Document:

exv10w2

 

EXHIBIT 10.2

Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.

435 Devon Park Drive, 800 Building

Wayne, PA 19087

(610) 293-0600

August 20, 2007

Mr. Brian J. Sisko

230 Oakwood Lane

Phoenixville PA 19460

Dear Brian:

Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (“Safeguard”) is pleased to offer you a position as Senior
Vice-President and General Counsel at Safeguard, located at Safeguard’s principal executive offices
on terms and conditions described below (the “Agreement”). I understand that you will assume this
position on or about August 20, 2007 (the actual date your employment commences is herein referred
to as the “Commencement Date”).

Salary and Cash Incentives. The annual salary associated with this position is $340,000.
As a matter of maintaining competitive employment terms, salaries are reviewed annually against
internal and external peer groups, and individual performance, and, if appropriate, adjusted
upwards.

You will also be eligible to participate in the Safeguard annual management incentive program
(MIP), at a target payout of $250,000. The overall MIP goals are determined at the beginning of
each year, and approved for payment annually, after the year-end audited results, by the
Compensation Committee of the Board. Your individual actual payout amount will be determined by
performance to individual objectives, and by the overall performance of Safeguard. You will
participate in the MIP commencing with 2007, pro rated from the Commencement Date, but with a
minimum payment guaranteed at 100% of the pro rated target amount for 2007 only. This guaranteed
amount ($91,096, assuming an August 20, 2007 Commencement Date) will be payable on the next regular
payroll date following the Commencement Date. You will apply the net after-tax proceeds of this
guaranteed bonus amount, determined based on your reasonable estimate of the amount of federal,
state and local income and employment taxes payable with respect to the guaranteed bonus, to
purchase the Company’s Common Stock in one or more market transactions to be completed promptly
after the Commencement Date, subject to and in compliance with any applicable law, regulations or
policy, including, but not limited to, the Company’s insider trading policies and procedures.

 

 

Option Grant. Subject to Compensation Committee approval, you will be granted options to
purchase 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock of Safeguard pursuant to an award qualified as an
employment inducement award for purposes of the New York Stock Exchange listing requirements. Your
initial option grant will be divided into two categories: 25% (or 250,000 options) will vest on a
“time” basis (the “time-based” options) and the remaining 75% (or 750,000 options) will vest based
on a performance basis (the “market-based” options). The options will be granted on the later of
the Commencement Date or the date of the Compensation Committee approval (the “Grant Date”). With
respect to the 250,000 time-based options, 25% will vest on the first anniversary of the Grant Date
and the remaining 75% will vest in equal monthly installments during the three-year period
commencing on the first anniversary of the Grant Date. The 750,000 market-based options will vest
based on achievement by Safeguard of sustained improvement in its market capitalization (as will be
more fully described in the option agreement). The option will have an exercise price equal to the
mean of the high and low sales prices of Safeguard common stock on the Grant Date and will expire
on the eighth anniversary of the Grant Date (subject to earlier termination in accordance with the
option certificate). In general, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or in the option
agreement, your unvested stock options will be forfeited if you do not continue in active service
to the Company through the applicable vesting date.

You will be eligible for additional grants from time to time as the compensation committee approves
additional grants.

Fringe Benefits. You will also be eligible to participate in Safeguard’s health, dental,
vision, disability, 401(k), deferred compensation program, and other benefit plans generally
available to Safeguard executive employees from time to time. In addition, so long as you are an
employee and Safeguard offers these benefits generally to other principals or executives, you will
be paid a car allowance at the rate of $10,000 per annum (pro rated from the Commencement Date);
you will receive a non-accountable annual expense allowance of $8,000 per annum (payable in
February of each year, and commencing for you in February 2008); you will be entitled to
participate in the Company’s executive medical plan as in effect from time to time; and, subject to
evidence of insurability, you will be entitled to Company-paid universal life insurance providing
coverage of $750,000 in addition to the Company’s normal group life insurance plans offered to
employees generally. You will also be entitled to vacation at the annual rate of four weeks of
vacation per year, and other benefits as outlined on the enclosed description of Safeguard
benefits.

Severance. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, in the event that (A) your
employment with Safeguard is terminated by Safeguard without cause or by you for good reason within
eighteen (18) months following a change of control of Safeguard (“Change of Control Termination”)
or (B) your employment with Safeguard terminates for any reason other than (i) your death or
disability, (ii) Safeguard’s termination of your employment for cause or (iii) your resignation
without good reason (such a termination, a “Severance Termination”), Safeguard shall provide you
with the following benefits, which together with any benefits provided under the

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applicable terms of any other plan or program sponsored by the Safeguard (other
than any plan, program or arrangement intended to pay severance benefits following termination of
employment), and applicable to you, shall be the only severance benefits or other payments in
respect of your employment with Safeguard to which you shall be entitled. The benefits you receive
under this Agreement will be in lieu of all salary, accrued vacation and other rights that you may
have against Safeguard or its affiliates.

	 	•	 	Beginning with fiscal year 2008, you will receive a payment in respect
of your current year’s bonus equal to the product of (i) your annual
target bonus (of at least $250,000), multiplied by (ii) Safeguard’s
percentage achievement of its annual Management Incentive Plan
objectives as determined by the Compensation Committee as of the end
of the calendar quarter closest to your date of termination,
multiplied by (iii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
of days in Safeguard’s fiscal year elapsed at the time of the
termination and the denominator of which is 365. Payment under this
provision will be made within a reasonable period of time after the
end of the quarter for which the determination in (ii) is made.
	 
	 	•	 	If (A) there is a Change of Control Termination or (B) a Severance
Termination, you will receive a lump sum payment equal to the product
of (i) 1.5 multiplied by (ii) your annual salary then in effect (which
will not be less than $340,000).
	 
	 	•	 	Except as provided below, you will only vest in your interests under
and you will receive benefits in accordance with the terms and
conditions set forth in Safeguard’s various long-term incentive plans.
	 
	 	•	 	You will receive up to twelve (12) months continued coverage under
Safeguard’s medical and health plans and life insurance plans, which
coverage shall run concurrent with the coverage provided under section
4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”);
or as an alternative, at the discretion of the Board, the Board may
elect to pay you in lieu of such coverage an amount equal to your cost
of continuing such comparable coverage. You should consult with
Safeguard’s payroll staff concerning any life insurance policies.
	 
	 	•	 	On or before the end of the second calendar year beginning after your
termination of employment, Safeguard will reimburse you for up to
$20,000 for documented outplacement services or office space which you
secure within such time period.
	 
	 	•	 	You will be reimbursed promptly for all your reasonable and necessary
business expenses incurred on behalf of Safeguard prior to your
termination date in accordance with Safeguard’s customary policies.
	 
	 	•	 	If you experience a Change of Control Termination as described above,
(A) you will become fully vested in all of your outstanding stock
options and you may exercise (i) those stock options that were subject
to time-based vesting during the thirty-six (36) month period
following your termination of employment (unless any of the options
would by their

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terms expire sooner, in which case you may exercise
such options at any time before their expiration), and (ii) those
stock options that were subject to market-based vesting during the
twenty-four (24) month period following your termination of employment
(unless any of the options would by their terms expire sooner, in
which case you may exercise such options at any time before their
expiration), and (B) you will become fully vested in all of your
outstanding restricted stock awards and deferred stock units, if any.

