Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Employment Arrangements and Other Agreements

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Employment Arrangements and Other Agreements
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Employment Arrangements And Other Agreements  
Employment Arrangements and Other Agreements

Note J – Employment Arrangements and Other Agreements

[1] On March 22, 2022, the Company entered into an 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. The Agreement established an annual target bonus of $175,000 for the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer based upon performance. For each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer received an annual discretionary bonus of $175,000.

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) 175,000 RSUs which vested 100,000 RSUs on March 22, 2023 and 75,000 RSUs will 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) 150,000 RSUs shall vest if at any time during the Term that the Company’s common stock achieves a closing price for twenty (20) consecutive trading days (“Closing Price”) of a minimum of $3.50 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) 150,000 RSUs shall vest if at any time during the Term that the common stock achieves a Closing Price of a minimum of $4.00 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) 125,000 RSUs shall vest if at any time during the Term, that the common stock achieves a Closing Price of a minimum of $4.50 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, the vesting of all RSUs (Tranches 1, 2, 3 and 4) 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, 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 the 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) (collectively, the “Incentive Compensation”). During the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer earned Incentive Compensation of $130,000 and $-0-, 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 the Company 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 stock 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 months 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 Executive Vice President serves on an at-will basis at an annual base salary of $200,000. The Executive Vice President received a discretionary annual bonus of $25,000 and for each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. On January 8, 2024, the Company’s Executive Vice President was granted 15,000 RSUs under the 2022 Plan, 50% of such RSUs vest on the one year anniversary of the date of grant (January 8, 2025) and 50% of such RSUs vest on the two year anniversary of the grant (January 8, 2026), subject to continued employment. On January 24, 2023, the Company’s Executive Vice President was granted 15,000 RSUs under the 2022 Plan, 50% of such RSUs vested on the one year anniversary of the date of grant (January 24, 2024) and 50% of such RSUs will vest on the two year anniversary of the date of grant (January 24, 2025), subject to continued employment.

[3] In December 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors elected a new Chief Financial Officer who serves on a consulting basis at an annual base salary of $175,000. On September 8, 2023, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer was granted 50,000 RSUs under the 2022 Plan, 50% of such RSUs vest on the one year anniversary date of the grant (September 8, 2024) and 50% of such RSUs vest on the two year anniversary of the date of the grant (September 8, 2025), subject to continued services.