Apyx Medical Corp

INTRODUCTION

This Compensation Discussion & Analysis (“CD&A”) explains our executive compensation program for our named executive officers (“NEOs”) listed below. This CD&A also describes the Compensation Committee’s process for making pay decisions, as well as its rationale for specific decisions related to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

Although Apyx Medical qualifies as a “smaller reporting company” as defined by the SEC, which allows us to take advantage of scaled-back disclosure requirements, we are including more extensive narrative about our executive compensation program in an effort to be more transparent. We are also committed to keeping an open dialogue with our stockholders to help ensure that we have a regular pulse on investor perspectives and, as we continue to grow, we intend to further enhance our outreach efforts during 2024 and into the future.

(1) Assumed role as CFO on December 4, 2023.

(2) Departed role as CFO on December 4, 2023.

2023 Business Overview

We are an advanced energy technology company with a passion for elevating people’s lives through innovative products, including our Helium Plasma Technology products marketed and sold as Renuvion in the cosmetic surgery market and J-Plasma in the hospital surgical market. Renuvion and J-Plasma offer surgeons a unique ability to provide controlled heat to tissue to achieve their desired results. We also leverage our deep expertise and decades of experience in unique waveforms through OEM agreements with other medical device manufacturers. Below are key financial and operational highlights:

•Total revenue of $52.3 million, representing growth of 17.6% year-over-year

•Advanced Energy revenue of $43.4 million, representing growth of approximately 17.9% year-over-year

•Loss from operations of $17.3 million, vs. $23.6 million in 2022

On February 27, 2023, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the use of the Renuvion APR handpiece for the delivery of radiofrequency energy and/or helium plasma where coagulation/contraction of soft tissue is needed. Soft tissue includes subcutaneous tissue.

On April 28, 2023, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the use of the Renuvion APR handpiece for coagulation of subcutaneous soft tissues following liposuction for aesthetic body contouring.

On May 10, 2023, the FDA updated the Safety Communication to inform consumers and healthcare providers about the clearance for the Renuvion APR handpiece for coagulation of subcutaneous soft tissues following liposuction.

On June 14, 2023, we announced that we received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the Renuvion Micro handpiece, a new addition to the Renuvion production family. The Renuvion Micro handpiece was cleared with an indication for the delivery of radiofrequency energy and/or helium plasma where coagulation/contraction of soft tissue is needed. Soft tissue includes subcutaneous tissue.

WHAT GUIDES OUR PROGRAM

General Compensation Philosophy

The primary objective of our compensation program for employees, including our compensation program for executive officers, is to attract, retain and motivate qualified individuals and reward them in a manner that is fair to all stockholders. We strive to provide incentives for every employee and reward them for their contribution to the Company.

Elements of Pay

With these objectives in mind, our Board has built executive and non-executive compensation programs that consist of three principal elements - base salary, performance bonuses and grants of stock options.

The Decision-Making Process

The Role of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee oversees the executive compensation program for our NEOs. The Compensation Committee is comprised of independent, non-employee members of the Board. The Compensation Committee works very closely with its independent consultant and management to examine the effectiveness of the Company’s executive compensation program throughout the year. Details of the Compensation Committee’s authority and responsibilities are specified in its charter, which may be accessed at apyxmedical.com. The Compensation Committee makes all final compensation and equity award decisions regarding our NEOs, except for the CEO, whose compensation is determined by the independent members of the full Board, based upon recommendations of the Compensation Committee.

The Role of Management. Members of our management team attend regular meetings where executive compensation, Company and individual performance, and competitive compensation levels and practices are discussed and evaluated. Only the Compensation Committee members are allowed to vote on decisions regarding NEO compensation. The CEO reviews his recommendations pertaining to other executives (non-NEO) pay with the Compensation Committee providing transparency and oversight. Decisions on non-NEO pay are made by the CEO. The CEO does not participate in the deliberations of the Compensation Committee regarding his own compensation. Independent members of the Board make all final determinations regarding CEO compensation.

