultant has full power and
authority to enter into and perform this Agreement. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold the Consultant harmless from and against any and all claims,
demands, causes of action, losses, damages, liability, costs and expenses,
including attorneys' fees and costs, arising out of the Consultant's Services
hereunder, other than those arising from the Consultant's breach of any of his
representations and warranties hereunder or the Consultant's gross negligence or
willful misconduct.

 

8.                  Miscellaneous.

 

(a)             Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be
amended or waived only with the written consent of the parties.

 

(b)            Sole Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the sole agreement of
the parties and supersedes all oral negotiations and prior writings with respect
to the subject matter hereof.

 

(c)             Notices. Any notice required or permitted by this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficient upon receipt, when delivered
personally or by courier, overnight delivery service or confirmed facsimile, 48
hours after being deposited in the regular mail as certified or registered mail
(airmail if sent internationally) with postage prepaid, if such notice is
addressed to the party to be notified at such party’s address or facsimile
number as set forth below, or as subsequently modified by written notice.

 

(d)            Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
California, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws.

 

(e)             Dispute Resolution. Any dispute arising out of or relating to
this Agreement shall be decided by binding arbitration by the American
Arbitration Association and shall be held in Bakersfield, California. The ruling
of the arbitrator shall be final and may be enforced by any party to such
arbitration in any court of competent jurisdiction located in Bakersfield,
California.

 

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(f)             Attorneys’ Fees; Law; Venue. If any legal proceeding or
litigation instituted by a party against the other arising out of this
Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable
attorney’s fees and costs as determined by the arbitrator, arbitrators, or
court, in addition to any judgment awarded. This Agreement is executed in Kern
County, California and California law shall govern as to the construction,
interpretation, and enforcement of this Agreement and the rights and obligations
of the parties to this Agreement; without reference to conflicts of law
principles. Proper venue for any legal proceeding, arbitration, or other
litigation arising out of this Agreement shall be in Bakersfield, California,
only, and the parties waive any right to a change of venue. The parties waive
their respective rights to a jury trial, it being the parties’ intent that the
dispute be heard by a judge only.

 

(g)            Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are
held to be unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to renegotiate
such provision in good faith. In the event that the parties cannot reach a
mutually agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then (i) such
provision shall be excluded from this Agreement, (ii) the balance of the
Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and (iii)
the balance of the Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

(h)            Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(i)              Effect on Successors in Interest; Assignment. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the heirs, administrators,
executors, and successors of each of the parties hereto. The services to be
rendered under this Agreement are personal to and may not be delegated by the
Consultant.

 

 

(Signatures on following page)

 

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The parties have executed this Agreement on the respective dates set forth
below.

 

 

PYRAMID OIL COMPANY

 

 

By: /s/ Michael Herman

Michael Herman, Chairman

 

Date: October 1, 2013

 

Address:

 

Pyramid Oil Company
P.O. Box 832

Bakersfield, CA 93302

 

 

 

 

JOHN H. ALEXANDER

 

 

By: /s/ John H. Alexander
John H. Alexander

 

Date: October 1, 2013

 

Address:

Pryamid Oil Company

P.O. Box 832
Bakersfield, CA 93302

 

 

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