Document:

exv10w17

EXHIBIT 10.17

GREENSTONE HOLDINGS GROUP, LLC

48 Wall Street, Suite 1100

New York, NY 10005

Tel: 212-918-4570 Fax: 212-918-4801

December 22, 2008

Mr. Joe Brooks

Chairman and CEO

AERT

914 North Jefferson

PO Box 1237

Springdale. Arkansas 72765-1237

Dear Mr. Brooks:

          This letter (“Agreement”) confirms the understanding between Advanced Environmental Recycling
Technologies, Inc., its subsidiaries and related companies (collectively, the “Company”) and
Greenstone Holdings Group, LLC, (“GSH”) pursuant to which the Company has engaged GSH to act as the
Company’s exclusive consultant in connection with respect to, but not limited to, corporate
structure, public market strategies and fundraising activities for a period of 18 months. The
Company will submit a Schedule B, within seven days, to GSH identifying any potential funders they
are currently in negotiations with that they request GSH does not contact.

          Pursuant to this engagement and as requested by the Company, GSH will provide, among others,
the following services in connection with the Transaction:

	 	1.	 	Review the Company’s plan of finance, corporate structure, financial condition, and
to advise the Company on future capital structure and opportunities.
	 
	 	2.	 	Introduce the Company to strategic parties using commercially reasonable efforts.
Such introductions will consist of those activities usual and customary with a transaction
of this scope, including but not limited to, the review of written offering materials and
the introduction of suitable parties to the Company.
	 
	 	3.	 	Coordinate the due diligence effort of investors, represent the Company in the
negotiation of the final terms and assist where appropriate the preparation of
documentation and closing.
	 
	 	4.	 	Introduce to the Company potential business contacts on a non-exclusive basis.
	 
	 	5.	 	Identify and assist the Company with all efforts as a public company.

          The Company agrees to pay GSH a monthly consulting fee of $15,000.00 per month for the
eighteen month period of this agreement which will begin accruing on the signing of this agreement
and be deemed payable from the closing of any funding or joint venture completed by the Company. In
addition to the consulting fee, the Company agrees to pay

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certain additional fees to GSH (“Success Fees”) as follows: (A) 10% of the first $10 million
raised in equity; plus (B) 8% of the next $10 million raised in equity; plus (C) 6% of each million
raised in equity thereafter and (D) 3% of each million dollars raised in debt funding. In regards
to any short term notes with a maturity of 6 months or less that roll-over - the debt fee shall not
be paid again on the amount of principal. In the event that a success fee is paid directly to a
fundraising entity, with GSH approval, then GSH shall receive a reduced success fee of no less than
3% of the gross proceeds raised.

          During the course of this engagement, that as a result of introductions or other equally
substantive efforts on the part of GSH, one or more individuals or entities purchases, invests or
otherwise acquires equity, debt or similar capital forming transactions (including merger, joint
venture or acquisition) then the Company agrees to pay GSH a fee equal to the schedule of Success
Fees. GSH will receive a “breakup” fee of $200,000 in the event that the Company agrees in writing
to a transaction introduced by GSH and refuses to close or complete within 120 days of such
acceptance.

          During the course of this engagement, GSH will introduce the Company to various institutional
investors through a series of individual meetings, small group presentations or conference calls.
The Company agrees that if it completes a transaction with one or more of these investors during
the term of this engagement and for a period of eighteen months after the expiration of this
Agreement, it will pay GSH a fee identical to those outlined above (“Success Fees”). The Company
agrees and acknowledges the exclusivity of all investors introduced to the Company by GSH during
the term of this Agreement.

          During the course of this engagement the Company agrees to pay GSH equity of any foreign or
domestic joint venture created for the Company caused by the introduction of GSH directly or
indirectly to such strategic partners. The Company will insure that GSH will receive 20% equity of
the transaction and 20% of any and all gross revenues associated with GSH’s equity position in the
venture paid to the Company by any business source or client the Company obtains through the
business development related by the introduction of GSH.

