VirTra Inc
For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Apr 1, 2024.
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FY2023 · Filed Apr 1, 2024
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Item 11. Executive Compensation
The following table summarizes all compensation recorded by us in the past two fiscal years for:
| ● | our principal executive officer or other individual acting in a similar capacity during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, |
| ● | our two most highly compensated executive officers, other than our principal executive officers, who were serving as executive officers on December 31, 2023, and |
| ● | up to two additional individuals for whom disclosure would have been provided but for the fact that the individual was not serving as an executive officer on December 31, 2023. |
For definitional purposes, these individuals are sometimes referred to as the “named executive officers.”
2023 Summary Compensation Table
| Fiscal · Stock · Option · All Other | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and · Year · Salary · Bonus · Awards · Awards · Compensation · Total | |||||||||||
| Principal Position · Ended · ($) · ($) · ($) · ($) · ($) · ($) | |||||||||||
| Robert D. Ferris (1) | 12/31/2023 | $349,860 | $12,334 | $ | $47,850 | $ | - | $410,044 | |||
| Executive Chairman | 12/31/2022 | $360,481 | $ | - | $80,702 | $ | - | $ | - | $441,183 | |
| John F. Givens II (1) | 12/31/2023 | $349,860 | $6,943 | $617,332 | $ | $ | - | $974,135 | |||
| Chief Executive Officer | 12/31/2022 | $188,065 | $ | $414,914 | $ | $ | $602,979 | ||||
| Alanna Boudreau (2) | 12/31/2023 | $185,385 | $307 | $36,800 | $ | - | $ | - | $22,492 | ||
| Chief Financial Officer | 12/31/2022 | $8,308 | $ | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $8,308 | |
| (1) | Messrs. Ferris and Givens served as Co-Chief Executive Officers from April 2022 until August 15, 2023, when Mr. Ferris became the Executive Chairman of the Board and Mr. Givens became the Chief Executive Officer. |
| (2) | Ms. Boudreau became the Chief Financial Officer of the Company on December 1, 2022. |
Executive Employment Agreements
On April 2, 2012, we entered into three-year Employment Agreements with each of Messrs. Ferris and Burlend that call for base annual salaries of $195,000 and $175,000, respectively, subject to increases based on the cost of living at a minimum. The agreements automatically extend for additional periods of one year. These contracts have been renewed annually with upward adjustments each year applying the same percentage increase approved for Company-wide cost-of-living adjustments. On January 1, 2021, Messrs. Ferris’ and Burlend’s annual base salaries were $248,791 and $223,274, respectively. The employment agreements entitle these executives to an annual cash bonus determined by our Board of Directors based on our performance. In addition, the agreements entitle these executives to participate in any stock option or restricted stock plan adopted by our Board of Directors. The amount of an award under any such plan and the vesting terms shall be as determined by the Board. In addition, we provide the executives with family medical insurance, $15,000 in life insurance, and participation in a 401(k)-retirement plan.
Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreements, we may terminate an executive’s employment for cause as defined in the employment agreement and such cause is deemed to exist as determined by our Board of Directors at a Board meeting at which the executive and his counsel are first given the opportunity to address the Board with respect to such determination. If Messrs. Ferris or Burlend is terminated by us for any reason other than for cause, or if either of them voluntarily terminate their own respective employment for good reason but not including a change in control, then we shall, subject to the terms of the respective employment agreements, be obligated to pay the executive who terminated his employment an amount equal to the greater of (a) the executive’s annual base salary in effect on the day preceding the date of such termination or (b) the executive’s annual base salary during the twelve full calendar months preceding the date of such termination, times three. If a change of control of our company occurs while the executive is our employee and within 36 months from the date of such change in control we terminate the executive’s employment for any reason (except for the death or disability of the executive or for Cause) or the executive terminates his employment for any reason, then we shall, subject to certain limitations, pay the executive any earned and accrued but unpaid base salary through the date of termination plus an amount of severance pay equal to the greater of (a) the executive’s annual base salary in effect on the day preceding the date on which the change of control occurred or (b) the executive’s annual base salary during the twelve full calendar months preceding the date on which the change of control occurred, times four. In addition, any stock options awarded to the executives shall immediately vest and become exercisable upon a change of control. If the executive is terminated for any reason other than the executive’s voluntary termination for good reason as defined in the employment agreement, the executive whose employment has been terminated is prohibited for a period of two years from the date of termination of the employment agreement from direct competition with us and shall not solicit any of our employees or customers. The employment agreements require us to indemnify each of the respective executives to the fullest extent permitted under Nevada law, our articles of incorporation and bylaws, which ever affords the greater protection to the executive.
