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SURGE COMPONENTS INC

For the period ended Nov 30, 2023. Filed Feb 28, 2024.

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FY2023 · Filed Feb 28, 2024

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Item 11. Executive Compensation

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information regarding compensation paid to our executive officers for the years ended November 30, 2023 and November 30, 2022:

Name and PositionFiscal YearSalary ($)Bonus ($)Stock Awards ($)Option Awards ($)All Other Compensation ($)(1)Total ($)
Ira Levy2023300,000150,000--64,957514,957
President CEO and CFO2022300,000318,40060,000-61,473739,873
Steven J. Lubman2023250,000112,000--48,331410,331
Vice President and Secretary2022250,000192,87737,500-48,308528,685
(1)Amounts in this column include payments for medical insurance, automobile allowance and life and personal insurance. With respect to Fiscal 2023, the amounts were comprised of the following items:
Medical InsuranceAutomobile AllowancesLife and Personal Insurance
Ira Levy$36,724$18,756$9,477
Steven J. Lubman$28,216$12,300$7,815

2022 Base Salary and Bonus

In February 2016, the Company entered into revised employment agreements with two officers of the Company. Pursuant to these agreements, the base salary for Ira Levy is $275,000 and the base salary for Steven Lubman is $225,000. The agreements continue until terminated by either party. In April 2021, the employment agreements for Ira Levy and Steven Lubman were amended to increase the base salary to $300,000 and $250,000, respectively.

The Company’s compensation committee may award these officers with bonuses and will review the base salary amounts for each of the officers on an annual basis to determine if any changes to the base salary amounts need to be made. Pursuant to the employment agreements, the officers are prohibited from engaging in activities which are competitive with those of the Company during their employment with the Company and for one year following termination. If the agreement is terminated other than for cause, the officer would be entitled to all base salary earned through the date of termination, accrued but unused vacation, all vested equity, and bonus amounts payable to the officer through the date of termination. The officers would also be entitled to receive an additional thirty-six months of annual compensation equal to the average of his base salary and bonus for the three calendar years prior to the date of termination, payable in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practice over a 52-week period.

The bonus granted to the named executive officers for 2022 was based on certain performance goals that were set prior to the year by the Compensation Committee and the executive, but ultimately the bonus is discretionary, as the Compensation Committee has the authority to make all final decisions regarding the amount and form of bonuses provided to the executive officers. For Mr. Levy, his target bonus amount is equal to fifty percent (50%) of his base salary, and Mr. Lubman’s target is equal to forty-five percent (45%) of his base salary.

In 2022 the Compensation Committee used four performance markers to guide their decisions regarding bonus amounts. The performance guidelines that were applicable to Messrs. Levy and Lubman’s bonuses for the 2022 year included individual performance goals, revenue growth, achieving the operating plan goals for specific divisions of the company, and achieving the operating plan for the company as a whole. Each performance guideline was generally intended to make up twenty-five percent of the potential bonus amount for each executive. Based upon the Company’s and the executives’ performance during the 2022 year, the Compensation Committee granted awards that were approximately one hundred percent (100%) of the executives’ target award amount.

2023 Equity Compensation Awards

We have historically granted fully vested stock awards and stock option awards. The amount of awards granted in any given year is determined based on the performance of the company and the executive in the previous year. Performance is generally based upon the same performance guidelines that are used for the annual cash bonus award for that year. The Compensation Committee sets a target award amount based upon a percentage of the executive’s base salary. At the end of the year, the Compensation Committee determines the cash amount that resulted from the previous year’s performance, with any discretionary adjustments that the Compensation Committee deems to be appropriate, and converts that cash amount into a number of shares of stock awards or stock option awards, as applicable.

During the 2022 year, the Compensation Committee set a target amount of twenty percent (20%) of base salary for Mr. Levy and a target of fifteen percent (15%) of base salary for Mr. Lubman. Following the end of the 2022 year, the Compensation Committee determined that Messrs. Levy and Lubman should receive equity awards equal in value to one hundred percent (100%) of their target award amount. The Compensation Committee used the Company’s stock price of $3.46 on April 10, 2023 to convert the resulting cash award into 17,341 stock awards for Mr. Levy and 10,838 stock awards for Mr. Lubman. The equity awards, if any, that will be granted to the named executive officers with respect to 2023 year performance will not be granted until the 2024 year, therefore they will be included in the compensation disclosures that we file for the 2024 year.