	 	•	 	If you experience a Severance Termination as described above, (A) you
will become fully vested in your outstanding time-based stock options
that were subject to time-based vesting and you may exercise those
stock options during the thirty-six (36)-month period following your
termination of employment (unless any of the options would by their
terms expire sooner, in which case you may exercise such options at
any time before their expiration), (B) you may exercise your vested
outstanding market-based options during the twelve (12) month period
following your termination of employment (unless any of the options
would by their terms expire sooner, in which case you may exercise
such options at any time before their expiration), and (C) the Board,
in its discretion, may accelerate the vesting of any restricted stock
grants and deferred stock units, if any.

All compensation and benefits described in this Agreement will be offered in return for and
contingent on your execution, non-revocation and performance of the General Release and Agreement
substantially in the form attached to this letter agreement as Exhibit A and the
Non-Competition Agreement in the form attached to this letter agreement as Exhibit B.

Upon your termination of employment with Safeguard in connection with a change of control, as
discussed above, if it is determined that any payment or distribution by Safeguard of benefits
provided under this Agreement or any other benefits due upon a change of control (the “Change of
Control Benefits”) would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of section
280G of the Code that would be subject to an excise tax under section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise
Tax”) the following provisions shall apply, unless provided otherwise in the applicable plan,
program or agreement that provides change of control payments that are not paid pursuant to this
Agreement. If the aggregate present value to you of receiving the Change of Control Benefits and
paying the Excise Tax is not greater than the aggregate present value to you of the Change of
Control Benefits reduced to the safe harbor amount (as defined below), then Safeguard shall reduce
the Change of Control Benefits such that the aggregate present value to you of receiving the Change
of Control Benefits is equal to the safe harbor amount. Otherwise you shall receive the full
amount of the Change of Control Benefits and you shall be responsible for payment of the Excise
Tax. For purposes of this paragraph “present value” shall be determined in accordance with Section
280G(d)(4) of the Code and the term “safe harbor amount” shall mean an amount expressed in the
present value that maximizes the aggregate present value of the Change of Control Benefits without
causing any of the Change of Control Benefits to be subject to the deduction limitations set forth
in Section 280G of the Code.

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All determinations made pursuant to the foregoing paragraph shall be made by a professional advisor
selected by Safeguard (the “Professional Advisor”), which firm shall provide its determinations and
any supporting calculations both to Safeguard and to you within ten days of the termination date.
Any such determination by the Professional Advisor shall be binding upon you and Safeguard. You
shall then, in your sole discretion, determine which and how much of the Change of Control Benefits
shall be eliminated or reduced consistent with the requirements of the foregoing paragraph. All of
the fees and expenses of the Professional Advisor in performing the determinations referred to
above shall be borne solely by Safeguard.

Except as provided in the next succeeding paragraph of this Agreement, Safeguard will pay you the
lump sum payments described above on the next regularly scheduled payroll date after your
rescission period relating to the release and non-competition agreement and such agreements have
become effective and following any determination required by the preceding paragraph. Safeguard
will prepare the final release (which will be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A to
this letter, but with such changes, if any, as recommended by Safeguard’s counsel) within five
business days of your termination of employment. You will have 21 days in which to consider the
release although you may execute it sooner. Please note that the release has a rescission period
of seven days after which it becomes effective if not revoked. All other payments will be made to
you on the next regularly scheduled payroll date after the date on which they become due.

To the extent compliance with the requirements of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(i)(2) (or any successor
provision) is necessary to avoid the application of an additional tax under section 409A of the
Code to payments due to you upon or following your separation from service, then notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement (or any otherwise applicable plan, policy, agreement or
arrangement), any such payments that are otherwise due within six months following your separation
from service will be deferred (without interest) and paid to you (without interest) in a lump sum
as promptly as possible following the lapse of that six-month period.

Except with respect to amounts subject to delayed payment because of the application of section
409A of the Code (as described in the immediately preceding paragraph), Safeguard will pay interest
on late payments at the prime rate at Safeguard’s agent bank plus 2 percent compounded monthly. In
addition, Safeguard will pay all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s
fees and all costs of arbitration) incurred by you to enforce this Agreement or any obligation
hereunder.

In this letter, the term “cause” means (a) your failure to adhere to any written Safeguard policy
if you have been given a reasonable opportunity to comply with such policy or cure your failure to
comply (which reasonable opportunity must be granted during the ten-day period preceding
termination of this Agreement); (b) your appropriation (or attempted appropriation) of a material
business opportunity of Safeguard, including attempting to secure or securing any personal profit

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in connection with any transaction entered into on behalf of Safeguard; (c) your misappropriation
(or attempted misappropriation) of any Safeguard fund or property; or (d) your conviction of, or
your entering a guilty plea or plea of no contest with respect to, a felony, the equivalent
thereof, or any other crime with respect to which imprisonment is a possible punishment.

In this letter, the term “good reason” means (i) your assignment (without your consent) to a
position, title, responsibilities, or duties of a materially lesser status or degree of
responsibility than your current position, responsibilities, or duties; provided, however, that a
mere change in your area of responsibilities shall not constitute a material change if you are
reasonably suited by your education and training for such responsibilities and you remain Senior
Vice-President and General Counsel of Safeguard; (ii) a reduction of your base salary or target
bonus opportunity (acknowledging that the payment of any bonus is subject to the discretion of the
Compensation Committee of the Board); (iii) the relocation of Safeguard’s principal executive
offices to a location which is more than 30 miles away from the location of Safeguard’s principal
executive offices on the date of this Agreement; or (iv) Safeguard’s material breach of this
agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, good reason shall not exist if (i) you fail to provide
notice to Safeguard of your intended resignation for “good reason” within 90 days of the initial
existence of such condition, (ii) Safeguard cures such action or failure to act that constitutes
good reason within a reasonable period of time (which reasonable period of time shall not be longer
than 30 days) following the date you provide Safeguard with notice of your intended resignation for
good reason or (iii) your separation from service is not effective on or before 90th day following
the lapse of the cure period referenced in (ii).

A “change of control” shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any “person” or “group” (as such
terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the “Exchange Act”)), other than any Safeguard employee stock ownership plan or an equivalent
retirement plan, becomes the beneficial owner (as such term is used in Section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of Safeguard representing 50% or more of the
combined voting power of Safeguard’s then outstanding voting securities, (ii) the Board ceases to
consist of a majority of Continuing Directors (as defined below), (iii) the consummation of a sale
of all or substantially all of Safeguard’s assets or a liquidation (as measured by the fair value
of the assets being sold compared to the fair value of all of Safeguard’s assets), or (iv) a merger
or other combination occurs such that a majority of the equity securities of the resultant entity
after the transaction are not owned by those who owned a majority of the equity securities of
Safeguard prior to the transaction. A “Continuing Director” shall mean a member of the Board who
either (i) is a member of the Board at the date of this Agreement or (ii) is nominated or appointed
to serve as a Director by a majority of the then Continuing Directors.

Terms of Employment, Agreements, Miscellaneous. You will be an employee-at-will and
subject to the arrangements described in Safeguard’s employee handbook as modified from time to
time. In addition, this offer is subject to your agreement to comply with various covenants
designed to protect Safeguard’s confidential information and employee, customer and other
relationships, as set forth in the Non-Competition Agreement, in the form attached to this letter

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agreement as Exhibit B.  We will need to receive a signed copy of that agreement prior to
your Commencement Date.

We agree that you may continue to serve as a an adjunct professor at the Temple University Fox
School of Business and Management, and as a member of the Board of Overseers of the Annenberg
Center for Performing Arts so long as such service does not interfere with the performance of your
duties to Safeguard and that the activities of these organizations do not compete with the
activities of Safeguard or our subsidiaries, partner companies or affiliates. You shall not serve
as a director of any other company that is not affiliated with Safeguard without the consent of our
Board of Directors.

