UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) March 30, 2016

THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY INC.
Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Nevada 000-55096 EIN 99-0367049
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)

7730 E Greenway Road Ste. 203
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (480) 656-2423

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[   ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[   ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a -12)

[   ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d -2(b))

[   ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e -4(c))


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

The information contained in Item 5.02 of this current report on Form 8-K is responsive to this item.

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

Effective March 31, 2016, we issued a total of 3,000,000 shares of our Series C Preferred Stock to Steven P. Nickolas and Richard A. Wright (1,500,000 shares to each), our directors and executive officers, pursuant to their employment agreements dated effective March 1, 2016. We issued these shares relying on the registration exemption provided for in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information contained in Item 5.03 of this current report on Form 8-K is responsive to this item.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Employment Agreement with Steven P. Nickolas

On March 30, 2016, we entered into an employment agreement dated effective March 1, 2016 with Steven P. Nickolas, our president, chief executive officer and director, pursuant to which Mr. Nickolas agreed to perform such duties as are regularly and customarily performed by the president and chief executive officer of a corporation, and any other duties consistent with Mr. Nickolas’s position in our company. Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement, we have agreed to (i) pay Mr. Nickolas $15,000 per month or such other amount as may be determined by our board of directors from time to time; and (ii) issue to Mr. Nickolas 1,500,000 shares of our Series C Preferred Stock (issued effective as of March 31, 2016). We also agreed that each of the following events constitute a “Negotiated Trigger Event” as defined in the Certificate of Designation for the Series C Preferred Stock: (i) the occurrence of a change of control event; (ii) the death of Mr. Nickolas; and (iii) the termination of the employment agreement for any reason.

In addition, we may (i) grant awards under our 2013 equity incentive plan to Mr. Nickolas from time to time and (ii) pay to Mr. Nickolas an annual discretionary performance bonus in an amount to be determined by our board of directors in its sole discretion. Mr. Nickolas will also be eligible to participate in other bonus programs offered by our company to our senior staff from time to time.

In addition, Mr. Nickolas will be entitled to participate in all of our employee benefit plans provided by our company to our senior officers. If we do not provide such plans at any time, we agreed to reimburse Mr. Nickolas for the reasonable cost of any such plans obtained privately. We also agreed to (i) provide Mr. Nickolas with vehicle leased in our company’s name, with lease payments not exceeding $700/month or such other amount as may be determined by our board of directors; (ii) pay Mr. Nickolas an allowance of $5,000 per month or such other amount as may be determined by our board of directors, which may be used by Mr. Nickolas as he sees fit, including without limitation, the funding of non-qualified retirement plans; (iii) reimburse Mr. Nickolas for any expenses that he incurs in connection with his duties under his employment agreement. Mr. Nickolas will be entitled in each year to five weeks’ paid vacation, in addition to weekends and statutory holidays, to be taken in installments of no more than three consecutive weeks of paid time off.

The initial term of the employment agreement is three years and, on the third anniversary of the effective date of the employment and on each annual anniversary date thereafter, the term of the employment agreement will automatically be extended by one additional year unless either party gives 90 days’ written notice to the other of its intention not to renew the employment agreement.


If, within 90 days of the occurrence of a change of control event, Mr. Nickolas resigns from his employment relationship with our company or our company terminates his employment agreement for any reason other than for just cause, then we agreed to pay Mr. Nickolas severance in an amount equal to the following: 36 months’ salary plus an amount, if any, equal to the following: one month’s salary multiplied by the number of calendar years, starting on the effective date of the employment agreement, that Mr. Nickolas is employed by our company under his employment agreement.

We may terminate Mr. Nickolas’s employment at any time for other than just cause by delivering to Mr. Nickolas written notice of termination. In such a case, we agreed to pay Mr. Nickolas severance in an amount equal to the following: 36 months’ salary plus an amount, if any, equal to the following: one month’s salary multiplied by the number of calendar years, starting on the effective date of the employment, that Mr. Nickolas is employed by our company under his employment agreement.

Subject to applicable employment laws or similar legislation, we may terminate Mr. Nickolas’s employment in the event he has been unable to perform his duties for a period of eight consecutive months or a cumulative period of 12 months in any consecutive 24 month period, because of a physical or mental disability. Mr. Nickolas’s employment will automatically terminate on his death. In the event Mr. Nickolas’s employment with our company terminates by reason of Mr. Nickolas’s death or disability, then upon and immediately effective on the date of termination we agreed to promptly pay and provide Mr. Nickolas (or in the event of Mr. Nickolas’s death, Mr. Nickolas’s estate); any unpaid salary and any outstanding and accrued regular and special vacation pay through the date of termination; reimbursement for any unreimbursed expenses incurred through to the date of termination; and any outstanding amounts due under any awards which will be dealt with in accordance with our 2013 equity incentive plan and award agreement. In the event Mr. Nickolas’s employment is terminated due to a disability, we agreed to pay to Mr. Nickolas the severance referred to above.