Employment Agreements

In February 2016, the Company entered into revised employment agreements (the “Levy Agreement” and the “Lubman Agreement”, individually, and collectively, the “Employment Agreements”) with Ira Levy and Steven Lubman, respectively, which provides the executives with a base salary of $275,000 and $225,000, respectively (“Base Salary”). In April 2021, the employment agreements for Ira Levy and Steven Lubman were amended to increase their base salaries to $300,000 and $250,000, respectively.

The executives shall receive an annual bonus as shall be determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee, as applicable, in its sole discretion, based upon criteria to be established in its sole discretion. The executives shall also be entitled to receive additional cash, equity or other compensation or benefits in consideration for their services to the Company, at such times and in such amounts as shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board or the Compensation Committee. In addition, the executives shall be entitled to receive grants of stock options, stock and/or any other equity incentive awards available to senior executives, under the Company’s equity incentive plans, at such times and in such amounts as shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board or the Compensation Committee.

The Employment Agreements will remain in effect until terminated by either the Company or the executive. In the event an executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreements), or if an executive resigns other than for Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreements), he shall be entitled to receive (i) any earned but unpaid salary, all vested equity, and any earned but unpaid bonus awards through the date of termination, and (ii) reimbursement for any unreimbursed business expenses incurred by him in accordance with the Company’s policy prior to the date of termination.

In the event an executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or if an executive resigns for Good Reason, including a Change of Control (as defined in the Employment Agreements) that is accompanied by the executive’s resignation within a twelve month period following that Change of Control, such executive shall be entitled to any earned but unpaid salary, all vested equity, and any earned but unpaid bonus awards through the date of termination. Such executive will also be paid an additional thirty-six months of annual compensation equal to the average of his base salary and bonus for the three calendar years prior to the date of termination, payable in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practice over a 52-week period. The Company shall also (i) accelerate the vesting on any of the executive’s unvested stock options, restricted stock grants or other equity incentive awards; and (ii) reimburse the executive for any unreimbursed business expenses incurred by him in accordance with the Company’s policy prior to the date of termination. In the event that the executive is terminated without Cause due to our inability to pay our debts when they generally become due, we will not be liable for the cash severance payments or the payment of annual bonuses due to the executive. The severance benefits potentially payable upon a termination other than for Cause or for Good Reason will be provided subject to the executive signing a general release of claims in our favor prior to payment.

In the event an executive’s employment is terminated by the Company upon death or disability, the executive or his estate shall be entitled to receive his salary then in effect along with all other fringe benefits (including, without limitation, family medical benefits) for a period of one year following the date of such termination. In addition, the executive or his estate shall have the right to exercise any unexercised and vested options for a period of ninety days following the date of termination and to receive payment for any accrued but unpaid vacation time.

The Employment Agreements contain customary non-competition and non-solicitation provisions that extend to one year after the date of termination of the executives’ employment with the Company. The executives also agreed to customary terms regarding confidentiality and ownership of product ideas.

Outstanding Equity Awards at November 30, 2023

NameNumber of securities underlying options, Unexercisable (#)Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options, Exercisable (#)Option Exercise Price ($)Option Expiration Date
Ira Levy50,00050,0001.4104/23/2025
Steven Lubman50,00050,0001.4104/23/2025
Ira Levy40,00040,0003.5503/15/2027
Steven Lubman40,00040,0003.5503/15/2027

Director Compensation for Year Ending November 30, 2023

The following table summarizes the compensation for our non-employee board of directors for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023. All compensation paid to our employee directors is included under the summary compensation table above. With respect to the 2023 fiscal year, the director compensation program consisted of a monthly cash fee of $2,500 per month, with the amount increased to $3,500 per month for a non-employee director that serves as the chairman of more than two committees on the Board of Directors. The non-employee directors are also eligible to receive equity awards, although there is no annual target amount set for the non-employee directors. In July 2021 the directors received an increase making the new monthly cash fee $3,000 per month and the amount for a non-employee director that serves as a chairman on more than two committees on the Board of Directors $4,000 per month.

NameFees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)Total ($)
Alan Plafker36,00036,000
Martin Novick36,00036,000
Lawrence Chariton36,00036,000
Gary Jacobs48,00048,000
Peter Levy36,00036,000
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