Document:

Exhibit 10.8 

THESTREET.COM, INC.

AGREEMENT FOR GRANT

OF

STOCK OPTIONS

UNDER

2007 PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN

March 28, 2011 

Gregory E.
Barton

c/o TheStreet.com, Inc.

14 Wall Street

15th Floor

New York, NY 10005 

Dear Greg: 

          This
letter (the “Letter”) sets forth the terms and conditions of
the stock option (“Option”) hereby
awarded to you by TheStreet.com, Inc. (the “Company”), in accordance with the
provisions of the Company’s 2007 Performance Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). 

          This
award is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, any rules
and regulations adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) or the committee of the Board
which administers the Plan (the “Committee”),
and this Letter. The provisions of the Plan are hereby incorporated by
reference and any term used in this Letter and not defined herein shall have
the meaning set forth in the Plan. Unless otherwise indicated, section
references contained in this Letter shall refer to the corresponding sections
of this Letter.  

          1.
Option Grant 

          You
have been granted an Option to purchase 45,000 shares of the Company’s Common
Stock (“Common Stock”)
to the extent the Option is exercisable as set forth below. The Option may not
be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered by you, in
whole or in part; provided that the foregoing shall not affect your right to
name a beneficiary under Section 13 of the Plan. The Option may be exercised
only by you, except that in the event of your death, the Option may be
exercised (at any time prior to its expiration or termination as provided in
Sections 8 and 11) by the executor or administrator of your estate or by a
person who acquired the right to exercise your Option by will or pursuant to
the laws of descent and distribution. Until such time as stock certificates for
the shares of Common Stock represented by the purchase of all or portion of the
Option have been delivered to you in accordance with Section 4, you shall have
none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to the Common Stock with
respect to such shares. 

1 

          2.
Option Exercise Price 

          The
price at which you may purchase the shares of Common Stock underlying the
Option is $3.24 per share. 

          3.
Term of Option 

          Your
Option shall expire, to the extent that it has not previously terminated, on
March 28, 2016. However, your Option may terminate prior to such expiration
date as provided in Sections 8 and 11. Regardless of the provisions of Sections
5 or 8 or any other provision hereof, in no event can your Option be exercised
after the expiration date set forth in this Section 3. 

          4.
Exercisability of Option 

          Your
Option will become exercisable with respect to the following number(s) of
shares of Common Stock on the following date(s) as set forth below, provided
that you are in the Service (as defined below) of the Company or one of its
subsidiaries on such date and the Option has not been terminated in accordance
with Sections 8 or 11: 

	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 Date

 	
  

 	
  

 	
 Number of
 Shares of Common Stock 

 
	

 

 	
  

 	

 

 
	
  

 
	
 April 1, 2012

 	
  

 	
 11,250

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 The first calendar day of each month from
 May 1, 2012 to March 1, 2015, inclusive

 	
  

 	
 938

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 April 1, 2015

 	
  

 	
 920

 	
  

 

For purposes
hereof, you shall be considered to be in the “Service”
of the Company or one of its subsidiaries if you are an employee of the Company
(or one if its subsidiaries, as applicable) on the applicable vesting date.  

          To
the extent that your Option has become exercisable with respect to a number of
shares of Common Stock, you may exercise the Option to purchase all or any
portion of such shares of Common Stock at any time on or before the date the
Option expires or terminates; provided that you may only purchase a whole number
of shares of Common Stock. 

          5.
Accelerated Vesting in Certain Events 

          Notwithstanding
Section 4, upon the occurrence of any of the following events, the
then-unvested portion of the Option shall become exercisable and may be
exercised; provided that such portion of the Option only may be exercised
within ninety (90) calendar days from the occurrence of such event (but in no
event beyond the date set forth in Section 3): (i) the termination of your
employment by the Company or any subsidiary thereof without Cause (as defined
below) or by you with Good Reason (as defined below) prior to a Change of
Control (as 

