R F INDUSTRIES LTD

The following table discloses the compensation awarded to, earned by, paid to or accrued to our named executive officers for services rendered to us for the years ended October 31, 2023 and 2022.

Summary Compensation Table

2023 Option Grants

On January 11, 2023, we granted incentive stock options to Mr. Dawson for the purchase of 63,636 shares, Mr. Yin for the purchase of 22,727 shares, and Mr. Bibisi for the purchase of 10,909 shares. The options vest over four years as follows: (i) one-quarter of the options shall vest on January 10, 2024; and (ii) the remaining options shall vest in twelve equal quarterly installments over the next three years, commencing with the first quarter following January 10, 2024. All incentive stock options expire 10 years from the date of grant. No other options were granted to the named executive officers during the year ended October 31, 2023.

Holdings of Previously Awarded Equity

Equity awards held as of October 31, 2023 by each of our named executive officers were issued under our 2020 Equity Incentive Plan and 2010 Stock Incentive Plan. The following table sets forth outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of October 31, 2023:

Outstanding Equity Awards As Of October 31, 2023

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, we did not adjust or amend the exercise price of stock options awarded to the named executive officers.

Employment Agreements; Incentive Plan; Change of Control Arrangements

Employment Agreements

Robert Dawson. On July 16, 2021, the Company entered into an employment agreement (the “CEO Employment Agreement”) with Robert D. Dawson, pursuant to which he continues to serve as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. The CEO Employment Agreement became effective on July 17, 2021 and replaced Mr. Dawson’s prior employment agreement that expired on July 17, 2021. The initial term of the CEO Employment Agreement ends on January 31, 2023, after which the CEO Employment Agreement shall automatically renew for additional one (1) year periods, unless either Mr. Dawson or the Company provides the other party with written notice of non-renewal at least ninety (90) days prior to the date of automatic renewal.

Under the CEO Employment Agreement, the Company agreed to pay Mr. Dawson an annual base salary of $425,000. Mr. Dawson will also be eligible to participate in the Company’s annual bonus plan, pursuant to which he will have the opportunity to earn a year-end bonus equal to fifty percent (50%) of his annual base salary. Under the CEO Employment Agreement, if Mr. Dawson’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than for “cause”, the Company is obligated to Mr. Dawson for (x) an amount equal to one year’s base salary as in effect at such time, and (y) the estimated pro rata portion of his target bonus that was earned through the date of termination, and the vesting period of all of Mr. Dawson’s unvested stock options and all unvested time-based restricted stock grants will automatically be fully accelerated as of the termination date. The foregoing provisions will not apply if Mr. Dawson voluntarily terminates his employment with the Company or is terminated for cause. Mr. Dawson’s annual base salary for fiscal year 2023 was $445,000.

Also, effective July 17, 2021, Mr. Dawson received a fully vested, ten-year immediately exercisable stock option to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The exercise price of this option is $8.69, which was the closing price on the date of the CEO Employment Agreement. The CEO Employment Agreement also provided that the vesting schedule of the remaining unvested portion of an option that was granted to him in 2017 was revised. On July 17, 2017, Mr. Dawson received stock options to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “2017 Option”). The award has an exercise price of $1.90 and vests as to 10,000 shares per year on each anniversary of July 17, 2017 (with 10,000 shares having vested on July 17, 2017) while he is employed by the Company. As of July 17, 2021, 50,000 shares remained unvested under the 2017 Option. Under the revised vesting schedule, provided Mr. Dawson is still employed by the Company, 25,000 shares of those unvested options under the 2017 Option vested on July 17, 2022, and the remaining 25,000 shares will vest on July 17, 2023.

Upon a Change of Control Transaction (as defined in the CEO Employment Agreement), all of Mr. Dawson’s time-based stock options and shares of restricted stock shall immediately vest, whether or not his employment is terminated. If, at the time of a Change of Control Transaction, Mr. Dawson’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than cause (as defined in the CEO Employment Agreement), Mr. Dawson will be entitled to receive a change of control cash payment in an amount equal to 12 months of his base salary.

Peter Yin. Mr. Yin was promoted to Chief Financial Officer on January 12, 2021. Mr. Yin is currently employed on an at-will basis without written employment agreement. Mr. Yin’s annual base salary for the fiscal year 2023 was $285,000.

Ray Bibisi. Mr. Bibisi was appointed to Chief Operating Officer in May 2022 and is currently employed on an at-will basis without written employment agreement. Mr. Bibisi’s annual base salary for fiscal year 2023 was $220,000.

Adoption of Fiscal Year 2023 Management Incentive Equity and Cash Compensation Plan

On January 10, 2022, the Board adopted an annual incentive compensation plan for officers (including the Company’s named executive officers) and certain senior managers of the Company and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 (the “2022 Compensation Plan”). Under the 2022 Compensation Plan, each participant (i) received an equity award as a long-term incentive, and (ii) is eligible to receive a cash payment after the end of the fiscal year as a short-term incentive.

Equity Awards. In order to provide long term incentives to the Company’s officers and managers, on January 11, 2023, the Board granted participating officers and managers shares of restricted stock and options to purchase the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan. Provided the participating officer or manager is still employed with the Corporation or its subsidiaries on the following dates, the shares of restricted stock and the options shall vest over four years as follows: (i) one-quarter of the restricted shares and options shall vest on January 11, 2024; and (ii) the remaining restricted shares and options shall vest in twelve equal quarterly installments over the next three years, commencing with the first quarter following January 11, 2024. The options have a ten-year term and an exercise price of $5.46 per share (which was the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant).