The Role of the Independent Consultant. The Compensation Committee engages an independent compensation consultant to provide expertise on competitive pay practices, program design, and an objective assessment of any inherent risks of any programs. Pursuant to authority granted to it under its charter, the Compensation Committee has hired Pearl Meyer & Partners, LLC (“Pearl Meyer”) as its independent consultant. Pearl Meyer reports directly to the Compensation Committee and does not provide any additional services to management. The Compensation Committee has conducted an independence assessment of Pearl Meyer in accordance with SEC rules.

The Role of Peer Group Companies. The Compensation Committee strives to set a competitive level of total compensation for each NEO as compared with executive officers in similar positions at comparable companies, which we define as our compensation peer group. The Compensation Committee looks to its independent compensation consultant to provide and analyze competitive market data for each NEO, comparing each of their individual components of compensation and total compensation to market. In addition to the peer group, Pearl Meyer may reference industry-specific, size-adjusted market survey data where appropriate. We continue to consult with Pearl Meyer on our compensation strategy on an ongoing basis.

The results of the survey confirmed that, consistent with our desired philosophy, our compensation arrangements were competitive with the marketplace, with some variation by individual.

2023 Executive Compensation Program

Base Salary

We pay base salaries to our Executive Officers in order to provide a consistent, minimum level of pay that sustained individual performance warrants. We also believe that a competitive annual base salary is important to attract and retain an appropriate caliber of talent for each position over time.

The annual base salaries of our Executive Officers are determined by our Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. All salary decisions are based on each Executive Officer’s level of responsibility, experience and recent and past performance, as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee benchmarks base salaries using a major independent consulting firm and using their recommendations and other information the Committee evaluates and establishes the base compensation for our executives.

Performance Bonus

The performance-based cash incentive bonus is designed to provide an opportunity for our senior executives, including our NEOs, to earn an annual incentive, paid in cash, based on the achievement of certain financial targets and/or strategic priorities. An executive’s incentive target is a percentage of their base salary. The Compensation Committee assessed our performance against certain financial metrics during 2023 with payouts measured on a scale of zero to 125% of target. The table below discloses the annual incentive targets for each NEO for 2023:

(1) Prorated based on time employed by the Company.

In 2023, we used Total Revenue, Operating Income (Loss) and Cash and Cash Equivalents as the financial performance metrics for determining annual performance bonuses because we believe it is important to focus on driving our top line revenue growth, while focusing on continued improvements to our gross product margins and efficiently investing in our operations to drive towards longer-term, bottom-line profitability. This ultimately results in our ability to maintain acceptable levels of cash burn, setting a path to generating positive cash flow through our overall business performance.

2023 Annual Incentive Plan Payouts. Based on the actual financial performance results, the funding for performance bonuses was set at 74.7% of each NEO’s applicable target. The Committee retains discretion to further adjust the award upward or downward based on its assessment of individual performance. The following table lists the actual awards earned by the NEOs in 2023:

Equity Compensation

We believe that equity ownership in our Company is important to provide our Executive Officers and key employees with long-term incentives to better align interests of executives with the interests of stockholders and build value for our stockholders. In addition, equity compensation is designed to attract and retain the executive management team and other key employees throughout the organization.

In January 2023, the Board approved equity awards to the NEOs. These equity awards were granted using incentive stock options to the extent permitted by the IRS. Stock options are intended to align the interests of award recipients with those of stockholders, since options deliver value only if Apyx’s stock price appreciates after they are granted. This characteristic ensures that the Executive Officers and key employees have a meaningful portion of their compensation tied to future stock price increases and rewards management for long-term strategic planning through the resulting enhancement of the stock price. The 2023 awards for each NEO were as follows:

(1) Executive's employment agreement provides for 150,000 stock options to be granted in January 2024 with 50% vesting on December 4, 2024 and 50% vesting on December 4, 2025.

The stock options vest one-third per year on the anniversary date of the grant over a 3-year period, expire on the 10 th anniversary of the grant date, and have an exercise price of $2.50 per share. Stock options are subject to the award recipient’s continued employment through each vesting date.