We may terminate Mr. Nickolas’s employment for just cause at any time by delivering to Mr. Nickolas written notice of termination. In the event that Mr. Nickolas’s employment with our company is terminated by our company for just cause, Mr. Nickolas will not be entitled to any additional payments or benefits (except as otherwise provided in his employment agreement), other than for amounts due and owing to Mr. Nickolas by our company as of the date of termination, except for any awards under our 2013 equity incentive plan will be dealt with in accordance with the plan and award agreement.

Provided that Mr. Nickolas has acted within the scope of his authority, we agreed to indemnify and save harmless Mr. Nickolas (including his heirs and legal representatives) against any and all costs, claims and expenses (including any amounts paid to settle any actions or satisfy any judgments) which: he may suffer or incur by reason of any matter or thing which he may in good faith do or have done or caused to be done as an employee, officer or director of our company, any of its subsidiaries or of any of their respective affiliates; or was reasonably incurred by him in respect of any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which he is made a party by reason of being or having been an employee, officer or director of our company, any of its subsidiaries or of any of their respective affiliates; provided that, the foregoing indemnification will apply only if: he acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of our company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective affiliates; and in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, he had reasonable grounds for believing that his conduct was lawful.

Mr. Nickolas agreed to indemnify and save harmless our company against, and agree to hold it harmless from, any and all damages, injuries, claims, demands, actions, liability, costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) incurred or made against our company arising from or connected with the performance or non-performance of his employment by him or the beach of any warranty, representation or covenant herein by him, other than claims by him pursuant to his employment agreement.

If and to the extent we maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for the protection of our executives in connection with acts and omissions occurring during their employment with our company, we agreed that Mr. Nickolas will be included as an officer and director who is covered by such policy on a basis no less favorable than made available to other executives of our company.


Cash Bonus to Steven P. Nickolas

Effective March 15, 2016, we agreed to pay Mr. Nickolas a cash bonus in the amount of $35,000 for past services that he has provided to our company.

Employment Agreement with Richard A. Wright

On March 30, 2016, we entered into an employment agreement dated effective March 1, 2016 with Richard A. Wright, our vice-president, secretary, treasurer and director, pursuant to which Mr. Wright agreed to perform such duties as are regularly and customarily performed by the vice president, secretary and treasurer of a corporation, and any other duties consistent with Mr. Wright’s position in our company. Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement, we have agreed to (i) pay Mr. Wright $14,000 per month or such other amount as may be determined by our board of directors from time to time; and (ii) issue to Mr. Wright 1,500,000 shares of our Series C Preferred Stock (issued effective as of March 31, 2016). We also agreed that each of the following events constitute a “Negotiated Trigger Event” as defined in the Certificate of Designation for the Series C Preferred Stock: (i) the occurrence of a change of control event; (ii) the death of Mr. Wright; and (iii) the termination of the employment agreement for any reason.

In addition, we may (i) grant awards under our 2013 equity incentive plan to Mr. Wright from time to time and (ii) pay to Mr. Wright an annual discretionary performance bonus in an amount to be determined by our board of directors in its sole discretion. Mr. Wright will also be eligible to participate in other bonus programs offered by our company to our senior staff from time to time.

In addition, Mr. Wright will be entitled to participate in all of our employee benefit plans provided by our company to our senior officers. If we do not provide such plans at any time, we agreed to reimburse Mr. Wright for the reasonable cost of any such plans obtained privately. We also agreed to (i) provide Mr. Wright with vehicle leased in our company’s name, with lease payments not exceeding $700/month or such other amount as may be determined by our board of directors; (ii) pay Mr. Wright an allowance of $5,000 per month or such other amount as may be determined by our board of directors, which may be used by Mr. Wright as he sees fit, including without limitation, the funding of non-qualified retirement plans; (iii) reimburse Mr. Wright for any expenses that he incurs in connection with his duties under his employment agreement. Mr. Wright will be entitled in each year to five weeks’ paid vacation, in addition to weekends and statutory holidays, to be taken in installments of no more than three consecutive weeks of paid time off.

The initial term of the employment agreement is three years and, on the third anniversary of the effective date of the employment and on each annual anniversary date thereafter, the term of the employment agreement will automatically be extended by one additional year unless either party gives 90 days’ written notice to the other of its intention not to renew the employment agreement.

If, within 90 days of the occurrence of a change of control event, Mr. Wright resigns from his employment relationship with our company or our company terminates his employment agreement for any reason other than for just cause, then we agreed to pay Mr. Wright severance in an amount equal to the following: 36 months’ salary plus an amount, if any, equal to the following: one month’s salary multiplied by the number of calendar years, starting on the effective date of the employment agreement, that Mr. Wright is employed by our company under his employment agreement.