On August 26, 2021, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, relying upon third-party studies and recommendations, took several actions to bring the compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) up to industry standards and provide meaningful incentive for future performance. The Committee increased the annual base salaries effective August 15, 2021 to $349,860 and $251,140 for the CEO and COO, respectively. While their salaries have been annually increased with Company-wide cost-of-living adjustments, this was the first comprehensive review and adjustment undertaken since 2012.
Beginning on the last business day of August 2022, a tranche of restricted stock units, having approximate values of $40,000 and $30,000 for the CEO and COO, respectively, based on current prices, may vest if the Company has achieved net profit for the twelve months ending June 30, 2022, of at least $2,500,000. For every $500,000 earned more than $2,500,000 another tranche will vest. If the maximum net profit of $7,000,000 is achieved, ten tranches would vest. Similarly, on the last business day of August 2023, a tranche of restricted stock units may vest if the Company has achieved a net profit of at least $3,000,000, with the potential to have additional tranches vest up to a maximum of $9,000,000 in net profit. This vesting arrangement continues with the last business day of August 2024, with the minimum net profit threshold being $3,500,000 and the maximum net profit being $11,000,000.
The vesting schedule notwithstanding, the Compensation Committee shall have the discretion to declare the vesting of any number of restricted stock units should the Company experience unusual results of operations, such as falling below the net profit threshold one year and exceeding the maximum net profit the following year, so long as the total number of restricted stock units declared to be vested does not exceed the amount awarded. Additionally, while a maximum net profit per year has been set for allocation of the available shares at this time, it is very possible that the Company will exceed these levels during the next 3 years and if such performance occurs, the Compensation Committee will meet to determine if additional compensation is in the best interests of the Company at that time.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, Matthew Burlend (the Company’s former Chief Operating Officer) redeemed 7,500 previously awarded options reaching expiration. The redemptions resulted in $20,550 of additional compensation expense.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, Bob Ferris redeemed 15,000 and 20,000 previously awarded options reaching expiration. The redemptions resulted in $29,251 and $54,051 of additional compensation expense.
On April 11, 2022, John F. Givens II was appointed as the Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company. VirTra has agreed to pay Mr. Givens an initial annual base salary of $298,990, subject to annual review. VirTra issued Mr. Givens a signing bonus of 64,815 shares of common stock which are restricted from transfer until the earlier of: i) 12 months of employment having lapsed or ii) the Company terminating employment with Mr. Givens without cause.
Mr. Givens was also granted 288,889 performance-based restricted stock units pursuant to the Company’s 2017 Equity Incentive Plan. Beginning on the last business day of August 2022, a tranche of restricted stock units, having an approximate value of $40,000, based on current prices, may vest if the Company has achieved net profit for the twelve months ending June 30, 2022, of at least $2,500,000. For every $500,000 earned more than $2,500,000 another tranche will vest. If the maximum net profit of $7,000,000 is achieved, ten tranches would vest. Similarly, on the last business day of August 2023, a tranche of restricted stock units may vest if the Company has achieved a net profit of at least $3,000,000, with the potential to have additional tranches vest up to a maximum of $9,000,000 in net profit. This vesting arrangement continues with the last business day of August 2024, with the minimum net profit threshold being $3,500,000 and the maximum net profit being $11,000,000.