Stock option awards to Executive Officers and key employees are entirely discretionary. The CEO recommends to the Compensation Committee awards for individuals other than himself. The Compensation Committee considers this recommendation along with the prior contribution of these individuals and their expected future contributions to our growth. The Committee formulates and presents its recommended allocation of stock option awards to the Board of Directors for approval. The Compensation Committee then would make an independent determination on CEO stock option awards, again formulating and presenting its recommendation for the allocation of stock option awards to the Board of Directors for approval. The Board of Directors approves, rejects, or, if necessary, modifies the Committee’s recommendations.

Perquisites and Other Benefits

Our Executive Officers are eligible for the same health and welfare programs and benefits as the rest of our employees in their respective locations.

Our Executive Officers are entitled to participate in and receive employer contributions to Apyx's 401(k) Savings Plan. For more information on employer contributions to the 401(k) Savings Plan see the Summary Compensation Table and its footnotes.

Tax and Accounting Considerations

We regularly consider the various tax and accounting implications of our compensation plans. Section 162(m) of the Code generally prohibits any publicly held corporation from taking a federal income tax deduction for compensation paid in excess of $1 million in any taxable year to the CEO and the other “covered employees” as defined in the rule. Under the tax laws in effect before 2018, compensation that qualified as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code was deductible without regard to this limitation. Effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 generally eliminated the performance-based exemption, subject to a special rule that grandfathers certain awards and agreements that were in effect on November 2, 2017. While considering tax deductibility as only one of several considerations in determining compensation, the Committee believes that the tax deduction limitation should not compromise its ability to structure compensation programs that provide benefits to the Company that outweigh the potential benefit of a tax deduction and, therefore, may approve compensation that is not deductible for tax purposes.

Accounting considerations also play an important role in the design of our executive compensation program. Accounting rules, such as FASB ASC Topic 718-10-10, Share-Based Payment, require us to expense the cost of our stock option grants which reduces the amount of our reported profits. Because of option expensing and the impact of dilution on our stockholders, we pay close attention to the number and value of the shares underlying stock options we grant.

Compensation of Executive Officers

The following table sets forth the compensation paid to each of our Executive Officers for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 for services to our Company in all capacities:

(1)These columns represent the grant date fair value of the awards as calculated in accordance with FASB ASC 718 (Stock Compensation).

(2)The amounts for 2023 include compensation under the following plans and programs:

Amounts in the table above are pro-rated where applicable.

Pay vs Performance

This section is included to comply with the provisions of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. For a more comprehensive analysis of our compensation philosophy please see the General Compensation Philosophy section of this filing. In the table and footnotes below, “PEO” refers to our principal executive officer, Charles D. Goodwin.

(1)Reflects average compensation amounts for our non-PEO named executive officers for the respective years shown. Moshe Citronowicz, Todd Hornsby, Matthew Hill and Tara Semb are the non-PEO named executive officers for the 2023 year presented. Moshe Citronowicz, Todd Hornsby and Tara Semb are the non-PEO named executive officers for the 2022 year presented.

(2)The following table summarizes the adjustments from summary table total compensation to compensation actually paid:

Stock option grant date fair values are calculated based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model as of the grant date. Adjustments have been made using stock option fair values as of each measurement date using the stock price as of the measurement date and updated assumptions (i.e., term, volatility, risk free rates) as of the measurement date. The change in stock price was the primary driver for the adjustments in the table above.

The following table presents a comparison of our actual compensation paid to NEOs versus our total stockholder return and net losses:

Employment Agreements and Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

At December 31, 2023, we were obligated under four employment agreements.

(1)Employment contracts provide for the Executives to remain employed by the Company until such time as their employment is terminated pursuant to the terms of their Employment Agreement.