We may terminate Mr. Wright’s employment at any time for other than just cause by delivering to Mr. Wright written notice of termination. In such a case, we agreed to pay Mr. Wright severance in an amount equal to the following: 36 months’ salary plus an amount, if any, equal to the following: one month’s salary multiplied by the number of calendar years, starting on the effective date of the employment, that Mr. Wright is employed by our company under his employment agreement.


Subject to applicable employment laws or similar legislation, we may terminate Mr. Wright’s employment in the event he has been unable to perform his duties for a period of eight consecutive months or a cumulative period of 12 months in any consecutive 24 month period, because of a physical or mental disability. Mr. Wright’s employment will automatically terminate on his death. In the event Mr. Wright’s employment with our company terminates by reason of Mr. Wright’s death or disability, then upon and immediately effective on the date of termination we agreed to promptly pay and provide Mr. Wright (or in the event of Mr. Wright’s death, Mr. Wright’s estate); any unpaid salary and any outstanding and accrued regular and special vacation pay through the date of termination; reimbursement for any unreimbursed expenses incurred through to the date of termination; and any outstanding amounts due under any awards which will be dealt with in accordance with our 2013 equity incentive plan and the award agreement. In the event Mr. Wright’s employment is terminated due to a disability, we agreed to pay to Mr. Wright the severance referred to above.

We may terminate Mr. Wright’s employment for just cause at any time by delivering to Mr. Wright written notice of termination. In the event that Mr. Wright’s employment with our company is terminated by our company for just cause, Mr. Wright will not be entitled to any additional payments or benefits (except as otherwise provided in his employment agreement), other than for amounts due and owing to Mr. Wright by our company as of the date of termination, except for any awards under our 2013 equity incentive plan will be dealt with in accordance with the plan and award agreement.

Provided that Mr. Wright has acted within the scope of his authority, we agreed to indemnify and save harmless Mr. Wright (including his heirs and legal representatives) against any and all costs, claims and expenses (including any amounts paid to settle any actions or satisfy any judgments) which: he may suffer or incur by reason of any matter or thing which he may in good faith do or have done or caused to be done as an employee, officer or director of our company, any of its subsidiaries or of any of their respective affiliates; or was reasonably incurred by him in respect of any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which he is made a party by reason of being or having been an employee, officer or director of our company, any of its subsidiaries or of any of their respective affiliates; provided that, the foregoing indemnification will apply only if: he acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of our company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective affiliates; and in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, he had reasonable grounds for believing that his conduct was lawful.

Mr. Wright agreed to indemnify and save harmless our company against, and agree to hold it harmless from, any and all damages, injuries, claims, demands, actions, liability, costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) incurred or made against our company arising from or connected with the performance or non-performance of his employment by him or the beach of any warranty, representation or covenant herein by him, other than claims by him pursuant to his employment agreement.

If and to the extent we maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for the protection of our executives in connection with acts and omissions occurring during their employment with our company, we agreed that Mr. Wright will be included as an officer and director who is covered by such policy on a basis no less favorable than made available to other executives of our company.

Cash Bonus to Richard A. Wright

Effective March 15, 2016, we agreed to pay Mr. Wright a cash bonus in the amount of $35,000 for past services that he has provided to our company.

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

Series C Preferred Stock

On March 30, 2016, we designated 3,000,000 shares of the authorized and unissued preferred stock of our company as “Series C Preferred Stock” by filing a Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada. Each share of the Series C Preferred Stock will be convertible, without the


payment of any additional consideration by the holder and at the option of the holder, into one fully paid and non-assessable share of our common stock at any time after (i) we achieve the consolidated revenue of our company and all of its subsidiaries equal to or greater than $15,000,000 in any 12 month period, ending on the last day of any quarterly period of our fiscal year; or (ii) a Negotiated Trigger Event, defined as an event upon which the Series C Preferred Stock will be convertible as may be agreed by our company and the holder in writing from time to time.

Item 8.01. Other Events.

Share Cancellations

In connection with the repayment of loans in the aggregate principal amounts of $1,500,000 (originally from Neil Rogers and Turnstone Capital Inc.) on March 4, 2016, 526,316 shares of our common stock issued to Neil Rogers and held in escrow and 1,500,000 shares of our common stock issued to Turnstone Capital Inc. and held in escrow were cancelled effective as of March 31, 2016.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)        Exhibits

3.1

Certificate of Designation

   
10.1

Employment Agreement dated effective March 1, 2016 with Steven P. Nickolas

   
10.2

Employment Agreement dated effective March 1, 2016 with Richard A. Wright



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY INC.

 

/s/ Richard A. Wright  
Richard A. Wright  
Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Director  
   
April 5, 2016  


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