The vesting schedule notwithstanding, the Compensation Committee shall have the discretion to declare the vesting of any number of restricted stock units should the Company experience unusual results of operations, such as falling below the net profit threshold one year and exceeding the maximum net profit the following year, so long as the total number of restricted stock units declared to be vested does not exceed the amount awarded. Additionally, while a maximum net profit per year has been set for allocation of the available shares at this time, it is very possible that the Company will exceed these levels during the next 3 years and if such performance occurs, the Compensation Committee will meet to determine if additional compensation is in the best interests of the Company at that time.
On August 31, 2022, the Company determined based on the vesting terms described above that the net profit (net income under GAAP) for the twelve months ending June 30, 2022, was $2,720,015 and therefore awarded 5,747 (prior to deduction of 1,840 shares to pay the tax withholding liability) and 7,407 shares of common stock to its Co-Chief Executive Officers.
The Company entered into a three-year employment agreement with Mr. Givens effective August 15, 2023 that provides for an annual base salary of $349,860, subject to increases based on the cost of living at a minimum. The agreement automatically extends for additional periods of one year. The contract shall be renewed annually with upward adjustments each year applying the same percentage increase approved for Company-wide cost-of-living adjustments. The employment agreement entitles Mr. Givens to an annual cash bonus if so determined by VirTra’s Board of Directors. In addition, the agreement entitles Mr. Givens to participate in any equity incentive plan adopted by the company.
In 2023, the Company determined that the net profit (net income under GAAP) for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 was at least $4,500,000 and therefore awarded 22,988 (prior to deduction of 9,142 shares to pay the tax withholding liability) and 29,360 (prior to deduction of 11,394 shares to pay the tax withholding liability) shares of common stock to its Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Employee Benefit and Equity Incentive Plans
Stock Options
Prior to October 2017, we periodically issued non-qualified incentive stock options to the directors under a stock option compensation plan approved by the Board of Directors in 2009. Terms of option grants are at the discretion of the Board of Directors and are generally seven years. These awards were suspended as of October 1, 2017. As of December 31, 2023, there were 15,000 options outstanding and 15,000 options exercisable at a weighted exercise price of $4.03.
On March 9, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a program under which we may repurchase outstanding vested Company stock options on an exception basis. Under the terms of the program, our Chief Executive Officer may cause us to redeem for cash any positive stock options for the net value of the stock option (stock price on the redemption date minus strike price). The cash redemption of stock options held by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Operating Officer must be approved by our independent directors. We retain the right to reject any redemption request that is not in the best interest of our company.
Profit Sharing
We have a discretionary profit-sharing program that pays out a percentage of our profits each year as a cash bonus to active and eligible employees. The cash payment is typically split into two equal payments and distributed pro-rata to employees in good standing at the time of distribution in April and October of the following year after the completion of the annual financial audit. For the years ending December 31, 2023, and 2022, the amount expensed to operations for this program was $1,260,431 and $300,000, respectively.
2017 Equity Incentive Plan
On October 6, 2017, the VirTra, Inc. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”) was approved by our stockholders. The Equity Plan is intended to make available incentives that will assist us in attracting, retaining and motivating employees, including officers, consultants and directors. We may provide these incentives through the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares and units and other cash or stock-based awards.
A total of 1,187,500 shares of our Common Stock were initially authorized and reserved for issuance under the Equity Plan. This reserve automatically increased beginning on January 1, 2018, and automatically increases each subsequent anniversary through 2027, by an amount equal to the smaller of (a) 3% of the number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31, or (b) an amount determined by the Board.
Appropriate adjustments will be made in the number of authorized shares and other numerical limits in the Equity Plan and in outstanding awards to prevent dilution or enlargement of participants’ rights in the event of a stock split or other change in our capital structure. Shares subject to awards which expire or are cancelled or forfeited will again become available for issuance under the Equity Plan. The shares available will not be reduced by awards settled in cash or by shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations. Only the net number of shares issued upon the exercise of stock appreciation rights or options exercised by means of a net exercise or by tender of previously owned shares will be deducted from the shares available under the Equity Plan.