2

defined in the
Plan) if such termination is related to the Change of Control; or (ii) a Change
of Control, unless (A) either (x) the Company is the surviving corporation in
the Change of Control and the award reflected in this Letter is equitably
adjusted pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Plan or (y) the award reflected in this
Letter is assumed or replaced by a Successor (as defined below) and (B) the
award as so adjusted, assumed or replaced (x) has substantially the same
potential economic benefits and vesting terms as did the award immediately
prior to the Change of Control and (y) provides that the award immediately
shall become fully vested and exercisable upon the termination of your
employment (by the Company or any subsidiary thereof or by a Successor or any
affiliate thereof) without Cause or by you with Good Reason at any time
(provided that such portion of the Option only may be exercised within ninety
(90) calendar days from such termination (but in no event beyond the date set
forth in Section 3)). If you are employed by a Successor or any affiliate
thereof following a Change of Control, references in this Letter to the Company
shall be understood to be references to the Successor or any such affiliate
regarding matters related to the occurrence of non-occurrence of events from
and after the date you become employed by the Successor or such affiliate. 

          For
purposes of this Letter, “Cause”
shall be determined by the Committee in the exercise of its good faith
judgment, in accordance with the following guidelines: (i) your willful
misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of your obligations, duties
and responsibilities as Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs,
General Counsel and Secretary (including those as an employee of the Company
set forth in the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics dated June 1,
2006, as same may be amended from time to time provided such amendment affects
all executive officers of the Company), (ii) your dishonesty or
misappropriation, in either case that is willful and material, relating to the
Company or any of its funds, properties, or other assets, (iii) your
inexcusable repeated or prolonged absence from work (other than as a result of,
or in connection with, a Disability), (iv) any unauthorized disclosure by you
of Confidential Information or proprietary information of the Company in
violation of Section 12(d) which is reasonably likely to result in material
harm to the Company, (v) your conviction of a felony (including entry of a
guilty or nolo contender plea) involving fraud, dishonesty, or moral turpitude,
(vi) a violation of federal or state securities laws, or (vii) the failure by
you to attempt to perform faithfully your duties and responsibilities as
Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, General Counsel and
Secretary, or other material breach by you of this Letter, provided any such failure
or breach described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi) and (vii) is not
cured, to the extent cure is possible, by you within thirty (30) days after
written notice thereof from the Company to you; provided, however, that no
failure or breach described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi) and (vii)
shall constitute Cause unless (x) the Company first gives you written notice of
its intention to terminate your employment for Cause and the grounds of such
termination no fewer than ten (10) days prior to the date of termination; and
(y) you are provided an opportunity to appear before the Board, with or without
legal representation at your election to present arguments on your own behalf;
and (z) if you elect to so appear, such failure or breach is not cured, to the
extent cure is possible, within thirty (30) days after written notice from the
Company to you that, following such appearance, the Board has determined in
good faith that Cause exists and has not, following the initial notice from the
Company, been cured; provided further, however, that notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Letter and subject to the other terms of this proviso,
the Company may take any and all actions, including without limitation
suspension (but not without pay), it deems appropriate with 

3

respect to you
and your duties at the Company pending such appearance and subsequent to such
appearance during which such failure or breach has not been cured. No act or
failure to act on your part will be considered “willful” unless done, or
omitted to be done, by you not in good faith and without reasonable belief that
your action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. 

          It
shall not be a violation of your employment with the Company, this Letter or
any agreement to which you are, or may become, a party with the Company for you
to, and you may continue to, serve as a Trustee of the WisdomTree Trust, GLG
Investment Series Trust and Man Long Short Fund, provided that such service
does not materially interfere with your ability to perform you duties to the
Company (including without limitation your duty to serve as Corporate Secretary
of the Company) . 

          For
purposes of this Letter, “Good Reason”
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Treasury Regulation Section
1.409A-1(n)(2)(ii), as determined in good faith by the Committee.  

          For
purposes of this Letter, “Disability”
shall mean physical or mental incapacity of a nature which prevents you, in the
good faith judgment of the Committee, from performing your duties and
responsibilities as Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs,
General Counsel and Secretary for a period of 90 consecutive days or 150 days
during any year, with each year under this Letter commencing on each
anniversary of the date hereof.  

          6.
Manner of Exercise 

          You
may exercise your Option by giving notice to the Company (or to such service
provider as the Company may designate), following such procedures as may be
communicated to you from time to time. 

