Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On July 1, 2019, Terra Tech Corp. (the “Company”) entered into Independent Director Agreements (the “Director Agreements”) with Steven J. Ross and Alan Gladstone.
Pursuant to the Director Agreements, the Company agreed to pay each of Mr. Ross and Mr. Gladstone $12,500 per month for a period of three years beginning on July 1, 2019. The cash compensation includes $10,000 per month for service as a Director and $2,500 per month for service as the Chairperson of one or more board committees. The Company also issued to each of Mr. Ross and Mr. Gladstone 86,805 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”), all of which vested on the date of appointment, and an option to purchase an additional 86,805 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of the closing price of the Common Stock on the date of the Director Agreements, which vest over a three-year period. In addition, a stock option and stock issuance of equivalent value are to be issued at the one year and two-year anniversary dates of the Director Agreements.
The Company may terminate either Director Agreement with or without cause at anytime upon ninety days written notice. Other than in the event of termination with cause, the Company shall be obligated to pay to each of Mr. Ross and Mr. Gladstone the remaining compensation for the term of the Director Agreement and expenses due up to the date of the termination. Furthermore, Mr. Ross’s and Mr. Gladstone’s outstanding and unvested stock options will accelerate and become vested, and the restrictions applicable to any outstanding restricted stock awards(s) will lapse and become vested in the event of termination or a change in control.
Additionally, on July 1, 2019, the Company entered into employment agreements (“Employment Agreements”) with each of its’ Executive Officers.
The Employment Agreement entered into with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Derek Peterson (the “Peterson Agreement”), is for a term of three years and beginning on the third anniversary of signing shall be automatically extended for successive one (1) year periods, unless the Company or Mr. Peterson provides the other at least ninety (90) days prior written notice before the next renewal term, that the term shall not be extended. Mr. Peterson’s base salary shall be Three Hundred Nine Thousand Dollars ($309,000) and he shall also be eligible for a performance bonus equal to 100% of his base salary (“Peterson Target Performance Bonus”). The Peterson Target Performance Bonus shall be based on performance and achievement of Company goals and objectives as defined by the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee and may be greater or less than the Peterson Target Performance Bonus.
The Employment Agreement entered into with the Company’s President & Chief Operating Officer, Michael Nahass (the “Nahass Agreement”), is for a term of three years and beginning on the third anniversary of signing shall be automatically extended for successive one (1) year periods, unless the Company or Mr. Nahass provides the other at least ninety (90) days prior written notice before the next renewal term, that the term shall not be extended. Mr. Nahass’ base salary shall be Two Hundred Eighty-Three Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($283,250) and he shall also be eligible for a performance bonus equal to 100% of his base salary (“Nahass Target Performance Bonus”). The Nahass Target Performance Bonus shall be based on performance and achievement of Company goals and objectives as defined by the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee and may be greater or less than the Nahass Target Performance Bonus.
In the event of termination by the Company without cause or by Mr. Peterson or Mr. Nahass for good reason or in the event of a change of control (“Qualified Termination”), Mr. Peterson and Mr. Nahass shall be eligible for the following severance benefits (“Severance Benefits”); (i) the greater of (i) the remaining compensation during the initial term of the James Agreement or (ii) an amount equal to two (2) times their then current annual base salary, paid in equal installments over a two (2) month period beginning with the first normal payroll period after the effective date of the Qualified Termination, less any taxes and withholding as may be necessary pursuant to law; and (ii) a number of shares of the Common Stock (or the common stock of a successor company following a change of control) with an aggregate value of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) (the “Stock Severance”) calculated by dividing (a) $2,000,000 by (b) the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”)) of a share of the Company’s common stock on the date of termination of employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Mr. Peterson and Mr. Nahass shall not be entitled to the Stock Severance if the total market capitalization of the Company (defined as the number of outstanding shares multiplied by the Fair Market Value of a share of common stock) on the date of termination of employment is less than $65 million.
The Employment Agreement entered into with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Michael James (the “James Agreement”), is for a term of three years and beginning on the third anniversary of signing shall be automatically extended for successive one (1) year periods, unless the Company or Mr. James provides the other at least ninety (90) days prior written notice before the next renewal term, that the term shall not be extended. Mr. James’ base salary shall be Two Hundred Fifty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($257,500) and he shall also be eligible for a performance bonus equal to 60% of his base salary (“James Target Performance Bonus”). The James Target Performance Bonus shall be based on performance and achievement of Company goals and objectives as defined by the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee and may be greater or less than the James Target Performance Bonus.
In the event of a Qualified Termination, Mr. James shall be eligible for the following Severance Benefits; (i) the greater of (i) the remaining compensation during the initial term of the James Agreement or (ii) two (2) times Mr. James’ then current annual base salary, paid in equal installments over a two (2) month period beginning with the first normal payroll period after the effective date of the Qualified Termination, less any taxes and withholding as may be necessary pursuant to law; and (ii) a number of shares of the Common Stock (or the common stock of a successor company following a change of control) with an aggregate value of One Million Two hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,200,000) (the “Stock Severance”) calculated by dividing (a) $1,200,000 by (b) the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) of a share of the Company’s common stock on the date of termination of employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Mr. James shall not be entitled to the Stock Severance if the total market capitalization of the Company (defined as the number of outstanding shares multiplied by the Fair Market Value of a share of common stock) on the date of termination of employment is less than $65 million.
The foregoing descriptions of the Director Agreements and the Employment Agreements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of such agreement, a copy of which is filed as an Exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K and which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.