          In addition, the Company agrees to reimburse GSH for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and
those expenses will be billed separately. Typically, those out-of-pocket expenses include travel,
document procurement and computer services. Additionally, the Company agrees to pay attorney’s fees
and other professional advisors engaged by GSH and such engagement will require Company prior
written consent. The Company also agrees to pay the reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by
the investors as is customary in these transactions.

          Since GSH will be acting on the Company’s behalf, it is the practice of GSH to receive
indemnification, and the Company agrees to GSH standard indemnification and reimbursement
provisions that are attached hereto as “Exhibit A” and incorporated herein.

          In connection with this engagement, the Company agrees to provide such information regarding
the Company’s business as may be reasonably requested by GSH, including but not limited to: (i)
Balance sheet; (ii) disclosure statement relative to bankruptcies, judgments or similar events;
(iii) tax returns and status for prior three (3) years; and (iv) any other event that may impact
unfavorably on the Transaction. The Company represents and warrants that

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(1) all information provided by the Company will be complete and correct in all material fact
or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading,
and (2) all financial projections provided to GSH will be prepared by the Company in good faith and
using reasonable assumptions. The Company further agrees that GSH does not assume any
responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any such information.

          The term of this Agreement will begin on December 22, 2008 (the “Effective Date”) and will
continue for an initial term of eighteen months. Notwithstanding the expiration of this Agreement,
the indemnification and reimbursement provisions and the expense reimbursement provisions contained
in this Agreement or agreed to herein will survive and continue in full force and effect. Further,
in the event of an unsuccessful placement of the proposed transaction within the initial term of
this Agreement, the Company will reimburse GSH promptly for all legal, travel and out-of-pocket
expenses incurred for the proposed transaction.

          GSH agrees that any information received from the Company during the term of this
Agreement that is not otherwise in the public domain will be used by GSH solely in the course of
the performance of its service hereunder and kept confidential and, except for such information as
may be approved by the Company for delivery to prospective parties to a transaction, GSH agrees not
to disclose such information to any person other than regulators in connection with an examination,
without the consent of the Company.

          The Company acknowledges and agrees that GSH has been retained by the Company
only and that the services provided by GSH hereunder are solely for the benefit of the Company, and
is not intended to confer any rights on any other entities or persons, including, without
limitation, any stockholders or other security holders, employees or creditors of the Company. No
other entity or person is entitled to rely in any way on this engagement or any advice given or
statements made to the Company hereunder.

          In no event will GSH or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or successors or
assigns be liable for any damages or liabilities of any kind arising out of or relating to the
Agreement of the services to be provided hereunder, except to the extent that a court of competent
jurisdiction shall have determined in a final non-appeal judgment that such damages or liabilities
resulted solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Agent.

          The Company acknowledges that GSH provides full service consulting and advisory services to
other customers in their ordinary course of business. GSH and one or more of its employees,
associates or affiliates may from time to time own or hold securities, options or other derivatives
related to the securities of the Company and other parties interested in the transaction or a
business relationship. Nothing contained in this Agreement or in any other agreement between the
parties will prevent or otherwise limit GSH or its employees or affiliates from carrying on any
investment or other business with the Company or any other entity or person from carrying on its
business as currently conducted or as may be conducted in the future.

          This Agreement and the attached indemnification and reimbursement provisions embody the entire
agreement and understanding between the parties hereto. If any provision

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of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such
determination will not affect such provision in any other provision of this Agreement, which will
remain in full force and effect. This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified or waived
except by an instrument in writing signed by both the Company and the Agent.

          This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the arbitration laws of
the State of New York.

          The Company has the right to send written notice, after 120 days from the signing of this
agreement, to GSH, giving 30 days notice to cancel the exclusive portion of this agreement due to
non-performance. The Company will honor this agreement in its entirety after such notice is given
and the agreement will continue in full force and effect except for its change to a nonexclusive
agreement.

          If the terms of this engagement as set forth in this Agreement are satisfactory to the
Company, please sign both copies of this Agreement and the indemnification and reimbursement
provisions, maintain one copy for your files and return the other to us along with the first and
last month retainer of $30,000. To be paid at first funding.

          We look forward to working with you on this engagement and appreciate very much the
opportunity to be of service to you.

