EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER AGREEMENTS |
9 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2022 | |
Employment Arrangements And Other Agreements | |
EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER AGREEMENTS |
NOTE H - EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER AGREEMENTS [1] On March 22, 2022, the Company entered into a new employment agreement (“Agreement”) with its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to which he continues to serve as the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for a four year term (“Term”), at an annual base salary of $535,000 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, pursuant to the Agreement, the Company granted the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, under its 2013 Plan, 600,000 restricted stock units (the “RSUs”, each RSU awarded by the Company to its officers, directors and consultants represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock) which terms provided for vesting in four tranches, as follows: (1) RSUs of which RSUs shall vest on March 22, 2023 and RSUs shall vest on March 22, 2024, subject to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer’s continued employment by the Company through each such vesting date (the “Employment Condition”) (“Tranche 1”); (2) RSUs shall vest if at any time during the term of the Agreement that the Company’s common stock (the “Common Stock”) achieves a closing price for twenty (20) consecutive trading days (“Closing Price”) of a minimum of $ per share (subject to adjustment for stock splits) and the Employment Condition is satisfied through the date such minimum per share Closing Price is achieved (“Tranche 2”); (3) RSUs shall vest if at any time during the term of the Agreement that the Common Stock achieves a Closing Price of a minimum of $ per share (subject to adjustment for stock splits) and the Employment Condition is satisfied through the date such minimum per share Closing Price is achieved (“Tranche 3”); and (4) RSUs shall vest if at any time during the term of the Agreement, that the Common Stock achieves a Closing Price of a minimum of $ per share (subject to adjustment for stock splits) and the Employment Condition is satisfied through the date such minimum per share Closing Price is achieved (“Tranche 4”). In the event of a Change of Control (as defined), Termination Other Than for Cause (as defined) or a termination by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Good Reason (as defined), in each case prior to the last day of the term of the Agreement, the vesting of all unvested RSUs shall accelerate (and not be subject to any conditions) and all RSUs shall become immediately fully vested. All RSUs granted by the Company to its officers, directors or consultants have dividend equivalent rights. Under the terms of the Agreement (which terms are substantially the same as the prior employment agreement with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer), 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 all of the Company’s patent portfolios and its investment in ILiAD Biotechnologies) (collectively, the “Incentive Compensation”). During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer did not earn any Incentive Compensation. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer earned Incentive Compensation of $850,000 and $1,785,000, respectively. 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 us or not; provided, that, the employment of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 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 Company’s assets, 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 the Chairman 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, RSUs or 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 “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 at an annual base salary of $175,000 and is eligible to receive incentive or bonus compensation on an annual basis in the discretion of the Company’s Compensation Committee. [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. |