Charles D. Goodwin Employment Agreement

On September 17, 2020, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective as of September 17, 2020, with Charles D. Goodwin II, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (the “Goodwin Agreement”). The Goodwin Agreement amends and restates Mr. Goodwin’s original employment agreement, dated as of December 15, 2017, in its entirety. The term of Mr. Goodwin’s employment under the Goodwin Agreement commenced as of the effective date thereof and shall continue until terminated in accordance with the terms of the Goodwin Agreement. Under the Goodwin Agreement, Mr. Goodwin will receive an initial annual base salary of $450,000, which shall be reviewed from time to time and may be increased, but not decreased, by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) in its sole and exclusive discretion. Mr. Goodwin shall be entitled to participate in (i) any bonus or incentive plan available to the Company’s executives generally, on such terms as the Committee may determine in its discretion, and (ii) the equity-based incentive plans of the Company, pursuant to which he may receive awards thereunder, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors in its sole discretion from time to time and subject to the terms and conditions of such plans and any applicable award agreement.

In the event Mr. Goodwin’s employment is terminated as a result of death or disability, Mr. Goodwin or his estate shall be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary earned and accrued prior to the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination, (iii) a pro rata bonus for the year of termination, and, (iv) if Mr. Goodwin is eligible for and elects continuation benefits under COBRA, the Company will pay the employer portion of the COBRA coverage premium for the shorter of (x) the 12-month period following the date of termination, or (y) the time at which Mr. Goodwin becomes eligible for medical and dental benefits through another employer. In addition, Mr. Goodwin’s outstanding option grants shall continue to be treated in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and award agreement, provided that the portion of Mr. Goodwin’s options (i) that were exercisable as of the effective date of the Goodwin Agreement and (ii) that would have become exercisable on the next anniversary of the effective date following the date of termination shall become and remain exercisable for a period of 12 months following the date of termination.

In the event Mr. Goodwin’s employment is terminated by the Company for cause or by Mr. Goodwin without good reason, Mr. Goodwin shall be entitled to receive any unpaid base salary earned and accrued prior to the date of termination, and reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination. In addition, in the event Mr. Goodwin’s employment is terminated by Mr. Goodwin without good reason, Mr. Goodwin’s stock option grants shall continue to be treated in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and award agreement, provided that the portion of Mr. Goodwin’s options which were exercisable as of the date of termination shall remain exercisable for a period of 3 months following the date of termination.

In the event Mr. Goodwin’s employment is terminated by Mr. Goodwin for good reason, by the Company without cause, or in connection with a change of control (as defined in the Goodwin Agreement), Mr. Goodwin shall be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary and other benefits earned and accrued prior to the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination, (iii) a pro rata bonus for the year of termination, (iv) continued payment of his base salary for the twelve (12) month period following the date of termination, and (v) if Mr. Goodwin is eligible for and elects continuation benefits under COBRA, the Company will pay the employer portion of the COBRA coverage premium for the shorter of (x) the 12-month period following the date of termination, or (y) the time at which Mr. Goodwin becomes eligible for medical and dental benefits through another employer. In addition, Mr. Goodwin’s outstanding option grants shall continue to be treated in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and award agreement, provided that the portion of Mr. Goodwin’s options that (i) were exercisable as of the date of termination and (ii) would have become exercisable on the next anniversary of the effective date following the date of termination, shall become and remain exercisable for a period of 12 months following the date of termination.

The Goodwin Agreement contains customary non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality provisions in favor of the Company.

Matthew Hill Employment Agreement

On November 21, 2023, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement, effective as of December 4, 2023, with Matthew Hill, to appoint Mr. Hill as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer (the “Hill Agreement”). The term of Mr. Hill’s employment under the Hill Agreement commenced as of the effective date thereof and shall continue until terminated in accordance with the terms of the Hill Agreement. Under the Hill Agreement, Mr. Hill will receive an initial annual base salary of $425,000, which shall be reviewed from time to time and may be increased, but not decreased, by the Committee in its sole and exclusive discretion. Mr. Hill will also be entitled to receive a sign on bonus of $50,000 within 30 days of the Effective Date, subject to the recoupment of any unearned portion if Mr. Hill is terminated for Cause (as defined therein) or Mr. Hill terminates the Employment Agreement without Good Reason (as defined therein) prior to the one-year anniversary of the Effective Date. Pursuant to an option award agreement between Mr. Hill and the Company that will be delivered to Mr. Hill on or about January 2024, Mr. Hill will also be entitled to receive a non-qualified stock option to purchase 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on its principal exchange on the date of such grant, subject to the applicable vesting requirements. Mr. Hill shall be entitled to participate in (i) any bonus or incentive plan available to the Company’s executives generally, on such terms as the Committee may determine in its discretion, and (ii) the equity-based incentive plans of the Company, pursuant to which he may receive awards thereunder, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors in its sole discretion from time to time and subject to the terms and conditions of such plans and any applicable award agreement.

