EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER AGREEMENTS |
9 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2019 | |
Notes to Financial Statements | |
NOTE H - EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER AGREEMENTS |
[1] On July 14, 2016, the Company entered into a new employment agreement ("Agreement") with its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to which he continues to serve the Company in such positions for a five year term, at an annual base salary of $475,000 which shall be increased by 3% per annum during the term of the Agreement. The Agreement established an annual target bonus of $175,000 for the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer based upon performance. In addition, the Company granted to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, under its 2013 Stock Incentive Plan, 750,000 restricted stock units ("RSUs"). The Agreement provided for the 750,000 RSUs to vest in the three tranches, as follows: (i) 250,000 RSUs shall vest on July 14, 2018, subject to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer's continued employment by the Company through the vesting date (the "Employment Condition"); (ii) 250,000 RSUs shall vest at any time beginning July 14, 2018 through July 14, 2021 in equal annual installments for the remaining term of employment, subject to (1) the Employment Condition being satisfied through each such annual vesting date and (2) the Company's common stock achieving a closing price (for 20 consecutive trading days) of a minimum of $3.25 per share (subject to adjustment for stock splits) at any time during the term of employment; and (iii) 250,000 RSUs vest at any time beginning July 14, 2018 through July 14, 2021 in equal annual installments for the remaining term of employment subject to (1) the Employment Condition being satisfied through each such annual vesting date and (2) the Company's common stock achieving a closing price (for 20 consecutive trading days) of a minimum of $4.25 per share (subject to adjustment for stock splits) at any time during the term of employment. The aforementioned stock price vesting conditions of $3.25 per share and $4.25 per share have been satisfied. Notwithstanding the above, in the event of a Change of Control (as defined), a Termination Other Than for Cause (as defined), or a termination of employment by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Good Reason (as defined), all of the 750,000 RSUs shall accelerate and become immediately fully vested.
Under the terms of the Agreement, so long as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer continues to serve as an executive officer of the Company, whether pursuant to the Agreement or otherwise, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer shall also receive incentive compensation in an amount equal to 5% of the Company's gross royalties or other payments from Licensing Activities (as defined) (without deduction of legal fees or any other expenses) with respect to its Remote Power Patent and a 10% net interest (gross royalties and other payments after deduction of all legal fees and litigation expenses related to licensing, enforcement and sale activities, but in no event shall he receive less than 6.25% of the gross recovery) of the Company's royalties and other payments relating to Licensing Activities with respect to patents other than the Remote Power Patent (including the Mirror Worlds Patent Portfolio, Cox Patent Portfolio and M2M/IoT Patent Portfolio) (collectively, the "Incentive Compensation"). During the three months ended September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer earned Incentive Compensation of $26,000 and $90,000, respectively. During the nine months end September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer earned Incentive Compensation of $86,000 and $1,087,000, respectively. As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, $26,000 and $109,000 of such compensation were included in accrued expenses, respectively.
On July 14, 2018, 375,000 RSUs owned by the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer vested in accordance with the above referenced terms of the Agreement. With respect to such vesting of RSUs, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer delivered 172,313 shares of common stock to satisfy withholding taxes and received 202,687 net shares of common stock. On July 14, 2019, 125,000 additional restricted stock units owned by the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer vested in accordance with the Agreement. With respect to the vesting of such restricted stock units, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer delivered 56,813 shares of common stock to satisfy withholding taxes and received 68,187 net shares of common stock.
The Incentive Compensation shall continue to be paid to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for the life of each of the Company's patents with respect to licenses entered into with third parties during the term of his employment or at any time thereafter, whether he is employed by the Company or not; provided, that, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer's employment has not been terminated by the Company "For Cause" (as defined) or terminated by him without "Good Reason" (as defined). In the event of a merger or sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, the Company has the option to extinguish the right of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer to receive future Incentive Compensation by payment to him of a lump sum payment, in an amount equal to the fair market value of such future interest as determined by an independent third party expert if the parties do not reach agreement as to such value. In the event that theChairman and Chief Executive Officer's employment is terminated by the Company "Other Than For Cause" (as defined) or by him for "Good Reason" (as defined), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer shall also be entitled to (i) a lump sum severance payment of 12 months base salary, (ii) a pro-rated portion of the $175,000 target bonus provided bonus criteria have been satisfied on a pro-rated basis through the calendar quarter in which the termination occurs and (iii) accelerated vesting of all unvested options, warrants, RSUs and other awards.
In connection with the Agreement, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer has also agreed not to compete with the Company as follows: (i) during the term of the Agreement and for a period of 12 months thereafter if his employment is terminated by us "Other Than For Cause" (as defined) provided he is paid his 12 month base salary severance amount and (ii) for a period of two years from the termination date, if terminated "For Cause" by the Company or "Without Good Reason" by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
[2] The Company's Chief Financial Officer serves on an at-will basis, pursuant to an offer letter, dated April 9, 2014, at an annual base salary of $175,000 (increased in June 2016 from $157,500) and is eligible to receive incentive or bonus compensation on an annual basis in the discretion of the Company's Compensation Committee. In connection with the offer letter, the Chief Financial Officer was issued, under the Company's 2013 Stock Incentive Plan, a 5-year stock option to purchase 50,000 shares of the common stock, at an exercise price of $1.65 per share, which option vested in two equal amounts (25,000 shares each) on each of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015. In the event the Chief Financial Officer's employment is terminated without "Good Cause" (as defined), he shall receive (i) (a) 6 months base salary or (b) 12 months base salary in the event of a termination without "Good Cause" within 6 months following a "Change of Control" of the Company (as defined) and (ii) accelerated vesting of all remaining unvested shares underlying his options or any other awards he may receive in the future. On June 9, 2016, the Company granted 50,000 RSUs to its Chief Financial Officer, which vested 25,000 RSUs on June 9, 2017 and 25,000 RSUs on June 9, 2018. On November 27, 2018, the Company's Chief Financial Officer was granted 40,000 RSUs, with 50% of such RSUs vesting on the one year anniversary of the grant date (November 27, 2019) and 50% vesting on the two year anniversary of the grant date (November 27, 2020), subject to the Chief Financial Officer's continued employment by the Company.
[3] The Company's Executive Vice President serves on an at-will basis at an annual base salary of $200,000 and is eligible to receive incentive or bonus compensation on an annual basis in the discretion of the Company's Compensation Committee. On June 9, 2016, the Company granted 50,000 RSUs to its Executive Vice President which vested 25,000 RSUs on June 9, 2017 and 25,000 RSUs on June 9, 2018. On November 27, 2018, the Executive Vice President was granted 50,000 RSUs which vest 50% on the one year anniversary of the grant date (November 27, 2019) and 50% on the two year anniversary of the grant date (November 27, 2020), subject to the Executive Vice President's continued employment by the Company. |