Very truly yours,

Wallace Giakas, CEO

Greenstone Holdings Group, LLC

Accepted and Agreed By:

Mr. Joseph Brooks

Chairman and CEO

AERT

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EXHIBIT A

          Since GSH is acting on behalf of the Company in connection with its engagement under the
Letter Agreement dated December 22, 2008, and as specific consideration for the GSH agreement to
provide the services described in the Agreement, the Company hereby agrees that it will (a) defend,
indemnify and hold the GSH, and its directors, officers, employees, agents and successors and
assigns (collectively, the “Indemnified Persons”) harmless from and against any losses, suits,
actions, claims, damages, costs and/or other liabilities which any Indemnified Person may incur as
a result of, relating to or arising out of or in connection with (i) any actions or omissions of
the Company or anyone or more of its directors, officers, employees or advisers, (ii) the Agreement
or the services performed or to be performed by the GSH there under, (iii) any securities or other
filings made by the Company, or (iv) any transaction involving or relating to the Company, except
to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a final
non-appealable judgment that any such losses, suits, actions, claims, damages, costs or liabilities
resulted solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Indemnified Person; and (b)
reimburse each Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it, him or
her in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending any lawsuits, claims or
other proceedings arising in any manner out of or in connection with the GSH’s rendering of
services hereunder, except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have
determined by a final non-appealable judgment that such lawsuits, claims or other proceedings
resulted solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Indemnified Person.

          The Company further agrees that (a) the indemnification and reimbursement commitments set
forth herein shall apply whether or not the Indemnified Person is a formal party to any such
lawsuits, claims or other proceedings; and (b) such indemnification and reimbursement commitments
shall extend upon the terms set forth in this Agreement to any past or present controlling person,
director, officer, employee or agent of GSH involved with the GSH’s rendering of services
hereunder. If the defendants in any such action include one or more Indemnified Persons and the
indemnifying party and the Indemnified Persons shall have been advised by counsel that
representation of such Indemnified Persons and the indemnifying party may be inappropriate under
applicable standards of professional conduct due to actual or potential differing interests between
them, the Indemnified Persons shall have the right to select separate counsel to defend such action
on behalf of such Indemnified Persons. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall, in
connection with any such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the
same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the
reasonable fees and expenses of only one separate firm of attorneys together with appropriate local
counsel at any time for all Indemnified Persons unless such firm of attorneys shall have reasonably
concluded that one or more Indemnified Persons have actual differing interests with other
Indemnified Persons.

          If the indemnification and reimbursement provisions provided for in the preceding paragraphs
are unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Person, then the Company agrees to
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a

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result of the losses, suits, actions, claims, damages, costs and/or other liabilities
described above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the GSH on the other from the Transaction, or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the GSH on the other in the actions or omissions
which resulted in such losses, suits, actions, claims, damages, costs and/or other liabilities.

          These indemnification provisions shall survive the payment of the GSH’s fees and will remain
operative regardless of any termination of GSH’s engagement and shall be binding upon any successor
of the Company.

Accepted and Agreed By:

Mr. Joseph Brooks

Chairman and CEO

AERT

6exv10w1

Exhibit 10.1

Form of Performance Based

Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement

Granted Under 2005 Stock Incentive Plan

1. Grant of Option

     This agreement evidences the grant by Unica Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), on [date] (the “Grant Date”) to [name] an employee of the Company (the
“Participant”), of an option to purchase, in whole or in part, on the terms provided herein and in
the Company’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”), a total of [number]
shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”)
at $       per Share. Unless earlier terminated, this option shall expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern
Time, on [date] (the “Final Exercise Date”).

     It is intended that the option evidenced by this agreement shall not be an incentive stock
option as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any
regulations promulgated there under (the “Code”). Except as otherwise indicated by the context,
the term “Participant”, as used in this option, shall be deemed to include any person who acquires
the right to exercise this option validly under its terms.

2. Vesting Schedule

     This option will become exercisable (“Vest”) at a rate of ___% of the original number of Shares
on [initial date], then [number of shares/percentage] thereafter for the remaining
                     years. These shares will only vest if [financial metric] is greater than [target
amount].