In the event Mr. Hill’s employment is terminated as a result of death or disability, Mr. Hill or his estate shall be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary earned and accrued prior to the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination, (iii) a pro rata bonus for the year of termination, and, (iv) if Mr. Hill is eligible for and elects continuation benefits under COBRA, the Company will pay the employer portion of the COBRA coverage premium for the shorter of (x) the 12-month period following the date of termination, or (y) the time at which Mr. Hill becomes eligible for medical and dental benefits through another employer. In addition, Mr. Hill’s outstanding option grants shall continue to be treated in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and award agreement, provided that the portion of Mr. Hill’s options (i) that were exercisable as of the effective date of the Hill Agreement and (ii) that would have become exercisable on the next anniversary of the effective date following the date of termination shall become and remain exercisable for a period of 12 months following the date of termination.

In the event Mr. Hill’s employment is terminated for by the Company for cause or by Mr. Hill without good reason, Mr. Hill shall be entitled to receive any unpaid base salary earned and accrued prior to the date of termination, and reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination. In addition, in the event Mr. Hill’s employment is terminated by Mr. Hill without good reason, Mr. Hill’s stock option grants shall continue to be treated in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and award agreement, provided that the portion of Mr. Hill’s options which were exercisable as of the date of termination shall remain exercisable for a period of 3 months following the date of termination.

In the event Mr. Hill’s employment is terminated by Mr. Hill for good reason, by the Company without cause, or in connection with a change of control (as defined in the Hill Agreement), Mr. Hill shall be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary and other benefits earned and accrued prior to the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination, (iii) a pro rata bonus for the year of termination, (iv) continued payment of his base salary for the twelve (12) month period following the date of termination, and (v) if Mr. Hill is eligible for and elects continuation benefits under COBRA, the Company will pay the employer portion of the COBRA coverage premium for the shorter of (x) the 12-month period following the date of termination, or (y) the time at which Mr. Hill becomes eligible for medical and dental benefits through another employer. In addition, Mr. Hill’s outstanding option grants shall continue to be treated in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and award agreement, provided that the portion of Mr. Hill’s options that (i) were exercisable as of the date of termination and (ii) would have become exercisable on the next anniversary of the effective date following the date of termination, shall become and remain exercisable for a period of 12 months following the date of termination.

The Hill Agreement contains customary non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality provisions in favor of the Company.

Todd Hornsby Employment Agreement

On September 17, 2020, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective as of September 17, 2020, with Todd Hornsby, the Company’s Executive Vice President (the “Hornsby Agreement”). The Hornsby

Agreement amends and restates Mr. Hornsby’s original employment agreement, dated as of January 1, 2018, in its entirety. The term of Mr. Hornsby’s employment under the Hornsby Agreement commenced as of the effective date thereof and shall continue until terminated in accordance with the terms of the Hornsby Agreement. Under the Hornsby Agreement, Mr. Hornsby will receive an initial annual base salary of $347,000, which shall be reviewed from time to time and may be increased, but not decreased, by the Committee in its sole and exclusive discretion. Mr. Hornsby shall be entitled to participate in (i) any bonus or incentive plan available to the Company’s executives generally, on such terms as the Committee may determine in its discretion, and (ii) the equity-based incentive plans of the Company, pursuant to which he may receive awards thereunder, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors in its sole discretion from time to time and subject to the terms and conditions of such plans and any applicable award agreement.

