Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

EMPLOYEMENT AGREEMENTS AND MIPS

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EMPLOYEMENT AGREEMENTS AND MIPS
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Employement Agreements And Mips  
EMPLOYEMENT AGREEMENTS AND MIPS

NOTE 18

 

EMPLOYEMENT AGREEMENTS AND MIPS

 

Employment Agreements

 

On April 20, 2023, the Company entered into employment agreements with each of its executive officers: Mark Duff, President and CEO; Ben Naccarato, EVP and CFO; Dr. Louis Centofanti, EVP of Strategic Initiatives; Andrew Lombardo, EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services; and Richard Grondin, EVP of Waste Treatment Operations (collectively the “New Employment Agreements” and each, individually, the “New Employment Agreement”). The Company had previously entered into employment agreements with each of the aforementioned executive officers on July 22, 2020, all five of which agreements were due to expire on July 22, 2023, but which were terminated effective April 20, 2023, upon the execution of the New Employment Agreements.

 

Each of the New Employment Agreements are substantially identical except for compensation. Under the New Employment Agreements, each of these executive officers is provided an annual salary, which annual salary may be increased from time to time, but not reduced, as determined by the Compensation Committee. In addition, each of these executive officers is entitled to participate in the Company’s broad-based benefits plans and to certain performance compensation payable under separate Management Incentive Plan (“MIP”) as approved by the Company’s Compensation Committee and the Company’s Board.

 

Each of the New Employment Agreements is effective for three years from April 20, 2023 (the “Initial Term”) unless earlier terminated by the Company or by the executive officer. At the end of the Initial Term of each New Employment Agreement, each New Employment Agreement will automatically be extended for one additional year, unless at least six months prior to the expiration of the Initial Term, the Company or the executive officer provides written notice not to extend the terms of the New Employment Agreement. Mr. Andrew Lombardo retired from the position of EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services effective January 1, 2024. Upon Mr. Lombardo’s retirement from the position of EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services, he no longer was an executive officer of the Company and his employment agreement dated April 20, 2023, was terminated effective January 1, 2024. Mr. Lombardo remains employed by the Company at a reduced capacity, and assists with the transition of his former responsibilities as well as contributing to certain business development matters.

 

Pursuant to the New Employment Agreements, if the executive officer’s employment is terminated due to death, disability or for cause (as defined in the agreements), the Company will pay to the executive officer or to his estate an amount equal to the sum of any unpaid base salary and accrued unused vacation time through the date of termination and any benefits due to the executive officer under any employee benefit plan (the “Accrued Amounts”) plus any performance compensation payable pursuant to the MIP with respect to the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination. In the event that an executive officer’s employment is terminated due to death, the Company will also pay a lump-sum payment (the “Cash Medical Continuation Benefit”) equal to eighteen times the monthly premium that would be required to be paid, pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), to continue group health coverage for the executive officer’s eligible covered dependents in effect on the date of the executive officer’s termination of employment, based on the premium for the first month of COBRA coverage. Such cash payment will be taxable and will be made regardless of whether the executive officer’s eligible covered dependents elect COBRA continuation coverage.

 

If the executive officer terminates his employment for “good reason” (as defined in the agreements) or is terminated by the Company without cause (including any such termination for “good reason” or without cause within 24 months after a Change in Control (as defined in the agreements), the Company will pay the executive officer Accrued Amounts, (a) two years of full base salary, plus (b) (i) two times the performance compensation (under the executive officer’s MIP) earned with respect to the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination provided the performance compensation earned with respect to the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination has not yet been paid, or (ii) if performance compensation earned with respect to the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination has already been paid to the executive officer, the executive officer will be paid an additional year of the performance compensation earned with respect to the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination, and (c) the Cash Medical Continuation Benefit. If the executive officer terminates his employment for a reason other than for good reason, the Company will pay to the executive officer an amount equal to the Accrued Amounts plus any performance compensation payable pursuant to the MIP applicable to such executive officer.

 

 

Additionally, in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the agreements), all outstanding stock options to purchase common stock held by the executive officer will immediately become exercisable in full commencing on the date of termination through the original term of the options. In the event of the death of an executive officer, all outstanding stock options to purchase common stock held by the executive officer will immediately become exercisable in full commencing on the date of death, with such options exercisable for the lesser of the original option term or twelve months from the date of the executive officer’s death. In the event an executive officer terminates his employment for “good reason” (as defined in the agreements) or is terminated by the Company without cause, all outstanding stock options to purchase common stock held by the officer will immediately become exercisable in full commencing on the date of termination, with such options exercisable for the lesser of the original option term or within 60 days from the date of the executive officer’s date of termination. Severance benefits payable with respect to a termination (other than Accrued Amounts) shall not be payable until the termination constitutes a “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)).

 

MIPs

 

On January 19, 2023, the Board and the Compensation Committee approved individual MIP for the calendar year 2023 for each of the Company’s executive officers. Each MIP was effective January 1, 2023, and applicable for year 2023. Each MIP provided guidelines for the calculation of annual cash incentive-based compensation, subject to Compensation Committee oversight and modification. The performance compensation under each of the MIPs was based upon meeting certain of the Company’s separate target objectives during 2023. The total potential target performance compensation payable ranged from 25% to 150% of the 2023 base salary for the CEO ($93,717 to $562,304), 25% to 100% of the 2023 base salary for the CFO ($76,193 to $304,772), 25% to 100% of the 2023 base salary for the EVP of Strategic Initiatives ($63,495 to $253,980), 25% to 100% of the 2023 base salary for the EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services ($76,193 to $304,772), and 25% to 100% ($65,308 to $261,233) of the 2023 base salary for the EVP of Waste Treatment Operations. Total compensation earned under the five 2023 MIPs were approximately $750,000, which is to be paid on or about 90 after year-end, or sooner, based on the Company’s filing of its 2023 Form 10-K. As disclosed above, Mr. Lombardo retired from the position of EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services effective January 1, 2024. He is entitled to compensation earned under his 2023 MIP as EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services.