          The
shares of Common Stock represented by the exercise of your Option may consist
of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares of the Company, as
determined from time to time by the Committee. 

          7.
Satisfaction of Option Exercise Price 

          The Option
may be exercised by payment of the option exercise price in cash (including
check, bank draft, money order, or wire transfer). In addition, your Option may
be exercised using such broker cashless exercise procedure or other procedure
as the Company may establish from time to time. 

          8.
Termination of Service 

          (a)
General. If your Service terminates for any reason other than for Cause, the
Option will terminate ninety (90) calendar days after such termination of
Service. Following the termination of your Service, no additional portions of
the Option will become exercisable, and the Option will be exercisable only to
the extent exercisable on the date of such termination of 

4

Service. If your Service terminates for Cause, the Option shall be
immediately terminated and may not be exercised. 

          (b)
Adjustments by the Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, exercised
before or after your termination of Service, declare all or any portion of the
Option immediately exercisable and/or permit all or any part of the Option to
remain exercisable for such period designated by it after the time when the
Option would have otherwise terminated as provided in Section 8(a), but not beyond
the expiration date of your Option as set forth in Section 3 above. 

          (c)
Committee Determinations. The Committee shall have absolute discretion to
determine the date and circumstances of the termination of your Service, and
its determination shall be final, conclusive and binding upon you. 

          9. Restrictions
on Option Exercise; Delivery of Shares 

          (a) Even
though your Option may be otherwise exercisable, your right to exercise the
Option will be suspended if the Committee determines that your exercise of the
Option would violate applicable laws or regulations. The suspension will last
until the exercise would be lawful. Any such suspension will not extend the
term of your Option. 

          (b) Even
though your Option may be otherwise exercisable, the Committee may refuse to
permit such exercise if it determines, in its discretion, that any of the
following circumstances is present: 

	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 (i)

 	
 the shares of Common Stock to be acquired upon such exercise are
 required to be registered or qualified under any federal or state securities
 law, or to be listed on any securities exchange or quotation system, and such
 registration, qualification, or listing has not occurred; 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 (ii)

 	
 the consent or approval of any government regulatory body is required
 and has not been obtained; 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 (iii)

 	
 the satisfaction of withholding tax is required and has not occurred;
 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 (iv)

 	
 representations by you or other information is determined by counsel
 for the Company to be necessary or desirable in order to comply with any
 federal or state securities laws or regulations, and you have not provided
 such representations or information; or 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 (v)

 	
 an agreement by you with respect to the disposition of shares of
 Common Stock to be acquired upon exercise of your Option is determined by the
 Committee to be necessary or desirable in order to comply with any federal or
 state securities laws or regulations, or is required by the terms of this
 Letter, and you have not executed such agreement. 

 

          (c)
Shares of Common Stock to be delivered to you in connection with any exercise
of the Option shall be delivered to you as soon as practicable and, at the
Company’s election, the 

5 

Company may
effect such delivery by causing such number of shares of Common Stock to be
deposited via DWAC into a brokerage account in your name. Common Stock
delivered upon the exercise of the Option will be fully transferable (subject
to any applicable securities law restrictions) and not subject to forfeiture
(other than as set forth in Section 11), and will entitle the holder to all
rights of a stockholder of the Company. 

          (d)
The Company will use reasonable commercial efforts to cause its Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (or successor form) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission covering shares subject to the Plan to remain effective and
current until such times as all of the shares of Common Stock underlying your
Option are either delivered hereunder or the Option has expired or been
terminated pursuant to the terms of this Letter , until three (3) months after
you cease being an “affiliate” of the Company, to maintain a resale prospectus
thereunder (or otherwise register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended)
the Common Stock underlying your Option. 

          10.
Income Tax Withholding 

          In
connection with the exercise of your Option, you will be required to pay,
pursuant to such arrangements as the Company may establish from time to time,
any applicable federal, state and local withholding tax liability. If you fail
to satisfy your withholding obligation in a time and manner satisfactory to the
Committee, the Company shall have the right to withhold the required amount
from your salary or other amounts payable to you. 