In the event Mr. Hornsby’s employment is terminated as a result of death or disability, Mr. Hornsby or his estate shall be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary earned and accrued prior to the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination, (iii) a pro rata bonus for the year of termination, and, (iv) if Mr. Hornsby is eligible for and elects continuation benefits under COBRA, the Company will pay the employer portion of the COBRA coverage premium for the shorter of (x) the 12-month period following the date of termination, or (y) the time at which Mr. Hornsby becomes eligible for medical and dental benefits through another employer. In addition, Mr. Hornsby’s outstanding option grants shall continue to be treated in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and award agreement, provided that the portion of Mr. Hornsby’s options (i) that were exercisable as of the effective date of the Hornsby Agreement and (ii) that would have become exercisable on the next anniversary of the effective date following the date of termination shall become and remain exercisable for a period of 12 months following the date of termination.

In the event Mr. Hornsby’s employment is terminated by the Company for cause or by Mr. Hornsby without good reason, Mr. Hornsby shall be entitled to receive any unpaid base salary earned and accrued prior to the date of termination, and reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination. In addition, in the event Mr. Hornsby’s employment is terminated by Mr. Hornsby without good reason, Mr. Hornsby’s stock option grants shall continue to be treated in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and award agreement, provided that the portion of Mr. Hornsby’s options which were exercisable as of the date of termination shall remain exercisable for a period of 3 months following the date of termination.

In the event Mr. Hornsby’s employment is terminated by Mr. Hornsby for good reason, by the Company without cause, or in connection with a change of control (as defined in the Hornsby Agreement), Mr. Hornsby shall be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary and other benefits earned and accrued prior to the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination, (iii) a pro rata bonus for the year of termination, (iv) continued payment of his base salary for the twelve (12) month period following the date of termination, and (v) if Mr. Hornsby is eligible for and elects continuation benefits under COBRA, the Company will pay the employer portion of the COBRA coverage premium for the shorter of (x) the 12-month period following the date of termination, or (y) the time at which Mr. Hornsby becomes eligible for medical and dental benefits through another employer. In addition, Mr. Hornsby’s outstanding option grants shall continue to be treated in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and award agreement, provided that the portion of Mr. Hornsby’s options that (i) were exercisable as of the date of termination and (ii) would have become exercisable on the next anniversary of the effective date following the date of termination, shall become and remain exercisable for a period of 12 months following the date of termination.

The Hornsby Agreement contains customary non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality provisions in favor of the Company.

Moshe Citronowicz Employment Agreement

Mr. Citronowicz employment agreement contains an automatic extension for a period of one year after the initial term unless we provide Mr. Citronowicz with appropriate 60 days written notice pursuant to his contract. Mr. Citronowicz’s employment agreement provides, among other things, that the Mr. Citronowicz may be terminated as follows:

a. Upon the death of the Mr. Citronowicz, in which case Mr. Citronowicz’s estate shall be paid the basic annual compensation due to Mr. Citronowicz pro-rated through the date of death.

b. By the resignation of Mr. Citronowicz at any time upon at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to Apyx in which case Apyx shall be obligated to pay Mr. Citronowicz the basic annual compensation due him pro-rated to the effective date of termination.

c. By Apyx, “for cause” if during the term of the employment agreement Mr. Citronowicz violates the non-competition provisions of his employment agreement, or is found guilty in a court of law of any crime of moral turpitude in which case the contract would be terminated and provisions for future compensation forfeited.

d. By Apyx, without cause, with the majority approval of the Board of Directors, for Mr. Citronowicz at any time upon at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to Mr. Citronowicz. In this case Apyx shall be obligated to pay Mr. Citronowicz compensation in effect at such time, including all bonuses, accrued or prorated and expenses up to the date of termination. Thereafter, Apyx shall pay Mr. Citronowicz three times the salary in effect at the time of termination payable in one lump sum.

e. If Apyx fails to meet its obligations to Mr. Citronowicz on a timely basis, or if there is a change in the control of Apyx, the executive may elect to terminate Mr. Citronowicz’s employment agreement. Upon any such termination or breach of any of its obligations under the employment agreement, Apyx shall pay Mr. Citronowicz a lump sum severance equal to three times the annual salary and bonus in effect the month preceding such termination or breach as well as any other sums which may be due under the terms of the employment agreement up to the date of termination.