Mr. Dawson, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, was granted 31,818 shares of restricted stock and options to purchase 63,636 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.46 per share (the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant); Mr. Yin, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, was granted 11,364 shares of restricted stock and options to purchase 22,727 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.46 per share; and Mr. Bibisi, the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, was granted 5,455 shares of restricted stock and options to purchase 10,909 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.46 per share.

Cash Incentives. Under the 2023 Compensation Plan, cash incentive bonuses, if any, will be paid to certain officers and senior managers based upon (i) the Company’s achievement of specified financial goals and (ii) the Board’s discretionary review of each participant’s performance during fiscal 2023. The corporate goals will apply equally to all participating officers and managers. The subjective performance of each officer will be evaluated and determined by the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, after consultation with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.

The minimum, target and maximum cash bonus payable to the Chief Executive Officer is, respectively, 0%, 75% and 112.5% of his annual base salary, depending on achievement of the specified goals. For the other participants, the minimum bonus is 0%, the target bonuses range from 15% to 50% of base pay, and the maximum cash bonus payable ranges from to 22.5% to 75% of the recipient’s fiscal 2022 annual base salary. Bonuses will be weighted and based on (i) the Company’s achievement of certain fiscal 2022 revenues (weighted 30%), (ii) fiscal 2022 adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) (weighted 60%), and (iii) a subjective evaluation of each individual’s performance (weighted 10%). The calculation of adjusted EBITDA will exclude the impact of one-time charges related to any business acquisitions or dispositions effected during the year, severance payments, moving costs, the impact of the Federal Paycheck Protection Program loans the Company has received, earn-out payments or reversals, other non-recurring items, executive bonus payments and equity compensation expenses accrued to management. The Board and the Compensation Committee reserve the right to modify these goals, criteria and target percentage at any time, and to grant bonuses to the participants even if the performance goals are not met. In addition, the Board and Compensation Committee may modify the bonus plan targets to reflect significant changes in Company’s business, including changes due to acquisitions or dispositions of businesses or product lines. The 2023 bonuses will be paid within 75 days after the end to the fiscal year to participating officers and managers who are employed with the Company or its subsidiaries on the date of payment.

Change of Control Arrangements

As described in “Employment Agreements; Incentive Plan; Change of Control Arrangements--Employment Agreements--Robert Dawson,” above, Mr. Dawson is entitled to a cash payment and the acceleration of the vesting of certain of his options upon a Change of Control Transaction (as defined in his current employment agreement).

The outstanding stock options currently owned by the Company’s principal officers (including Messrs. Dawson, Yin and Bibisi) and division managers provide that, immediately prior to a change of control (as defined), all unvested stock options will become fully vested and exercisable. In addition, the shares of restricted stock granted to each of the non-executive directors for his/her services to be rendered during the current year, shall also become fully vested upon a change of control event.

The Company has no other change of control payment agreements that are currently in effect.

Compensation of Directors

Under the compensation policies adopted by the Compensation Committee, directors who also are officers and/or employees of the Company do not receive any compensation for serving on the Board. On September 8, 2022, the Board determined that the compensation payable to directors as Board fees for the next year ending with the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders will be $90,000 ($40,000 in cash and $50,000 in restricted stock). In addition, effective September 8, 2022, the Board determined that additional chair fees and committee member fees would be paid in cash as follows:

The restricted stock fees vest on the earlier of (i) one year from the date of grant, or (ii) the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders. The number of restricted shares granted to each director was 7,485 determined by dividing the amount of the fee by the closing price of the Company’s common stock from the date of grant ($6.68). Accordingly, on September 8, 2022, Mr. Holdsworth, Ms. Cefali, Mr. Cohenour, Mr. Garland, and Ms. Tidwell were each granted 7,485 shares of restricted stock. The cash fees vests in four equal quarterly installments paid in arrears commencing November 1, 2022.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION FOR 2023

On September 6, 2023, the Board determined that the compensation payable to directors as Board fees for the next year ending with the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders will be $90,000 ($40,000 in cash and $50,000 in restricted stock). On October 30, 2023, in an effort to conserve cash of the Company, the Board approved the reallocation of $20,00 in cash compensation to instead be reallocated to restricted stock thereby providing for $20,000 in annual cash compensation and $70,000 in restricted stock ("Director Compensation Reallocation”). In addition, effective September 6, 2023, the Board determined that additional chair fees and committee member fees would be paid in cash as follows:

*The Chairperson of the Board agreed to reduce his chair fee from $25,000 to $15,000 subject to potential reinstatement of the $25,000 as determined at the discretion of the Board during fiscal year 2024.

Based on the reallocation of cash compensation to equity compensation, the Company made two restricted stock grants to the directors as part of their Board equity fees. On September 6, 2023, Mr. Holdsworth, Ms. Cefali, Mr. Cohenour, Mr. Garland, and Ms. Tidwell were each granted 13,333 shares of restricted stock (“Initial Director Grant”), which was determined by dividing the $50,000 fee by the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant ($3.75). The restricted stock fees for the Initial Director Grant vests on the earlier of (i) one year from the date of grant, or (ii) the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. Holdsworth, Ms. Cefali, Mr. Garland, and Ms. Tidwell were each granted 6,756 shares of restricted stock (“Second Director Grant”), which was determined by dividing the amount of the reallocated $20,000 fee by the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant ($2.96). The restricted stock fees for the Second Director Grant vests in four (4) equal installments beginning on January 31, 2024 and quarterly thereafter until fully vested.