          11.
Additional Termination Events and Claw-Back 

          Notwithstanding
anything else in this Letter, the unexercised portion of the Option shall be
terminated (regardless of the extent to which it is exercisable) if any one of
the following occurs: (i) you engage in Competitive Activity (as defined below)
with the Company or any of its subsidiaries during your employment by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or within two (2) years after your service
as Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, General Counsel and
Secretary terminates; or (ii) you breach any of the Restrictive Covenants set
out in Section 12 within two (2) years after your cessation of employment with
the Company or any subsidiary. 

          The
Company reserves the right (as provided below) to claw-back shares of Common
Stock delivered under this Letter pursuant to each exercise of the Option by
you if you engage in Competitive Activity or violate any of the Restrictive
Covenants within two (2) years after the delivery of such shares of Common
Stock. If the Committee determines, in its good faith discretion, that all or
some portion of the shares of Common Stock delivered to you will be
clawed-back, then you shall be required to repay to the Company the Repayment
Amount (as defined below) with respect to such shares of Common Stock. You may
satisfy the payment obligation set forth in the preceding sentence by paying
the Company cash, by delivering to the Company shares of Common Stock, or by
remitting to the Company a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, such
that the Fair Market Value (measured as of the day before your delivery to the
Company of shares of Common Stock) of any shares of Common Stock you deliver to
the Company, plus the amount of any cash you pay to the Company, equals the 

6

Repayment
Amount. The “Repayment
Amount” with respect to the shares of Common Stock delivered to
you upon any exercise of the Option shall mean the lesser of the Exercise Date
Spread Value (as defined below) with respect to such exercise of the Option and
the Delivery Date Spread Value (as defined below) with respect to such exercise
of the Option, in each case reduced by the amount of taxes paid by you with
respect to such exercise of the Option; provided that neither the Exercise Date
Spread Value nor the Delivery Date Spread Value shall be less than zero. With
respect to each exercise you made of the Option, the “Exercise Date Spread Value”
is the amount, if any, by which the Fair Market Value (measured as of the date
of exercise) of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Option with
respect to which the Option was exercised on such date, exceeded the aggregate
option exercise price for such shares. With respect to each exercise you made
of the Option, the “Delivery
Date Spread Value” is the amount, if any, by which the Fair
Market Value (measured as of the day before you remit the Repayment Amount to
the Company) of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Option with
respect to which the Option was exercised, exceeded the aggregate option
exercise price for such shares. In addition to any other remedy available to
the Company under applicable law, the Company shall have the right to offset
any other amounts payable to you by the amount of any required repayment by you
which has not been repaid. 

          For
purposes of this Letter, “Competitive
Activity” means your service as a director, officer, employee,
principal, agent, stockholder, member, owner or partner of, or you permit your
name to be used in connection with the activities of, any other business or
organization anywhere in the United States, or in any other geographic area in
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries operates or with respect to which
the Company provides financial news and commentary coverage (or from which such
other business or organization provides financial news and commentary coverage
of the United States), which engages in a business that competes with any
business in which the Company or any subsidiary is engaged (a “Competing Business”);
provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall not be a
Competitive Activity for you to (i) become the registered or beneficial owner
of up to three percent (3%) of any class of capital stock of a competing
corporation registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
provided that you do not otherwise participate in the business of such
corporation or (ii) work in a non-competitive business of a company which is
carrying on a Competing Business, the revenues of which represent less than
twenty percent (20%) of the consolidated revenues of that company, or, as a
result thereof, owning compensatory equity in that company. 

          For
purposes of this Letter, “Fair
Market Value” of a share of Common Stock on any date shall be
(i) if the principal market for the Common Stock is a national securities
exchange, the closing sales price per share of the Common Stock on such day
(or, if such exchange is not open on such day, on the next day such exchange is
open) as reported by such exchange or on a consolidated tape reflecting
transactions on such exchange, or (ii) if the principal market for the Common
Stock is not a national securities exchange, the closing average of the highest
bid and lowest asked prices per share of Common Stock on such day (or, if such
exchange is not open on such day, on the next day such exchange is open) as
reported by the market upon which the Common Stock is quoted, or an independent
dealer in the Common Stock, as determined by the Company in good faith;
provided, however, that if clauses (i) and (ii) are all inapplicable, or if no
trades have been made and no quotes are available for such day, the Fair Market
Value of the 

7 

Common Stock
shall be determined by the Committee in good faith by any method consistent
with applicable regulations adopted by the United States Treasury Department
relating to stock options or stock valuation. 