The provisions set forth in this Agreement will inure to the benefit of your personal
representative, executors and heirs. In the event you die while any amount payable under the
Agreement remains unpaid, all such amounts will be paid in accordance with the terms and conditions
of this letter.

No term or condition set forth in this letter may be modified, waived or discharged unless such
waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by you and the Board of
Safeguard or a duly authorized officer of Safeguard.

You will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this letter by
seeking other employment or otherwise.

You acknowledge that the arrangements described in this Agreement will be the only obligations of
Safeguard or its affiliates in connection with any determination by Safeguard to terminate your
employment with Safeguard. This Agreement does not terminate, alter or affect your rights under
any plan or program of Safeguard in which you may participate or under which you are due a benefit,
except as explicitly set forth herein. Your participation in such plans or programs will be
governed by the terms of such plans and programs.

The provisions set forth in this Agreement will be construed and enforced in accordance with the
law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without regard to the conflicts of laws rules of any state.

Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, will
be settled by arbitration in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in accordance with the National Rules for
the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association, using one
arbitrator, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of
competent jurisdiction.

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The obligations of Safeguard set forth herein are absolute and unconditional and will not be
subject to any right of set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which Safeguard
may have against you, subject to, in the event of your termination of employment, your execution
and performance of the General Release and Agreement substantially in the form attached to this
letter agreement as Exhibit A and your performance of the Non-Competition Agreement in the
form attached to this letter agreement as Exhibit B.

Safeguard may withhold applicable taxes and other legally required deductions from all payments to
be made hereunder.

Safeguard’s obligations to make payments under this letter are unfunded and unsecured and will be
paid out of the general assets of Safeguard.

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding with respect to your severance
arrangements, and supersedes any and all prior agreements and understandings whether oral or
written, relating thereto.

If this letter sets forth our agreement on the subject matter hereof, kindly sign and return to us
the enclosed copy of this letter which will then constitute our legally binding agreement.

Sincerely,

Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.

	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Peter J. Boni
 

    Peter J. Boni
	 	 
	 

	 	    President and Chief Executive Officer	 	 

I agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this letter agreement.

	 	 	 
	/s/ Brian J. Sisko
 

Brian J. Sisko

	 	 

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EXHIBIT A

GENERAL RELEASE AND AGREEMENT

     This GENERAL RELEASE AND AGREEMENT (hereinafter the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as
of this ___day of                     , 20___, by and between Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (“Safeguard”) and
Brian J. Sisko (“Employee”).

     1. Background. The parties hereto acknowledge that this Agreement is being entered
into pursuant to the terms of the employment letter agreement, dated August 20, 2007 between
Safeguard and Employee (the “Employment Agreement”). As used in this Agreement, any reference to
Safeguard shall include its predecessors and successors and, in their capacities as such, all of
its present, past, and future directors, officers, employees, attorneys, insurers, agents and
assigns; and any reference to Employee shall include, in their capacities as such, his attorneys,
heirs, administrators, representatives, agents and assigns.

     2. General Release.

          (a) Employee, for and in consideration of the special benefits offered to him by Safeguard
specified in the Employment Agreement and intending to be legally bound, does hereby REMISE,
RELEASE AND FOREVER DISCHARGE Safeguard, of and from any and all waivable causes of actions, suits,
debts, claims and demands whatsoever in law or in equity, which Employee ever had, now has, or
hereafter may have or which Employee’s heirs, executors or administrators may have, by reason of
any matter, cause or thing whatsoever, from the beginning of Employee’s employment with Safeguard
to the date of this Agreement, and particularly, but without limitation, any claims arising from or
relating in any way to Employee’s employment or the termination of Employee’s employment
relationship with Safeguard, including, but not limited to, any claims arising under any federal,
state, or local laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42
U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., (“Title VII”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C.
§ 621 et seq. (the “ADEA”), the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et
seq. (“ADA”), Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended 29 U.S.C. § 301,
et seq., as amended (“ERISA”), the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law, Pa. Stat.
Ann. tit. 43 §§ 260.1-260.11a (“WPCL”), the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, 43 P.S. § 951 et
seq. (the “PHRA”), and any and all other federal, state or local laws, regulations, ordinances
or public policies and any common law claims now or hereafter recognized, including claims for
wrongful discharge, slander and defamation, as well as all claims for counsel fees and
costs; provided, however, that the Employee does not release or discharge Safeguard from
any of its continuing obligations to him expressly set forth in this Agreement and the
Employment Agreement.

     (b) By signing this Agreement, Employee represents that Employee has not commenced any
proceeding against Safeguard in any forum (administrative or judicial) concerning Employee’s
employment or the termination thereof. If Employee’s employment with Safeguard has been
terminated on or before the date of this Agreement, Employee further acknowledges that Employee was
given sufficient notice under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (the “WARN
Act”) and that the termination of Employee’s employment

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does not give rise to any claim or right to notice, or pay or benefits in lieu of
notice under the WARN Act. In the event any WARN Act issue does exist or arises in the future,
Employee agrees and acknowledges that the payments and benefits set forth in this Agreement shall
be applied to any compensation or benefits in lieu of notice required by the WARN Act, provided
that any such offset shall not impair or affect the validity of any provision of this Agreement or
the Employment Agreement.

     (c) Employee agrees that in the event of a breach of any of the terms of this Agreement,
Safeguard shall be entitled to recover attorneys’ fees and costs in an action to prosecute such
breach, in addition to compensatory damages, and may cease to make any payments then due under this
Agreement or the Employment Agreement.

     (d) Employee acknowledges that Safeguard’s obligations under the Employment Agreement and this
Agreement are the only obligations of Safeguard or its parent organizations or affiliates in
connection with the matters described herein and therein.

     (e) Employee agrees and acknowledges that this Agreement is not and shall not be construed to
be an admission by Safeguard of any violation of any federal, state or local statue, ordinance or
regulation or of any duty owed by Safeguard to Employee.

     4. Confidentiality; Non-Disparagement.

     (a) Except to the extent required by law, including SEC disclosure requirements, Safeguard and
Employee agree that the terms of this Agreement will be kept confidential by both parties, except
that Employee may advise his family and confidential advisors, and Safeguard may advise those
people needing to know to implement the above terms.

     (b) Employee acknowledges and agrees that he is bound by the confidentiality provisions of the
Employment Agreement and that such terms remain in full force and effect.

     (c) Employee represents that Employee has not taken, used or knowingly permitted to be used
any notes, memorandum, reports, list, records, drawings, sketches, specifications, software
programs, data, documentation or other materials of any nature relating to any matter within the
scope of the business of Safeguard or its affiliated or parent companies or concerning any of its
dealings or affairs otherwise than for the benefit of Safeguard. Employee shall not, after the
termination of Employee’s employment, use or knowingly permit to be used any such notes, memoranda,
reports, lists, records, drawings, sketches, specifications, software programs, data, documentation
or other materials, it being agreed that all of the foregoing shall be and remain the sole and
exclusive property of Safeguard and that immediately upon the termination of Employee’s employment,
Employee shall deliver all of the foregoing, and all copies thereof, to Safeguard, at its main
office.

     (d) In accordance with normal ethical and professional standards, Safeguard and Employee agree
that they shall not in any way engage in any conduct or make any statement that would defame or
disparage the other, or make to, or solicit for, the media or others, any comments, statements
(whether written or oral), and the like that may be considered to be derogatory or detrimental to
the good name or business reputation of either party.  It is

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understood and agreed that Safeguard’s obligation under this paragraph extends only to the
conduct of Safeguard’s executive officers.  The only exception to the foregoing shall be in those
circumstances in which Employee or Safeguard is obligated to provide information in response to an
investigation by a duly authorized governmental entity or in connection with legal proceedings.

