EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER AGREEMENTS
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3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2015
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Notes to Financial Statements | |
NOTE K - EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER AGREEMENTS |
[1] On November 1, 2012, the Company entered into an employment agreement (the Agreement) with its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for a one year term (which was automatically extended for two successive one year periods unless terminated by the Company) at an annual base salary of $415,000. The Agreement established an annual target bonus of $150,000 for the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer based on performance criteria to be established on an annual basis by the Board of Directors (or compensation committee). For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer received an annual cash bonus of $200,000. In connection with the Agreement, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer was issued a ten-year option to purchase 500,000 shares of the Companys common stock at an exercise price of $1.19 per share, which vests in equal quarterly amounts of 41,667 shares beginning November 1, 2012 through August 31, 2015, subject to acceleration upon a change of control. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer shall forfeit the balance of unvested shares if his employment has been terminated For Cause (as defined) by the Company or by him without "Good Reason" (as defined). Under the terms of the Agreement, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer also receives incentive compensation in an amount equal to 5% of the Companys gross royalties or other payments or proceeds (without deduction of legal fees or any other expenses) with respect 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 Companys royalties and other payments with respect to its other patents (including the Mirror Worlds Patent Portfolio and the Cox Patent Portfolio) besides the Remote Power Patent (the Incentive Compensation). During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer earned Incentive Compensation of $281,000 and $225,000, respectively, which amounts are included in accrued expenses.
The Incentive Compensation shall continue to be paid to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for the life of each of the Companys patents with respect to licenses entered into with third parties during the term of his employment or at anytime thereafter, whether he is employed by the Company or not; provided, that, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officers 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 the Chairman and Chief Executive Officers 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 $150,000 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 and warrants.
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] On April 9, 2014, the Companys Chief Financial Officer entered into an offer letter with the Company pursuant to which he continues to serve, on an at-will basis, at an annual base salary of $157,500 and is eligible to receive incentive or bonus compensation on an annual basis in the discretion of the Companys Compensation Committee. The Chief Financial Officer received an annual bonus of $30,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014. In connection with the offer letter, the Chief Financial Officer was issued under the Companys 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 vests in two equal amounts (25,000 shares each) on each of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015. In addition, in the event the Chief Financial Officers 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. |