          12. Restrictive Covenants 

	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 a.

 	
 Non-Solicitation
 of Employees 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
 You agree
 that, during your employment by the Company or any subsidiary and through the
 end of two (2) years after your cessation of employment with the Company or
 any subsidiary, you will not solicit for employment or hire, in any business
 enterprise or activity, any employee of the Company or any subsidiary who was
 employed by the Company or a subsidiary during your period of employment by
 the Company or a subsidiary provided that (a) the foregoing shall not be
 violated by any general advertising not targeted at any Company or subsidiary
 employees nor by you serving as a reference upon request, and (b) you may
 solicit and hire any one or more former employees of the Company or its
 subsidiaries who had ceased being such an employee for a period of at least
 six (6) months prior to any such solicitation or hiring. 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 b.

 	
 Non-Solicitation
 of Clients and Vendors 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
 You agree
 that, during your employment by the Company or any subsidiary and through the
 end of two (2) years after your cessation of employment with the Company or
 any subsidiary, you will not solicit, in any business enterprise or activity,
 any client, customer, licensee, licensor, third-party service provider or
 vendor (a “Business
 Relation”) of the Company or any subsidiary who was a Business
 Relation of the Company or any subsidiary during your period of employment by
 the Company or any subsidiary to (i) cease being a Business Relation of the
 Company or any subsidiary or (ii) become a Business Relation of a Competing
 Business unless (without you having solicited such third party to cease such
 relationship) such third party ceased being a Business Relation of the
 Company or any subsidiary for a period of at least six (6) months prior to
 such solicitation. 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 c.

 	
 Non-Disparagement
 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
 During your
 employment by the Company or any subsidiary and indefinitely thereafter,
 neither party shall make any statements, written or oral, to any third party
 which disparage, criticize, discredit or otherwise operate to the detriment
 of you or the Company, its present or former officers, shareholders,
 directors and employees and their respective business reputation and/or
 goodwill, provided, however, that nothing in this Section 12(c) shall
 prohibit either party from (i) making any truthful statements or disclosures
 required by applicable law regulation or (ii) taking any action to enforce
 its rights under this Letter or any other agreement in effect between the
 parties. 

 

8

	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 d.

 	
 Confidentiality
 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
 1)

 	
 During your
 employment by the Company or any subsidiary and indefinitely thereafter, you
 shall keep secret and retain in strictest confidence, any and all
 Confidential Information relating to the Company, except where your
 disclosure or use of such Confidential Information is in furtherance of the
 performance by you of your duties to the Company and not for personal benefit
 or the benefit of any interest adverse to the Company’s interests. For
 purposes of this Letter, “Confidential Information” shall mean any information
 including without limitation plans, specifications, models, samples, data,
 customer lists and customer information, computer programs and documentation,
 and other technical and/or business information, in whatever form, tangible
 or intangible, that can be communicated by whatever means available at such
 time, that relates to the Company’s current business or future business
 contemplated during your employment, products, services and development, or
 information received from others that the Company is obligated to treat as
 confidential or proprietary (provided that such confidential information
 shall not include any information that (a) has become generally available to
 the public or is generally known in the relevant trade or industry other than
 as a result of an improper disclosure by you, or (b) was available to or
 became known to you prior to the disclosure of such information on a
 non-confidential basis without breach of any duty of confidentiality to the
 Company), and you shall not disclose such confidential information to any
 Person (as defined below) other than the Company, except with the prior
 written consent of the Company, as may be required by law or court or
 administrative order (in which event you shall so notify the Company as
 promptly as practicable), or in performance of your duties on behalf of the
 Company. Further, this Section 12(d) shall not prevent you from disclosing
 Confidential Information in connection with any litigation, arbitration or
 mediation to enforce this Letter or other agreement between the parties,
 provided such disclosure is necessary for you to assert any claim or defense
 in such proceeding. 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
 For purposes
 of this Letter, “Person”
 shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
 company, limited liability partnership, association, trust or other unincorporated
 organization or entity.