     5. Indemnity and Assistance.

     (a) This Agreement shall not release Safeguard, or any of its insurance carriers from any
obligation it or they might otherwise have to defend and/or indemnify Employee and hold harmless
any other director or officer and Safeguard hereby affirms its obligation to provide
indemnification to Employee as a director, officer or former director or officer of Safeguard, as
the case may be, as set forth in Safeguard’s bylaws and charter documents.

     (b) Employee agrees that Employee will personally provide reasonable assistance and
cooperation to Safeguard in activities related to the prosecution or defense of any pending or
future lawsuits or claims involving Safeguard.

     6. General.

     (a) Employee acknowledges and agrees that he has 21 days to consider this Agreement, and that
Employee has been advised by Safeguard, in writing, to consult with his attorney before signing
this Agreement, and that Employee had discussed this matter with his attorney before signing it.
Employee further acknowledges that Safeguard has advised him that he may revoke this Agreement for
a period of seven calendar days after it has been executed, with the understanding that Safeguard
has no obligations under this Agreement until the seven day period has passed. If the seventh day
is a weekend or national holiday, Employee will have until the next business day to revoke. Any
revocation must be in writing and received by Safeguard at its facility located at 435 Devon Park
Drive, 800 Building, Wayne, PA 19087, Attention: President, with a copy to the General Counsel,
Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., 800 Building, 435 Devon Park Drive, Wayne, PA 19087.

     (b) Employee has carefully read and fully understands all of the provisions of this Agreement
which set forth the entire agreement between him and Safeguard with respect to the subject matter
hereto, and he acknowledges that he has not relied upon any representation or statement, written or
oral, not set forth in this document.

     (c) This Agreement is made in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and shall be interpreted under
the laws thereof. Its language shall be construed as a whole, to give effect to its fair meaning
and to preserve its enforceability.

     (d) Employee agrees that any breach of this Agreement by Employee will cause irreparable
damage to Safeguard and that in the event of such breach Safeguard shall have, in addition to any
and all remedies of law, the right to an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief
to prevent the violation of Employee’s obligations hereunder.

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     (e) No term or condition set forth in this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by Employee and an
officer of Safeguard specifically and duly authorized by the Board of Directors of Safeguard.

     (f) Any waiver by Safeguard of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate
or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach of such provision or any other provision
hereof.

     (g) Each covenant, paragraph and division of this Agreement is intended to be severable and
distinct, and if any paragraph, subparagraph, provision or term of this Agreement is deemed to be
unlawful or unenforceable, such a determination will not impair the legitimacy or enforceability of
any other aspect of the Agreement.

     (h) This Agreement is intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by,
Safeguard. Except as provided in the prior sentence, this Agreement is not intended to confer any
rights, benefits, remedies, obligations or liabilities hereunder upon any person or entity other
than the parties hereto and their respective heirs, representatives, successors and permitted
assigns.

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

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Date:                    , 20___
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Brian J. Sisko	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Date:                    , 20___

	 	 	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name:
	 
	 

	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:	 	 	 	 

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EXHIBIT B

NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT

       This NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT (hereinafter the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of
this 20th day of August, 2007, by and between SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS,INC. (the “Company”) and Brian
J. Sisko (“Employee”).

     1. Background.  The parties hereto acknowledge that this Agreement is being entered
into pursuant to the terms of the Letter Agreement, dated August 20, 2007 between the Company and
Employee (the “Letter Agreement”).  As used in this Agreement, any reference to “Majority
Subsidiary” shall mean any person or entity that has a majority of its outstanding voting
securities owned directly or indirectly by the Company; and “Partner Company” shall mean any person
or entity in or with respect to which the Company has made, or is actively considering making, an
equity or debt investment or acquisition.

     2. Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure. 

     (a) I will not reveal to any person or entity any of the trade secrets or confidential
information of the Company or of any Partner Company (including, but not limited to, the identity
of any Partner Company, and trade secrets or confidential information respecting inventions,
products, designs, methods, know-how, techniques, systems, processes, software programs, works of
authorship, customer lists, employee lists, customer lists, projects, plans and proposals) and I
shall keep secret all matters entrusted to me and shall not use or attempt to use any such
information in any manner which may injure or cause loss or may be calculated to injure or cause
loss, whether directly or indirectly, to the Company.  The above restrictions shall not apply to:
(i) information that at the time of disclosure is in the public domain through no fault of mine;
(ii) information received from a third party outside of the Company that was disclosed without a
breach of any confidentiality obligation; (iii) information approved for release by written
authorization of the Company; or (iv) information that may be required by law or an order of any
court, agency or proceeding to be disclosed; provided, I shall provide the Company notice of any
such required disclosure once I have knowledge of it and will help the Company to the extent
reasonable to obtain an appropriate protective order.

     (b) Upon termination of my employment, I shall not take, use or permit to be used any notes,
memoranda, reports, lists, records, drawings, sketches, specifications, software programs, data,
documentation or other materials of any nature relating to any matter within the scope of the
business of the Company or any Partner Company concerning any of its dealings or affairs, it being
agreed that all of the foregoing shall be and remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company
or the Partner Company, as appropriate, and that immediately upon the termination of my employment
I shall deliver all of the foregoing, and all copies thereof, to the Company, at its main office.

     3. Ownership of Inventions and Ideas.  I acknowledge that the Company shall be the
sole owner of all patents, patent applications, patent rights, formulas, copyrights, inventions,
developments, discoveries, other improvements, data, documentation, drawings, charts, and other
written, audio and/or visual materials relating to equipment, methods, products, processes, or

B-1

 

programs in connection with or useful to the business of the Company or a Partner Company
(collectively, the “Developments”) which I, by myself or in conjunction with any other person,
conceived, made, acquired, acquired knowledge of, developed or created during the term of my
employment with the Company, free and clear of any claims by me (or any successor or assignee of
mine) of any kind or character whatsoever other than my rights under the Letter Agreement.  I
acknowledge that all copyrightable Developments shall be considered works made for hire under the
Federal Copyright Act.  I hereby assign and transfer my right, title and interest in and to all
such Developments, and agree that I shall, at the request of the Company, execute or cooperate with
the Company in any patent applications, execute such assignments, certificates or other
instruments, and do any and all other acts, as the Company from time to time reasonably deems
necessary or desirable to evidence, establish, maintain, perfect, protect, enforce or defend the
Company’s right, title and interest in or to any such Developments.