     The right of exercise shall be cumulative so that to the extent the option is not exercised in
any period to the maximum extent permissible it shall continue to be exercisable, in whole or in
part, with respect to all Shares for which it is vested until the earlier of the Final Exercise
Date or the termination of this option under Section 3 hereof or the Plan.

3. Exercise of Option

     (a) Form of Exercise. Each election to exercise this option shall be in writing,
signed by the Participant, and received by the Company at its principal office, accompanied by this
agreement, and payment in full in the manner provided in the Plan or, alternatively, the preceding
shall be performed through any electronic means made available by the Company to accomplish such
exercises (e.g. through an on-line process). The Participant may purchase less than the number of
shares covered hereby, provided that no partial exercise of this option may be for any fractional
share.

     (b) Continuous Relationship with the Company Required. Except as otherwise provided
in this Section 3, this option may not be exercised unless the Participant, at the time he or she
exercises this option, is, and has been at all times since the Grant Date, an employee, officer or
director of, or consultant or advisor to, the Company or any other entity the employees, officers,
directors, consultants, or advisors of which are eligible to receive option grants under the Plan
(an “Eligible Participant”).

     (c) Termination of Relationship with the Company. If the Participant ceases to be an
Eligible Participant for any reason, then, except as provided in paragraphs (d) and (e) below, the
right to exercise this option shall terminate 90 days after such cessation (but in no event after
the Final Exercise Date), provided that this option shall be exercisable only to the extent that
the Participant was entitled to exercise this option on the date of such cessation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant, prior to the Final Exercise Date, violates the
non-competition or confidentiality provisions of any employment contract, confidentiality and
nondisclosure agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, the right to
exercise this option shall terminate immediately upon written notice to the Participant from the
Company describing such violation.

 

 

     (d) Exercise Period Upon Death or Disability. If the Participant dies or becomes
disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) prior to the Final Exercise Date
while he or she is an Eligible Participant and the Company has not terminated such relationship for
“cause” as specified in paragraph (e) below, this option shall be exercisable, within the period of
one year following the date of death or disability of the Participant, by the Participant (or in
the case of death by an authorized transferee), provided that this option shall be exercisable only
to the extent that this option was exercisable by the Participant on the date of his or her death
or disability, and provided further that this option shall not be exercisable after the Final
Exercise Date.

     (e) Discharge for Cause. If the Participant, prior to the Final Exercise Date, is
discharged by the Company for “cause” (as defined below), the right to exercise this option shall
terminate immediately upon the effective date of such discharge. “Cause” shall mean willful
misconduct by the Participant or willful failure by the Participant to perform his or her
responsibilities to the Company (including breach by the Participant of any provision of any
employment, consulting, advisory, nondisclosure, non-competition or other similar agreement between
the Participant and the Company), as determined by the Company, which determination shall be
conclusive. The Participant shall be considered to have been discharged for “Cause” if the Company
determines, within 30 days after the Participant’s resignation, that discharge for cause was
warranted.

4. Withholding

     No Shares will be issued pursuant to the exercise of this option unless and until the
Participant pays to the Company, or makes provision satisfactory to the Company for payment of, any
federal, state or local withholding taxes required by law to be withheld in respect of this option.

5. Non-transferability of Option

     This option may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the
Participant, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and
distribution, and, during the lifetime of the Participant, this option shall be exercisable only by
the Participant.

6. Provisions of the Plan

     This option is subject to the provisions of the Plan, a copy of which is furnished to the
Participant with this option.

     In Witness Whereof, the Company has caused this option to be executed under its
corporate seal by its duly authorized officer. This option shall take effect as a sealed
instrument.

UNICA CORPORATION

	 	 	 
	 

	 	Yuchun Lee
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	President and CEO

 

 

PARTICIPANT’S ACCEPTANCE

I hereby accept the foregoing option and agree to the terms and conditions thereof. I hereby
acknowledge receipt of an online copy of the Company’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.

	 	 	 
	 

	 	Participant:
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 

	 	Print Name
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 

	 	Signature
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 

	 	Date

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