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
 2)

 	
 Upon your
 termination of employment for any reason, you shall return to the Company all
 copies, reproductions and summaries of Confidential Information in your
 possession and use reasonable efforts to erase the same from all media in
 your possession, and, if the Company so requests, shall certify in writing
 that you have done so, except that you may retain such copies, reproductions
 and summaries during any period of litigation, arbitration or mediation
 referred to in Section 12(d)(1). All Confidential Information is and shall
 remain the property of the Company (or, in the case of information that the
 Company receives from a third party which it is obligated to treat as
 confidential, then the property of such third party); provided, you shall be
 entitled to retain copies of (i) information 

 

9

	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
 showing your
 compensation or relating to reimbursement of expenses, (ii) information that
 is required for the preparation of your personal income tax return, (iii)
 documents provided to you in your capacity as a participant in any employee
 benefit plan, policy or program of the Company and (iv) this Letter and any
 other agreement by and between you and the Company with regard to your
 employment or termination thereof. 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
 3)

 	
 All
 Intellectual Property (as hereinafter defined) and Technology (as hereinafter
 defined) created, developed, obtained or conceived of by you during your
 employment, and all business opportunities presented to you during your
 employment, shall be owned by and belong exclusively to the Company, provided
 that they reasonably relate to any of the business of the Company on the date
 of such creation, development, obtaining or conception, and you shall (i)
 promptly disclose any such Intellectual Property, Technology or business
 opportunity to the Company, and (ii) execute and deliver to the Company,
 without additional compensation, such instruments as the Company may require
 from time to time to evidence its ownership of any such Intellectual Property,
 Technology or business opportunity. For purposes of this Letter, (x) the term
 “Intellectual Property”
 means and includes any and all trademarks, trade names, service marks,
 service names, patents, copyrights, and applications therefor, and (y) the term
 “Technology”
 means and includes any and all trade secrets, proprietary information,
 invention, discoveries, know-how, formulae, processes and procedures. 

 

          The
parties acknowledge that the restrictions contained in this Section 12 are a
reasonable and necessary protection of the immediate interests of the Company,
and any violation of these restrictions could cause substantial injury to the
Company and that the Company would not have entered into this Letter, without
receiving the additional consideration offered by you in binding yourself to
any of these restrictions. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by you
of any of these restrictions, the Company shall be entitled to apply to any
court of competent jurisdiction for an injunction restraining you from such
breach or threatened breach; provided, however, that the right to apply for an
injunction shall not be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any
other available remedies for such breach or threatened breach. 

          13.
No Guarantee of Continuation of Service 

          This
grant of this Option does not constitute an assurance of continued Service for
any period or in any way interfere with the Company’s right to terminate your
Service. 

          14.
Administration 

          The
Committee has the sole power to exercise its good faith judgment to interpret
the Plan and this Letter and to act upon all matters relating this grant to the
extent provided in the Plan and not inconsistent with the terms of this Letter.
Any decision, determination, interpretation, or other action taken pursuant to
the provisions of the Plan and this Letter by the Committee shall be final,
binding, and conclusive. 

10

          15.
Section 409A 

          Notwithstanding
any provision of the Plan or this grant to the contrary, if you are a
“specified employee” as determined by the Board or the Committee, in accordance
with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or any
regulations or Treasury guidance promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”), you
shall not be entitled to any payments of amounts which constitute deferred
compensation within the meaning of Section 409A upon a termination of your
employment until the earlier of (i) the date which is six (6) months after your
termination of employment for any reason other than death (except that during
such six (6) month period you may receive total payments from the Company that
do not exceed the amount specified in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(9) or
that constitute a short-term deferral within the meaning of Section 409A), or
(ii) the date of your death. 