     4. Non-Compete.  Until the first anniversary of the date hereof (the “Restricted
Period”), I agree that I will not:

     (a) directly or indirectly solicit, entice or induce any customer of the Company or a Majority
Subsidiary to become a customer of any other person, firm or corporation with respect to products
and/or services then sold by the Company or to cease doing business with the Company, and I shall
not approach any such person, firm or corporation for such purpose or authorize or knowingly
approve the taking of such actions by any other person;

     (b) directly or indirectly solicit, recruit or hire any person who was an employee of the
Company or a Majority Subsidiary on the date of my termination of employment to work for a third
party other than the Company or such Majority Subsidiary or engage in any activity that would cause
any employee to violate any agreement with the Company or such Majority Subsidiary; provided that I
shall not be prohibited from soliciting any person who, at the time of solicitation, is no longer
employed by the Company or a Majority Subsidiary and who was not induced to leave employment in
violation of this sub-paragraph (b); or

     (c) whether alone or as a partner, officer, director, consultant, agent, employee or
stockholder of any company or other commercial enterprise, directly or indirectly engage in any
business or other activity which is competitive in the same service areas with the products or
services being manufactured, marketed, distributed, or provided by the Company or a Majority
Subsidiary at the time of termination of my employment (“Competitive Activities”).  The foregoing
prohibition shall not prevent (i) my ownership of securities of a public company not in excess of
five percent (5%) of any class of such securities, (ii) my employment or engagement by a company or
business organization which during the previous 12 months did not generate, or during the next 12
months does not seek to generate, more than 5% of its consolidated revenues from Competitive
Activities, provided that my responsibilities for such company or business organization do not
require me to engage in Competitive Activities or to violate sub-paragraphs (a) or (b) of this
Section, or (iii) my employment with or ownership in a traditional venture capital firm, so long
as, in the course of such employment or ownership, (x) I do not, directly or indirectly, solicit
for investment or acquisition on behalf of such firm any Majority Subsidiary or Partner Company at
the time of termination of my employment or provide any services to such firm with respect to any
such Majority Subsidiary or Partner Company, and (y) I do not violate

B-2

 

any of the requirements of confidentiality and non-disclosure set forth in paragraph 2 hereof
or the provisions of subparagraphs 4(a) or (b) above.

     5. Reasonable Restrictions.  I agree that any breach of this Agreement by me will
cause irreparable damage to the Company and that in the event of such breach the Company shall
have, in addition to any and all remedies of law, the right to an injunction, specific performance
or other equitable relief to prevent the violation of my obligations hereunder.  I hereby
acknowledge that the type and periods of restriction imposed in the provisions of this Agreement
are fair and reasonable and are reasonably required for the protection of the Company and the
goodwill associated with the business of the Company.  I represent that my experience and
capabilities are such that the restrictions contained herein will not prevent me from obtaining
employment or otherwise earning a living at the same general economic benefit as reasonably
required by me.  I further agree that each provision herein shall be treated as a separate and
independent clause, and the unenforceability of any one clause shall in no way impair the
enforceability of any of the other clauses herein.  Moreover, if one or more of the provisions
contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to scope,
activity or subject so as to be unenforceable at law, such provision or provisions shall be
construed by the appropriate judicial body by limiting and reducing it or them, so as to be
enforceable to the maximum extent compatible with the applicable law as it shall then appear.

     6. General.  Any waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement
shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach of such provision or any
other provision hereof.  No term or condition set forth in this letter may be modified, waived or
discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by me
and an officer of the Company authorized to sign such writing by the Board of Directors of
Safeguard.  My obligations under this Agreement shall survive the termination of my employment
regardless of the manner of such termination and shall be binding upon my heirs, executors,
administrators and legal representatives.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Any controversy or claim arising out
of or relating to this agreement, or the breach thereof (other than a request for equitable relief)
will be settled by arbitration in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in accordance with the National Rules
for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association, using one
arbitrator, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of
competent jurisdiction.

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

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Date:    August 20, 2007            
                                      

	 	             

             
	 	 

 
	 	     /s/ Brian J. Sisko
 

Brian J. Sisko
	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	                                      	 	             	 	 SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Date:     September 4, 2007
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	                                      

	 	             
	 	 By:
	 	/s/ Peter J. Boni
 

Title President & Chief Executive Officer
	 	 

B-3exv10w3

 

EXHIBIT 10.3

Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”), hereby grants to the
grantee named below (“Grantee”) an option (this “Option”) to purchase the total number of shares
shown below of Common Stock of the Company (the “Shares”) at the exercise price per share set forth
below, as an inducement to accept employment with the Company pursuant to that certain employment
agreement between the Company and Grantee dated August 20, 2007 (the “Employment Agreement”),
subject to all of the terms and conditions on the subsequent pages of this Stock Option Grant
Certificate. Although the grant is not made pursuant to the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan (the
“Plan”), except as otherwise provided herein, the grant shall be subject to the rules of the Plan
as if it were a grant made pursuant to the Plan. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized
terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan. The terms and conditions
set forth on subsequent pages hereto and the terms and conditions of the Plan are incorporated
herein by reference. This Stock Option Grant Certificate shall constitute the “Agreement” for this
Option as such term is used in the Plan.

	 	 	 
	Grant Date:

	 	August 20, 2007
	 
	 	 
	Type of Option:

	 	Nonqualified Option
	 
	 	 
	Shares Subject to Option:

	 	750,000
	 
	 	 
	Exercise Price Per Share:

	 	$2.106
	 
	 	 
	Term of Option:

	 	8 years

Shares subject to issuance under this
Option will vest solely as provided in Section 3 of this Stock Option Grant Certificate.

The Company shall have the right, without the consent of Grantee, to amend the terms of this Stock
Option Grant Certificate to the extent necessary or appropriate, as determined by the Company in
its sole discretion, to conform to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.

Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan, represents that Grantee has read
the Plan and understands the terms and provisions of the Plan, and accepts this Option as if it
were granted pursuant to the Plan and subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and this
Stock Option Grant Certificate, except as otherwise provided herein. Grantee acknowledges that the
grant and exercise of this Option, and the sale of Shares obtained through the exercise of this
Option, may have tax implications that could result in adverse tax consequences to the Grantee and
that Grantee is not relying on the Company for any tax, financial or legal advice and will consult
a tax adviser prior to such exercise or disposition.

This Option is
designated a
nonqualified stock
option. It is not
an incentive stock
option within the
meaning of Section
422 of the Internal
Revenue Code of
1986, as amended
(the “Code”).

In witness whereof, this Stock Option Grant
Certificate has been executed by the Company by a
duly authorized officer as of the date specified
hereon.

	 
	Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.

	 

	/s/ Peter J. Boni

	Peter J. Boni, President and Chief Executive Officer

	 

	/s/ Brian J. Sisko

	Brian J. Sisko

 

 

1. Option Expiration. The Option shall automatically terminate upon the happening of the
first of the following events:

     (a) the expiration of the 90-day period after the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or
providing services to, the Company, if the termination is for any reason other than involuntary
termination without Cause or voluntary termination with Good Reason, Disability, death, Cause, a
Change of Control Termination or retirement as provided herein;

     (b) the expiration of the one-year period after the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or
providing services to, the Company, on account of the Grantee’s involuntary termination without
Cause or voluntary termination with Good Reason (not including a Change of Control Termination);

     (c) the expiration of the one-year period after the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or
providing services to, the Company on account of the Grantee’s Disability;

     (d) the expiration of the one-year period after the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or
providing services to, the Company if the Grantee dies while employed by the Company or if the
Grantee dies within three months after the Grantee ceases to be so employed on account of a
termination described in subparagraph (a) above;

     (e) the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or providing services to, the
Company for Cause;

     (f) the expiration of the one-year period after the Grantee’s employment or service terminates
as a result of retirement on or after the Grantee’s sixty-fifth birthday, or after such earlier
date as may be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to be warranted given the
particular circumstances surrounding the earlier termination of the Grantee’s employment or
service; or

     (g) where there has been a Change of Control Termination, the two-year period after the
Grantee ceases to be employed by, or providing services to, the Company, on account of the Grantee
experiencing a Change of Control Termination.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may the Option be exercised after the expiration of
the Term of Option specified on page 1. For purposes of this Option, the terms “Cause,” “Good
Reason,” “Disability” and “Change of Control Termination” shall have the meaning given to them in
the Employment Agreement. Other than as set forth in this Agreement, any portion of the Option that
is not vested at the time the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or providing service to, the
Company shall immediately terminate.

