Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Richard Wasielewski Resignation as Chief Executive Officer
(b)
As contemplated in the Amendment to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement entered into on December 19, 2018 between Nortech Systems Incorporated (the Company) and Richard Wasielewski, Mr. Wasielewski is resigning as Chief Executive Officer effective February 27, 2019, concurrent with the appointment of Jay D. Miller as described below.
Jay D. Miller Employment Agreement
(c) On February 18, 2019, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Jay D. Miller (the Miller Agreement) as the Companys President and Chief Executive Officer effective February 27, 2019. Mr. Miller has been on the Companys Board of Directors since May 9, 2018 and has been the Companys Interim President since January 1, 2019. The term of the Miller Agreement continues until February 26, 2021 and may be extended for an additional one year period by mutual consent of the parties. Under the Miller Agreement, Mr. Miller is entitled to receive an annual salary equivalent to $400,000 during the first year of the Miller Agreements term, subject to increase by the Board of Directors thereafter. Mr. Miller is eligible for bonus compensation (the Miller Bonus Payment) based upon his satisfaction of specific criteria to be determined for each calendar year by the Companys Compensation Committee, with a stated payout percentage of up to 50% of base salary under the bonus plan, of which 50% is guaranteed to Mr. Miller for the 2019 calendar year. Mr. Miller is eligible to participate in the Companys benefit plans that are currently and hereafter maintained by the Company.
Upon the effective date of the Miller Agreement, and pursuant thereto, the Company granted Mr. Miller (i) 100,000 equity appreciation rights under the Companys Restated Equity Appreciation Rights Plan and (ii) a 125,000 share non-qualified stock option under the Companys 2017 Stock Incentive Plan that will vest annually in five installments and (iii) 25,000 restricted shares of the Companys stock that will vest immediately. The stock option has an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Companys common stock on the grant date and expires on March 1, 2029.
The Miller Agreement has customary non-solicitation and confidentiality provisions.
Under the Miller Agreement, if Mr. Millers employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in the Miller Agreement) or by Mr. Miller for Good Reason (as defined in the Miller Agreement), so long as he has signed and has not revoked a release agreement, he will be entitled to receive severance comprised of (i) his base salary in effect at time of termination for the longer of (a) the remainder of the term of the Miller Agreement or (b) twelve months, (ii) the earned Miller Bonus Payment for the prorated bonus earned through the last day worked, (iii) if such termination occurs after the first anniversary of the Effective Date of the Miller Agreement , the vesting of his stock options and equity appreciation rights units, and (iv) certain benefits set forth in the Miller Agreement.
If Mr. Millers employment is terminated within 12 months after a Change of Control (as defined in the Miller Agreement) by the Company without Cause, so long as he has signed and has not revoked a release agreement, he will be entitled to receive severance comprised of (i) his base salary in effect at time of termination for the longer of (a) the remainder of the term of the Miller Agreement or (b) twelve months, (ii) the maximum payable Miller Bonus Payment for the year in which he is terminated, for the portion of such fiscal year through the date of termination, (iii) the vesting of his stock options and equity appreciation rights units, and (iv) certain benefits set forth in the Miller Agreement.
The foregoing summary of the Miller Agreement is qualified in all respects by the Miller Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by this reference.