          Notwithstanding
any provision of the Plan or this Letter to the contrary, to the extent any
compensation or award which constitutes deferred compensation within the
meaning of Section 409A shall vest upon the occurrence of a Change of Control
and such Change of Control does not constitute a “change in the ownership or
effective control” or a “change in the ownership or a substantial portion of
the assets” of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A, then
notwithstanding such vesting, payment will be made to you on the earliest of
(i) your “separation from service” with the Company (determined in accordance
with Section 409A) or, if you are a specified employee within the meaning of
Section 409A, such later date as provided in the preceding paragraph, (ii) the
date payment otherwise would have been made, or (iii) the date of your death. 

          If
any provision of this Agreement or of any award of compensation, including
equity compensation or benefits would cause you to incur any additional tax or
interest under Section 409A, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith to
reform such provision in such manner as to maintain, to the maximum extent
practicable, the original intent and economic terms of the applicable provision
without violating the provisions of Section 409A. 

          16.
Amendment 

          The
Committee may from time to time amend the terms of this grant in accordance
with the terms of the Plan in effect at the time of such amendment, but no
amendment which is unfavorable to you can be made without your written consent.

          The
Plan is of unlimited duration, but may be amended, terminated or discontinued
by the Board of Directors of the Company at any time. However, no amendment,
termination or discontinuance of the Plan will unfavorably affect this grant. 

          Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Committee expressly reserves the right to amend the terms of
the Plan and this grant with your consent which shall not be unreasonably
withheld to the extent it determines that such amendment is necessary or
desirable for an exemption from or compliance with the distribution,
acceleration and election requirements of Section 409A of the Code. 

11

          17.
Notices 

          Unless
otherwise provided herein, any notice, exercise of rights or other
communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be given by overnight delivery service such as Federal Express or
personal delivery against receipt, or mailed by registered or certified mail
(return receipt requested), to the party to whom it is given at, in the case of
the Company, Compensation Committee Chair, TheStreet.com, Inc., 14 Wall Street,
15th Floor, New York, NY 10005, or, in the case of you, at your
principal residence address as then reflected on the records of the Company or
such other address as such party may hereafter specify by notice to the other
party hereto. Any notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been
given as of the date so personally delivered or transmitted by telecopy or like
transmission or on the next business day after sent by overnight delivery
service for next business day delivery or on the fifth business day after sent
by registered or certified mail. 

          18.
Representations 

          The
Company hereby represents and warrants that the execution and delivery of this
Letter and the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company. 

          19.
Amendment 

          This
Letter may be amended only by a written agreement signed by the parties hereto. 

          20. Binding Effect 

          This
Letter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any
Successor. As used herein, a “Successor”
shall mean any successor organization that succeeds to the Company (or to any
direct or indirect successor) by merger or consolidation or operation of law,
or by acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (or
of any direct or indirect successor). 

          21.
Governing Law 

          This
Letter shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws
of the State of New York applicable to contracts to be performed wholly within
the state and without regard to its conflict of laws provisions that would
defer to the laws of another jurisdiction, except to the extent the laws of the
State of Delaware mandatorily govern.

          22.
Severability 

          If
any provision of this Letter shall for any reason be held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions hereof shall not be affected or impaired thereby. Moreover, if any
one or more of the provisions of this Letter shall be held to be excessively
broad as to duration, activity or subject, such provisions shall be construed
by limiting and reducing them so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent 

12

allowable by
applicable law. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereto
waives any provision of law that renders any provision of this Letter invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any way.

          23.
Execution in Counterparts 

          This
Letter may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same
instrument.

          24.
Entire Agreement 

          This
Letter, together with (i) the Severance Agreement between the Company and you,
as amended as of the same date as this Letter and (ii) award agreements entered
into by and between you and the Company with respect to outstanding incentive
awards and incentive awards granted on or before the date hereof, sets forth
the entire agreement, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings,
both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof and thereof.

          25.
Titles and Headings 

          Titles
and headings to Sections herein are for purposes of reference only, and shall
in no way limit, define or otherwise affect the meaning or interpretation of
any of the provisions of this Letter.

          26. Consent to Jurisdiction 

          The
parties hereto each hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of
any New York State or Federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, City
of New York in any action or proceeding to enforce the provisions of this
Letter, and waives the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any
such action or proceeding.