     In the event a Grantee ceases to be employed by, or providing service to, the Company for
Cause, the Grantee shall automatically forfeit all shares underlying any exercised portion of an
Option for which the Company has not yet delivered the share certificates upon refund by the
Company of the exercise price paid by the Grantee for such shares.

2. Exercise Procedures.

     (a) Subject to the provisions of this Stock Option Grant Certificate and the Plan, the Grantee
may exercise part or all of the vested Option by giving the Company written notice of intent to
exercise in the manner provided in Paragraph 12 below, specifying the number of Shares as to which
the Option is to be exercised. On the delivery date, the Grantee shall pay the exercise price (i)
in cash, (ii) by delivering Shares of the Company (duly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by
stock powers signed in blank) which shall be valued at their fair market value on the date of
delivery, or (iii) by such other method as the Committee may approve, including payment through a
broker in accordance with procedures permitted by Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board. The
Committee may impose from time to time such limitations as it deems appropriate on the use of
Shares of the Company to exercise the Option.

     (b) The obligation of the Company to deliver Shares upon exercise of the Option shall be
subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations and such approvals by governmental agencies
as may be deemed appropriate by the Committee, including such actions as Company counsel shall deem
necessary or appropriate to comply with relevant securities laws and regulations. The Company may
require that the Grantee (or other person exercising the Option after the Grantee’s death)
represent that the Grantee is purchasing Shares for the Grantee’s own account and not with a view
to or for sale in connection with any distribution of the Shares, or such other representation as
the Board deems appropriate. All obligations of the Company under this Stock Option Grant
Certificate shall be subject to the rights of the Company as set forth in the Plan as if the grant
had been issued pursuant to the Plan, to withhold amounts required to be withheld for any taxes, if
applicable. Subject to Committee approval, the Grantee may elect to satisfy any income tax
withholding obligation of the Company with respect to the Option by having Shares withheld up to an
amount that does not exceed the minimum marginal tax rate for federal (including FICA), state and
local tax liabilities.

 

 

3. Vesting and Forfeiture of Unvested Options.

     (a) In the event of Grantee’s termination of employment for any reason, Grantee shall forfeit
all Options in which Grantee is not vested at the time of his or her cessation of service in
accordance with the Vesting Schedule set forth in Section 3(b) (hereinafter referred to as the
“Unvested Options”).

     (b) (1) Basic Vesting.

          If the Grantee remains actively employed by the Company through the applicable vesting events,
Grantee shall acquire a vested interest in, and the forfeiture provisions of this Section 3 shall
lapse, according to the following schedule:

          (i) 20% of the Options granted shall vest and become exercisable on the first date after the
Grant Date that the average Market Capitalization of the Company for the twenty (20) consecutive
trading days ending immediately prior to such date equals or exceeds $452,939,125, provided that
the total number of Options that shall have vested under this Section 3(b) as of such date shall
not exceed 20% of the Options granted.

          (ii) An additional 30% of the Options granted shall vest and become exercisable on the first
date after the Grant Date that the average Market Capitalization of the Company for the twenty (20)
consecutive trading days ending immediately prior to such date equals or exceeds $667,118,974,
provided that the total number of Options that shall have vested under this Section 3(b) as of such
date shall not exceed 50% of the Options granted.

          (iii) An additional 40% of the Options granted shall vest and become exercisable on the first
date after the Grant Date that the average Market Capitalization of the Company for the twenty (20)
consecutive trading days ending immediately prior to such date equals or exceeds $934,850,964,
provided that the total number of Options that shall have vested under this Section 3(b) as of such
date shall not exceed 90% of the Options granted.

          (iv) An additional 10% of the Options granted shall vest and become exercisable on the first
date after the Grant Date that the average Market Capitalization of the Company for the twenty (20)
consecutive trading days ending immediately prior to such date equals or exceeds $1,037,246,103
provided that the total number of Options that shall have vested under this Section 3(b) as of such
date shall not exceed 100% of the Options granted.

          (2) Additional Vesting for Partial Achievement of Performance Goals.

          The purpose of this Section 3(b)(2) is to provide a mechanism to allow the vesting of Options
under circumstances where Market Capitalization during a semi-annual period exceeds $302,361,417 or
one of the vesting thresholds in Section 3(b)(1)(i), (ii) or (iii) above, equal to the pro rated
portion of the additional Options that would vest and become exercisable upon the satisfaction of
the next higher vesting threshold that corresponds to the pro rated portion of the incremental
Market Capitalization performance target that is achieved during such semi-annual period.

          As of the last day of each six-month period during the term of the Option beginning on the
Grant Date and each half-year anniversary thereof during which the Grantee has been continuously
employed by the Company (the “Test Period”), the Company shall determine the highest average Market
Capitalization of the Company for any twenty (20) consecutive trading days within such Test Period
(the “Test Market Capitalization”). Based on the Test Market Capitalization, as of the last day of
the Test Period, additional Options shall vest as follows (in each case, rounded to the nearest
whole Option):

          (i) If the Test Market Capitalization is less than $302,361,417, no additional Options shall
vest and become exercisable.

          (ii) If the Test Market Capitalization is greater than $302,361,417, but less than
$452,939,125, an additional number of Options shall vest and become exercisable, determined as the
positive difference if any, of :

(A) the product of 20% of the Options granted times a fraction, the numerator of which is
the excess of the Test Market Capitalization over $302,361,417, and the denominator of
which is $150,577,708, minus

(B) the number of Options that have previously vested under this Section 3(b).

          (iii) If the Test Market Capitalization is greater than $452,939,125, but less than
$667,118,974, an additional number of Options shall vest and become exercisable, determined as the
positive difference, if any, of

 

 

(A) the sum of (I) 20% of the Options granted plus (II) the product of 30% of the Options
granted times a fraction, the numerator of which is the excess of the Test Market
Capitalization over $452,939,125, and the denominator of which is $214,179,849, minus

(B) the number of Options that have previously vested under this Section 3(b).

          (iv) If the Test Market Capitalization is greater than $667,118,974, but less than
$934,850,964, an additional number of Options shall vest and become exercisable, determined as the
positive difference, if any, of

(A) the sum of (I) 50% of the Options granted plus (II) the product of 40% of the Options
granted times a fraction, the numerator of which is the excess of the Test Market
Capitalization over $667,118,974, and the denominator of which is $267,731,990 minus

(B) the number of Options that have previously vested under this Section 3(b).

          (v) If the Test Market Capitalization is greater than $934,850,964, but less than
$1,037,246,103, an additional number of Options shall vest and become exercisable, determined as
the positive difference, if any, of

(A) the sum of (I) 90% of the Options granted plus (II) the product of 10% of the Options
granted times a fraction, the numerator of which is the excess of the Test Market
Capitalization over $934,850,964, and the denominator of which is $102,395,139 minus

(B) the number of Options that have previously vested under this Section 3(b).

          For purposes of this Section 3(b), “Market Capitalization” for a given date means (A) the per
share closing price of the Company’s common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as
reported on the composite tape for transactions on the New York Stock Exchange (or if the Company’s
common stock is not principally traded on such exchange, the per share closing price of the common
stock on the Nasdaq National Market, as reported on the composite tape for transactions on the
Nasdaq National Market, or if the Company’s common stock is not principally traded on such market,
the mean between the last reported “bid” and “asked” prices of common stock on the relevant date,
as reported on Nasdaq or, if not so reported, as reported by the National Daily Quotation Bureau,
Inc. or as reported in a customary financial reporting service, as applicable and as the Board
determines; if the Company’s common stock is not publicly traded or, if publicly traded, is not
subject to reported transactions or “bid” or “asked” quotations as set forth above, the price per
share shall be as determined by the Board in its sole and absolute discretion); multiplied by (B)
143,571,423 total outstanding shares. In the event of any changes in the number or kind of shares
of common stock outstanding by reason of a stock dividend, spinoff, recapitalization, stock split
or combination or exchange of shares the number of outstanding shares set forth in the preceding
sentence shall be adjusted appropriately to reflect such changes.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a “Change of Control Termination,” as such term
is defined in the Employment Agreement, the Grantee shall be deemed to be fully vested in any
Unvested Options.

