Looking forward, we believe that as trends improve within the mineral exploration business and overall momentum is at our back, that share usage could moderate, allowing us to extend the
contemplated program approximately 4-5 years.
Material Features of the Stock Incentive Plan
The material features of the 2019 Plan are described below. A copy of the 2019 Plan was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) as Appendix A to the 2019 definitive proxy materials on Schedule 14A. The filing can be accessed at www.sec.gov or on the Companys web site at
http://www.odysseymarine.com/secfilings.php where a link is provided. In addition, stockholders who wish to request a paper copy of the 2019 Plan
may send correspondence to the Corporate Secretary, Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc., 205 S. Hoover Boulevard, Suite 210., Tampa, Florida 33609.
The purpose of the 2019 Plan is to assist us in retaining employees, consultants, professionals, and service providers who provide services to the
Company in connection with, among other things, our management, marine operations, corporate communications, research, geological services, business development and our obligations as a publicly-held reporting company. In addition, we expect to
benefit from the added interest that the participants will have in the welfare of our Company as a result of their ownership or increased ownership of our common stock. In the past we have utilized grants of stock options and stock awards to reduce
the cash expense of compensating persons we deem to be important to the ongoing success of our Company. We have also used stock awards and stock options as a tool to promote long-term retention of our officers and key personnel. This afforded us the
ability to utilize more of our cash for ongoing operations. We believe this is still a valid approach and important component of our compensation planning.
The 2019 Plan authorizes the grant of up to 800,000 shares of common stock (subject to adjustment for stock splits and similar capital changes) in
connection with restricted stock awards, incentive stock option grants and non-qualified stock option grants. Employees and, in the case of non-qualified stock options,
directors, consultants or any affiliate are eligible to receive grants under the 2019 Plan. As of April 1, 2022 there were 336,390 shares issued under the 2019 Plan for the exercise of stock options and awards, 113,559 shares forfeited, and
235,042 shares were subject to outstanding stock awards. As a result, 115,009 shares were available for future grants under the 2019 Plan as of April 1, 2022.
We believe that, for the foreseeable future, it is in our best interests to be able to continue to engage and compensate such persons through the
issuance of stock options or payment in shares of our common stock. For the foregoing reasons, the Board of Directors has unanimously adopted the increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the 2019 Stock
Incentive Plan by 1,600,000 shares, from 800,000 to 2,400,000 shares; and directed that such proposal be submitted for the approval of the stockholders at the annual meeting.
Eligibility for Participation in 2019 Plan
Persons eligible
for awards under the 2019 Plan include officers, employees, consultants, directors and service providers. The granting of awards is discretionary, and we cannot now determine the number or type of awards we will grant in the future to our executive
officers or other beneficiaries. We expect from time to time, in our discretion, we will grant awards to our executive officers or other beneficiaries under the 2019 Plan under such terms consistent with the 2019 Plan as we deem appropriate at the
time of those grants.
Administration of Plan
The 2019
Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee, subject to the provisions of the 2019 Plan, has authority in its discretion to determine the eligible participants to whom stock options or awards shall be granted,
the number of shares to be granted to each participant, and the time or times at which options or awards should be granted. The CEO or Chief Financial Officer makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee about equity awards to employees of
the Company. The Board of Directors also has authority to interpret the 2019 Plan and to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the 2019 Plan.
Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Amended Plan
The
following discussion is a summary of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to recipients of options or stock awards and to us with respect to options or stock awards granted under the 2019 Plan. While certain options allowed under the 2019
Plan are intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, no incentive stock options have been granted to date.
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