During 2023, we were also obligated under an employment agreement with our former principal financial officer as follows:

Tara Semb Employment Agreement

On September 16, 2020, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective as of September 16, 2020, with Tara Harris Semb, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer (the “Semb Agreement”). The Semb Agreement amends and restates Ms. Semb’s original employment agreement, dated as of January 2, 2019, in its entirety. The term of Ms. Semb’s employment under the Semb Agreement commenced as of the effective date thereof and shall continue until terminated in accordance with the terms of the Semb Agreement. Under the Semb Agreement, Ms. Semb will receive an initial annual base salary of $328,000, which shall be reviewed from time to time and may be increased, but not decreased, by the Committee in its sole and exclusive discretion. Ms. Semb shall be entitled to participate in any bonus or incentive plan available to the Company’s executives generally, on such terms as the Committee may determine in its discretion.

In the event Ms. Semb’s employment is terminated as a result of death or disability, Ms. Semb or her estate shall be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary earned and accrued prior to the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination, (iii) a pro rata bonus for the year of termination, and, (iv) if Ms. Semb is eligible for and elects continuation benefits under COBRA, the Company will pay the employer portion of the COBRA coverage premium for the shorter of (x) the 12-month period following the date of termination, or (y) the time at which Ms. Semb becomes eligible for medical and dental benefits through another employer. In addition, Ms. Semb’s outstanding option grants shall continue to be treated in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and award agreement, provided that the portion of Ms. Semb’s options (i) that were exercisable as of the effective date of the Semb Agreement and (ii) that would have become exercisable on the next anniversary of the effective date following the date of termination shall become and remain exercisable for a period of 12 months following the date of termination.

In the event Ms. Semb’s employment is terminated for by the Company for cause or by Ms. Semb without good reason, Ms. Semb shall be entitled to receive any unpaid base salary earned and accrued prior to the date of termination, and reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination. In addition, in the event Ms. Semb’s employment is terminated by Ms. Semb without good reason, Ms. Semb’s stock option grants shall continue to be treated in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and award agreement, provided that the portion of Ms. Semb’s options which were exercisable as of the date of termination shall remain exercisable for a period of 3 months following the date of termination.

In the event Ms. Semb’s employment is terminated by Ms. Semb for good reason, by the Company without cause, or in connection with a change of control (as defined in the Semb Agreement), Ms. Semb shall be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary and other benefits earned and accrued prior to the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination, (iii) a pro rata bonus for the year of termination, (iv) continued payment of her base salary for the twelve (12) month period following the date of termination, and (v) if Ms. Semb is eligible for and elects continuation benefits under COBRA, the Company will pay the employer portion of the COBRA coverage premium for the shorter of (x) the 12-month period following the date of termination, or (y) the time at which Ms. Semb becomes eligible for medical and dental benefits through another employer. In addition, Ms. Semb’s outstanding option grants shall continue to be treated in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and award agreement, provided that the portion of Ms. Semb’s options that (i) were exercisable as of the date of termination and (ii) would have become exercisable on the next anniversary of the effective date following the date of termination, shall become and remain exercisable for a period of 12 months following the date of termination.

The Semb Agreement contains customary non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality provisions in favor of the Company.

The Semb Agreement was terminated on December 8, 2023.

There are no other employment contracts that have non-cancelable terms in excess of one year.

Outstanding Equity Awards

The following table presents information with respect to each unexercised stock option held by our Executive Officers as of December 31, 2023:

In July 2012, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2012 Share Incentive Plan covering a total of 750,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options to be granted under the plan. At December 31, 2023, options are no longer able to be granted from this plan.

In July 2015, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2015 Executive and Employee Stock Option Plan covering a total of 2,000,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options to be granted under the plan. At December 31, 2023, approximately 70,000 are available to be issued in this plan.

