12. Related Party Transactions

Employment Agreements

On September 8, 2017, the Company’s Board approved the appointment of Mr. Mark Duff as the Company’s new CEO, succeeding Dr. Louis Centofanti, who will serve as EVP of Strategic Initiatives and continue to serve as a member of the Board.

Immediately after the appointment of Mark Duff as the Company’s new CEO, the Company’s Compensation Committee and the Board approved, and the Company entered into, an employment agreement with each of Mark Duff, CEO (the “CEO Employment Agreement”), Dr. Louis Centofanti, EVP of Strategic Initiatives (the “EVP Employment Agreement”), and Ben Naccarato, CFO (the “CFO Employment Agreement”) and, collectively with the CEO Employment Agreement, the EVP Employment Agreement, and the CFO Employment Agreement, the “New Employment Agreements” and each individually the “New Employment Agreement”. The Company had previously entered into an employment agreement with each of Dr. Louis Centofanti and Ben Naccarato on July 10, 2014 which both employment agreements are due to expire on July 10, 2018, as amended (the “July 10, 2014 Employment Agreements”). The Company also had previously entered into an employment agreement dated January 19, 2017 (which was effective June 11, 2016) with Mark Duff which is due to expire on June 11, 2019 (the “January 19, 2017 Employment Agreement”). The July 10, 2014 Employment Agreements and the January 19, 2017 Employment Agreement were terminated effective September 8, 2017.

Pursuant to New Employment Agreements, which are effective September 8, 2017 (the “Initial Term”), (a) Mark Duff will serve as the Company’s CEO, with an annual salary of $267,000; (b) Dr. Louis Centofanti will serve as the Company’s EVP of Strategic Initiative, with an annual salary of $223,400; and (c) Ben Naccarato will continue to serve as the Company’s CFO, with an annual salary of $229,494. 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 Plans (“MIPs”) as approved by the Company’s Compensation Committee. The Company’s Compensation Committee and the Board approved individual 2017 MIPs on January 19, 2017 (which are effective January 1, 2017) for each Mark Duff, Dr. Louis Centofanti, and Ben Naccarato, which remain effective for fiscal year 2017.

Each of the New Employment Agreements is effective for three years from 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.

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.

If the executive officer terminates his employment for “good reason” (as defined in the agreements) or is terminated without cause (including the executive officer terminating his employment for “good reason” or is terminated without cause within 24 months after a Change in Control (as defined in the agreement)), the Company will pay the executive officer a sum equal to the total Accrued Amounts, two years of full base salary, performance compensation (under the MIP) earned with respect to the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination, and an additional year of performance compensation (under the MIP) earned, if not already paid, with respect to the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination. If the executive terminates his employment for a reason other than for good reason, the Company will pay to the executive the amount equal to the Accrued Amounts plus any performance compensation payable pursuant to the MIP.

If there is 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 termination, with such options exercisable for the lesser of the original option term or twelve months from the date of the executive officer’s death. 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)).

Robert L. Ferguson

Mr. Robert Ferguson (“Ferguson”) is a consultant to the Board and a consultant to the Company. In connection with his consulting work for the Company, on July 27, 2017, the Company granted an option to Ferguson for the purchase of up to 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (see information of this option in “Note 4 – Capital Stock, Stock Plans and Stock-Based Compensation”).