4. Change of Control. The provisions of the Employment Agreement and this Stock Option
Grant Certificate relating to Change of Control and Change of Control Termination shall override
any provisions of the Plan relating to Change of Control.

5. Restrictions on Exercise. Only the Grantee may exercise the Option during the Grantee’s
lifetime. After the Grantee’s death, the Option shall be exercisable (subject to the limitations
specified in the Plan) solely by the legal representatives of the Grantee, or by the person who
acquires the right to exercise the Option by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, to
the extent that the Option is exercisable pursuant to this Stock Option Grant Certificate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may provide, at or after grant, that a Grantee may
transfer nonqualified stock options pursuant to a domestic relations order or to family members or
other persons or entities on such terms as the Committee may determine.

6. Grant Subject to Plan Provisions; Entire Agreement. This grant is made separate from
the Plan, as an inducement to Grantee to accept employment pursuant to the Employment Agreement.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except to the extent otherwise stated in this Stock Option
Grant Certificate or to the extent the context otherwise requires, this grant shall be interpreted
as if it had been granted pursuant to the Plan. The grant and exercise of the Option shall be
subject to the provisions of the Plan and to interpretations, regulations and determinations
concerning the Plan established from time to time by the Committee in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan, including, but not limited to, provisions pertaining to (i) rights and
obligations with respect to withholding taxes, (ii) the registration, qualification or listing of
the Shares, (iii) capital or other changes of the Company, and (iv) other requirements of
applicable law, all as if the grant had been made pursuant to the Plan. The Committee shall have
the authority to interpret and construe the Option as if

 

 

it had been granted pursuant to the terms of the Plan, and its decisions shall be
conclusive as to any questions arising hereunder. This Stock Option Grant Certificate represents
the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the grant of the Option and may only be
modified or amended in a writing signed by both parties.

7. No Employment Rights. The grant of the Option shall not confer upon the Grantee any
right to be retained by or in the employ of the Company and shall not interfere in any way with the
right of the Company to terminate the Grantee’s employment or service at any time pursuant to the
Employment Agreement. No policies, procedures or statements of any nature by or on behalf of the
Company (whether written or oral, and whether or not contained in any formal employee manual or
handbook) shall be construed to modify this Stock Option Grant Certificate or to create express or
implied obligations to the Grantee of any nature.

8. No Stockholder Rights. Neither the Grantee, nor any person entitled to exercise the
Grantee’s rights in the event of the Grantee’s death, shall have any of the rights and privileges
of a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to the Option until certificates for Shares
have been issued upon the exercise of the Option.

9. No Disclosure. The Grantee acknowledges that the Company has no duty to disclose to the
Grantee any material information regarding the business of the Company or affecting the value of
the Shares before or at the time of a termination of the Grantee’s employment, including without
limitation any plans regarding a public offering or merger involving the Company.

10. Assignment and Transfers. The rights and interests of the Grantee under this Stock
Option Grant Certificate may not be sold, assigned, encumbered or otherwise transferred except, in
the event of the death of the Grantee, by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. In the
event of any attempt by the Grantee to alienate, assign, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose
of the Option or any right hereunder, except as provided for in this Stock Option Grant
Certificate, or in the event of the levy or any attachment, execution or similar process upon the
rights or interests hereby conferred, the Company may terminate the Option by notice to the
Grantee, and the Option and all rights hereunder shall thereupon become null and void. The rights
and protections of the Company hereunder shall extend to any successors or assigns of the Company
and to the Company’s parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates. This Stock Option Grant Certificate
may be assigned by the Company without the Grantee’s consent.

11. Applicable Law. The validity, construction, interpretation and effect of this
instrument shall be governed by and determined in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.

12. Notice. Any notice to the Company provided for in this instrument shall be addressed
to the Company in care of the General Counsel at the Company’s headquarters and any notice to the
Grantee shall be addressed to such Grantee at the current address shown on the payroll of the
Company, or to such other address as the Grantee may designate to the Company in writing. Any
notice shall be delivered by hand, sent by telecopy or enclosed in a properly sealed envelope
addressed as stated above, registered and deposited, postage prepaid, in a post office regularly
maintained by the United States Postal Service.

 

 

Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”), hereby grants to the
grantee named below (“Grantee”) an option (this “Option”) to purchase the total number of shares
shown below of Common Stock of the Company (the “Shares”) at the exercise price per share set forth
below, as an inducement to accept employment with the Company pursuant to that certain employment
agreement between the Company and Grantee dated August 20, 2007 (the “Employment Agreement”),
subject to all of the terms and conditions on the subsequent pages of this Stock Option Grant
Certificate. Although the grant is not made pursuant to the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan (the
“Plan”), except as otherwise provided herein, the grant shall be subject to the rules of the Plan
as if it were a grant made pursuant to the Plan. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized
terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan. The terms and conditions
set forth on subsequent pages hereto and the terms and conditions of the Plan are incorporated
herein by reference. This Stock Option Grant Certificate shall constitute the “Agreement” for this
Option as such term is used in the Plan.

	 	 	 
	Grant Date:

	 	August 20, 2007
	 
	 	 
	Type of Option:

	 	Nonqualified Option
	 
	 	 
	Shares Subject to Option:

	 	250,000
	 
	 	 
	Exercise Price Per Share:

	 	$2.106
	 
	 	 
	Term of Option:

	 	8 years

Shares subject to issuance under this
Option will vest 25% on the first anniversary of the Grant Date and in 36 equal monthly
installments thereafter; provided, however, if Grantee’s employment terminates prior to the date
this option would otherwise become fully vested as a result of (i) death, (ii) permanent
disability, or (iii) retirement on or after his or her 65th birthday, this option will
be deemed fully vested as of the date of such termination. In addition, this option will be deemed
fully vested upon the occurrence of a “Change of Control Termination” or “Severance Termination”
(as such terms are defined in the Employment Agreement).

The Company shall have the right, without
the consent of Grantee, to amend the terms of this Stock Option Grant Certificate to the extent
necessary or appropriate, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, to conform to
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt
of a copy of the Plan, represents that Grantee has read the Plan and understands the terms and
provisions of the Plan, and accepts this Option as if it were granted pursuant to the Plan and
subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Stock Option Grant Certificate, except
as otherwise provided herein. Grantee acknowledges that the grant and exercise of this Option, and
the sale of Shares obtained through the exercise of this Option, may have tax implications that
could result in adverse tax consequences to the Grantee and that Grantee is not relying on the
Company for any tax, financial or legal advice and will consult a tax adviser prior to such
exercise or disposition.

This Option is
designated a
nonqualified stock
option. It is not
an incentive stock
option within the
meaning of Section
422 of the Internal
Revenue Code of
1986, as amended
(the “Code”).

In witness whereof, this Stock Option Grant
Certificate has been executed by the Company by a
duly authorized officer as of the date specified
hereon.

	 
	Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.