13

          This
Letter contains the formal terms and conditions of your award and accordingly
should be retained in your files for future reference. The Company may require
you to provide evidence of your acknowledgment of this Letter using such means
of notification as may be communicated to you by the Company or its service
provider.

	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 Very truly
 yours, 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 THESTREET.COM,
 INC. 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 By: 

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	

 

 
	
  

 	
 Name: Daryl
 R. Otte

 
	
  

 	
 Title: Chief
 Executive Officer 

 
	
  

 	
  

 
	
 AGREED TO
 AND ACCEPTED:

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 
	

 

 	
  

 
	
 Gregory E.
 Barton

 	
  

 

14Exhibit 10.9

AMENDMENT NO. 1 to SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

          This
Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment”) to the Severance Agreement dated as of
July14, 2009 (the “Agreement”) between TheStreet.com, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”) and Gregory E. Barton (“Barton”) is
entered into by the parties as of March 28, 2011. 

          Pursuant
to this Amendment, the parties hereby agree to amend the Agreement, with such
amendments becoming effective May 16, 2011, as follows: 

	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 1.

 	
 Section 1(a)
 of the Agreement hereby is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the
 following: 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
 “(a) In the
 event that the Company (or Successor (as defined below), if applicable)
 terminates Barton’s employment with the Company (or Successor, as applicable)
 without Cause or Barton voluntarily terminates his employment with the
 Company (or Successor, if applicable) for Good Reason, in either case on or
 before July 14, 2014, then the Company (or Successor, if applicable) shall
 (i) pay Barton an amount equal to six (6) months of Barton’s base salary (at
 the annual rate in effect immediately prior to termination, excluding any
 reduction that would constitute grounds for Barton to terminate his
 employment with Good Reason); and (ii) pay on Barton’s behalf (for a period
 of six (6) months or such lesser period as Barton may elect) the full cost of
 premiums for continuation of any benefits that Barton is eligible under COBRA
 to elect to (and does elect to) continue.” 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 2.

 	
 Section 1(b)
 of the Agreement hereby is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the
 following: 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
 “(b) For
purposes of this Agreement, (i) “Cause” shall have the same meaning ascribed
to such term in the Letter; (ii) “Good Reason” shall have the same meaning
ascribed to such term in the Letter; and (iii) “Successor” shall mean any
person or entity that acquires all or substantially all of the Company’s
assets or into which the Company is merged or combined with the Company
ceasing to exist (or the successor to any such entity, whether by merger,
assignment or otherwise).”  

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 3.

 	
 Section 1(c)
 of the Agreement hereby is deleted in its entirety. 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 4.

 	
 Section 1(d)
 of the Agreement hereby is amended to replace the phrase “Section 1(a) or
 Section 1(b)” with the phrase “Section 1(a)(i)”. 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 5.

 	
 Section 13
 of the Agreement hereby is amended to delete the phrase “, except as
 specified in Section 1(c),”. 

 

1

	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 6.

 	
 Section 1(a)
 of Exhibit A to the Agreement hereby is amended to add the following to the
 end of the last sentence: “, or (vi) any rights under or in respect of any of
 (A) the agreements dated as of July 14, 2009 and March 28, 2011,
 respectively, related to the grants of restricted stock units, (B) the
 agreement dated as of March 28, 2011 related to the grant of stock options or
 (C) any written agreements that may be executed by the parties after March
 28, 2011 (collectively, the “Applicable Agreements”).” 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 7.

 	
 Section 1(c)
 of Exhibit A to the Agreement hereby is amended to add the following to the
 end of the last sentence: “or any other Applicable Agreements.” 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	
 8.

 	
 Except as
 expressly set forth above, the Agreement remains unmodified and in full force
 and effect. 

 
	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

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

 

THESTREET.COM,
INC. 

	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 By: 

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	

 

 	
  

 	

 

 
	
 Name:

 	
  

 	
  

 	
 Gregory
 Barton

 
	
  

 	

 

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
 Title: 

 	
  

 	
  

 	
  

 
	
  

 	

 

 	
  

 	
  

 

2

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