In August 2017, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2017 Executive and Employee Stock Option Plan covering a total of 3,000,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options to be granted under the plan. At December 31, 2023, approximately 10,000 are available to be issued in this plan.

In August 2019, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2019 Share Incentive Plan covering a total of 2,000,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options to be granted under the plan. At December 31, 2023, approximately 360,000 are available to be issued in this plan.

In August 2021, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2021 Share Incentive Plan covering a total of 1,375,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options to be granted under the plan. At December 31, 2023, approximately 250,000 are available to be issued in this plan.

In August 2023, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2023 Share Incentive Plan covering a total of 1,600,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options to be granted under the plan. At December 31, 2023, all 1,600,000 are available to be issued in this plan.

There have been no changes in the pricing of any options previously or currently awarded.

Compensation of Non-Employee Directors

The following is a table showing the director compensation for the year ended December 31, 2023:

*These columns represent the grant date fair value of the awards as calculated in accordance with FASB ASC 718 (Stock Compensation).

On March 15, 2022, the Board approved the following compensation arrangement for the Corporation’s non-employee directors:

Base Annual Director Fee

•the base annual cash compensation to be paid to each of the non-employee members of the Board shall be $40,000 per year.

Non-Executive Chair and Vice Chair

•in addition to the foregoing, the additional cash compensation to be paid to the Non-executive Chair of the Board shall be $30,000.

•in addition to the foregoing, the additional cash compensation to be paid to the Vice Chair of the Board shall be $27,500.

Lead Independent Director

•in addition to the foregoing, the additional cash compensation to be paid to the Lead Independent Director of the Board shall be $15,000.

Audit Committee

•in addition to the foregoing, the annual cash compensation to be paid to the Chair of the Audit Committee of the Board shall be $46,000 per year.

•in addition to the foregoing, the annual cash compensation to be paid to each of the members of the Audit Committee of the Board (other than Chair of the Audit Committee) shall be $7,500.

Compensation Committee

•in addition to the foregoing, the annual cash compensation to be paid to the Chair of the Compensation Committee of the Board shall be $10,000.

•in addition to the foregoing, the annual cash compensation to be paid to each of the members of the Compensation Committee of the Board (other than the Chair of the Compensation Committee) shall be $5,000.

Governance and Nominating Committee

•in addition to the foregoing, the annual cash compensation to be paid to the Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board shall be $5,000.

•in addition to the foregoing, the annual cash compensation to be paid to each of the members of the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board (other than the Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee) shall be $2,500.

Regulatory Compliance Committee

•in addition to the foregoing, the annual cash compensation to be paid to the Chair of the Regulatory Compliance Committee of the Board shall be $20,000.

•in addition to the foregoing, the annual cash compensation to be paid to each of the members of the Regulatory Compliance Committee of the Board (other than the Chair of the Regulatory Compliance Committee) shall be $5,000.

Annual Stock Option Grant

•each non-employee member of the Board shall be granted, on the date of the Corporation’s annual meeting of stockholders, an option to purchase 17,000 shares of the Corporation’s common stock at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Corporation’s common stock on its principal exchange, which vests ratably over a one (1) year period, and upon such other terms as the Board may resolve.

There have been no changes in the pricing of any options previously or currently awarded.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for determining the compensation of executive officers of the Company, as well as compensation awarded pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans.

In 2023, our Compensation Committee consisted of four independent members of the Board of Directors, Michael Geraghty (Chairperson), John Andres, Lawrence J. Waldman and Wendy Levine.

No member of the Compensation Committee is or has been an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. In addition, no member of the Compensation Committee had any relationships with the Company or any other entity that require disclosure under the proxy rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

Our Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K with management. Based on our Compensation Committee’s review of and the discussions with management with respect to the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, our Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in our Proxy Statement and in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for filing with the SEC. During 2023, our Compensation Committee consisted of four independent members of the Board of Directors, Michael Geraghty, who served as Chairperson, John Andres, Lawrence J. Waldman and Wendy Levine.