	 

	/s/ Peter J. Boni

	Peter J. Boni, President and Chief Executive Officer

	 

	/s/ Brian J. Sisko

	Brian J. Sisko

 

 

1. Option Expiration. The Option shall automatically terminate upon the happening of the
first of the following events:

     (a) the expiration of the 90-day period after the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or
providing services to, the Company, if the termination is for any reason other than involuntary
termination without Cause or voluntary termination with Good Reason, Disability, death, Cause, a
Change of Control Termination or retirement as provided herein;

     (b) the expiration of the three-year period after the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or
providing services to, the Company, on account of a Severance Termination or Change of Control
Termination as set forth in the Employment Agreement;

     (c) the expiration of the one-year period after the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or
providing services to, the Company on account of the Grantee’s Disability;

     (d) the expiration of the one-year period after the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or
providing services to, the Company if the Grantee dies while employed by the Company or if the
Grantee dies within three months after the Grantee ceases to be so employed on account of a
termination described in subparagraph (a) above;

     (e) the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or providing services to, the
Company for Cause; or

     (f) the expiration of the one-year period after the Grantee’s employment or service terminates
as a result of retirement on or after the Grantee’s sixty-fifth birthday, or after such earlier
date as may be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to be warranted given the
particular circumstances surrounding the earlier termination of the Grantee’s employment or
service.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may the Option be exercised after the expiration of
the Term of Option specified on page 1. For purposes of this Option, the terms “Cause,” “Good
Reason,” “Disability,” “Change of Control Termination” and “Severance Termination” shall have the
meaning given to them in the Employment Agreement. Other than as set forth in this Agreement, any
portion of the Option that is not vested at the time the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or
providing service to, the Company shall immediately terminate.

     In the event a Grantee ceases to be employed by, or providing service to, the Company for
Cause, the Grantee shall automatically forfeit all shares underlying any exercised portion of an
Option for which the Company has not yet delivered the share certificates upon refund by the
Company of the exercise price paid by the Grantee for such shares.

2. Exercise Procedures.

     (a) Subject to the provisions of this Stock Option Grant Certificate and the Plan, the Grantee
may exercise part or all of the vested Option by giving the Company written notice of intent to
exercise in the manner provided in Paragraph 11 below, specifying the number of Shares as to which
the Option is to be exercised. On the delivery date, the Grantee shall pay the exercise price (i)
in cash, (ii) by delivering Shares of the Company (duly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by
stock powers signed in blank) which shall be valued at their fair market value on the date of
delivery, or (iii) by such other method as the Committee may approve, including payment through a
broker in accordance with procedures permitted by Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board. The
Committee may impose from time to time such limitations as it deems appropriate on the use of
Shares of the Company to exercise the Option.

     (b) The obligation of the Company to deliver Shares upon exercise of the Option shall be
subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations and such approvals by governmental agencies
as may be deemed appropriate by the Committee, including such actions as Company counsel shall deem
necessary or appropriate to comply with relevant securities laws and regulations. The Company may
require that the Grantee (or other person exercising the Option after the Grantee’s death)
represent that the Grantee is purchasing Shares for the Grantee’s own account and not with a view
to or for sale in connection with any distribution of the Shares, or such other representation as
the Board deems appropriate. All obligations of the Company under this Stock Option Grant
Certificate shall be subject to the rights of the Company as set forth in the Plan as if the grant
had been issued pursuant to the Plan, to withhold amounts required to be withheld for any taxes, if
applicable. Subject to Committee approval, the Grantee may elect to satisfy any income tax
withholding obligation of the Company with respect to the Option by having Shares withheld up to an
amount that does not exceed the minimum marginal tax rate for federal (including FICA), state and
local tax liabilities.

3. Change of Control. The provisions of the Employment Agreement and this Stock Option
Grant Certificate relating to Change of Control and Change of Control Termination shall override
any provisions of the Plan relating to Change of Control.

4. Restrictions on Exercise. Only the Grantee may exercise the Option during the Grantee’s
lifetime. After the Grantee’s death, the Option shall be exercisable (subject to the limitations
specified in the Plan) solely by the legal representatives of the Grantee, or by the person who
acquires the right to exercise the Option by will or by the laws of descent and

 

 

distribution, to the extent that the Option is exercisable pursuant to this Stock Option Grant
Certificate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may provide, at or after grant, that a
Grantee may transfer nonqualified stock options pursuant to a domestic relations order or to family
members or other persons or entities on such terms as the Committee may determine.

5. Grant Subject to Plan Provisions; Entire Agreement. This grant is made separate from
the Plan, as an inducement to Grantee to accept employment pursuant to the Employment Agreement.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except to the extent otherwise stated in this Stock Option
Grant Certificate or to the extent the context otherwise requires, this grant shall be interpreted
as if it had been granted pursuant to the Plan. The grant and exercise of the Option shall be
subject to the provisions of the Plan and to interpretations, regulations and determinations
concerning the Plan established from time to time by the Committee in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan, including, but not limited to, provisions pertaining to (i) rights and
obligations with respect to withholding taxes, (ii) the registration, qualification or listing of
the Shares, (iii) capital or other changes of the Company, and (iv) other requirements of
applicable law, all as if the grant had been made pursuant to the Plan. The Committee shall have
the authority to interpret and construe the Option as if it had been granted pursuant to the terms
of the Plan, and its decisions shall be conclusive as to any questions arising hereunder. This
Stock Option Grant Certificate represents the entire agreement between the parties with respect to
the grant of the Option and may only be modified or amended in a writing signed by both parties.

6. No Employment Rights. The grant of the Option shall not confer upon the Grantee any
right to be retained by or in the employ of the Company and shall not interfere in any way with the
right of the Company to terminate the Grantee’s employment or service at any time pursuant to the
Employment Agreement. No policies, procedures or statements of any nature by or on behalf of the
Company (whether written or oral, and whether or not contained in any formal employee manual or
handbook) shall be construed to modify this Stock Option Grant Certificate or to create express or
implied obligations to the Grantee of any nature.

7. No Stockholder Rights. Neither the Grantee, nor any person entitled to exercise the
Grantee’s rights in the event of the Grantee’s death, shall have any of the rights and privileges
of a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to the Option until certificates for Shares
have been issued upon the exercise of the Option.

8. No Disclosure. The Grantee acknowledges that the Company has no duty to disclose to the
Grantee any material information regarding the business of the Company or affecting the value of
the Shares before or at the time of a termination of the Grantee’s employment, including without
limitation any plans regarding a public offering or merger involving the Company.

9. Assignment and Transfers. The rights and interests of the Grantee under this Stock
Option Grant Certificate may not be sold, assigned, encumbered or otherwise transferred except, in
the event of the death of the Grantee, by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. In the
event of any attempt by the Grantee to alienate, assign, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose
of the Option or any right hereunder, except as provided for in this Stock Option Grant
Certificate, or in the event of the levy or any attachment, execution or similar process upon the
rights or interests hereby conferred, the Company may terminate the Option by notice to the
Grantee, and the Option and all rights hereunder shall thereupon become null and void. The rights
and protections of the Company hereunder shall extend to any successors or assigns of the Company
and to the Company’s parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates. This Stock Option Grant Certificate
may be assigned by the Company without the Grantee’s consent.

10. Applicable Law. The validity, construction, interpretation and effect of this
instrument shall be governed by and determined in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.

11. Notice. Any notice to the Company provided for in this instrument shall be addressed
to the Company in care of the General Counsel at the Company’s headquarters and any notice to the
Grantee shall be addressed to such Grantee at the current address shown on the payroll of the
Company, or to such other address as the Grantee may designate to the Company in writing. Any
notice shall be delivered by hand, sent by telecopy or enclosed in a properly sealed envelope
addressed as stated above, registered and deposited, postage prepaid, in a post office regularly
maintained by the United States Postal Service.

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