The Equity Plan will be generally administered by the compensation committee of our Board of Directors. Subject to the provisions of the Equity Plan, the compensation committee will determine in its discretion the persons to whom and the times at which awards are granted, the sizes of such awards and all of their terms and conditions. However, the compensation committee may delegate to one or more of our officers the authority to grant awards to persons who are not officers or directors, subject to certain limitations contained in the Equity Plan and award guidelines established by the committee. The compensation committee will have the authority to construe and interpret the terms of the Equity Plan and awards granted under it. The Equity Plan provides, subject to certain limitations, for indemnification by us of any director, officer or employee against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with any legal action arising from such person’s action or failure to act in administering the Equity Plan.
The Equity Plan authorized the compensation committee, without further stockholder approval, to provide for the cancellation of stock options or stock appreciation rights with exercise prices more than the fair market value of the underlying shares of Common Stock in exchange for new options or other equity awards with exercise prices equal to the fair market value of the underlying Common Stock or a cash payment.
The Equity Plan limits the grant date fair value of all equity awards and the amount of cash compensation that may be provided to a non-employee director in any fiscal year to an aggregate of $300,000.
Awards may be granted under the Equity Plan to our employees, including officers, directors or consultants or those of any present or future parent or subsidiary corporation or other affiliated entity. All awards will be evidenced by a written agreement between us and the holder of the award and may include any of the following:
| ● | Stock options. We may grant non-statutory stock options or incentive stock options (as described in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), each of which gives its holder the right, during a specified term (not exceeding 10 years) and subject to any specified vesting or other conditions, to purchase a number of shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price per share determined by the administrator, which may not be less than the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the date of grant. |
| ● | Stock appreciation rights. A stock appreciation right gives its holder the right, during a specified term (not exceeding 10 years) and subject to any specified vesting or other conditions, to receive the appreciation in the fair market value of our Common Stock between the date of grant of the award and the date of its exercise. We may pay the appreciation in shares of our Common Stock or in cash. |
| ● | Restricted stock. The administrator may grant restricted stock awards either as a bonus or as a purchase right at such price as the administrator determines. Shares of restricted stock remain subject to forfeiture until vested, based on such terms and conditions as the administrator specifies. Holders of restricted stock will have the right to vote on the shares and to receive any dividends paid, except that the dividends will be subject to the same vesting conditions as the related shares. |
| ● | Restricted stock units. Restricted stock units represent the right to receive shares of our Common Stock (or their value in cash) at a future date without payment of a purchase price, subject to vesting or other conditions specified by the administrator. Holders of restricted stock units have no voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends unless and until shares of Common Stock are issued in settlement of such awards. However, the administrator may grant restricted stock units that entitle their holders to dividend equivalent rights subject to the same vesting conditions as the related units. |
| ● | Performance shares and performance units. Performance shares and performance units are awards that will result in a payment to their holder only if specified performance goals are achieved during a specified performance period. Performance share awards are rights denominated in shares of our Common Stock, while performance unit awards are rights denominated in dollars. The administrator establishes the applicable performance goals based on one or more measures of business performance enumerated in the Equity Plan, such as revenue, gross margin, net income or total stockholder return. To the extent earned, performance share and unit awards may be settled in cash or in shares of our Common Stock. Holders of performance shares or performance units have no voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends unless and until shares of Common Stock are issued in settlement of such awards. However, the administrator may grant performance shares that entitle their holders to dividend equivalent rights subject to the same vesting conditions as the related units. |
| ● | Cash-based awards and other stock-based awards. The administrator may grant cash-based awards that specify a monetary payment or range of payments or other stock-based awards that specify a number or range of shares or units that, in either case, are subject to vesting or other conditions specified by the administrator. Settlement of these awards may be in cash or shares of our Common Stock, as determined by the administrator. Their holder will have no voting rights or right to receive cash dividends unless and until shares of our Common Stock are issued pursuant to the award. The administrator may grant dividend equivalent rights with respect to other stock-based awards. |
In the event of a change in control as described in the Equity Plan, the acquiring or successor entity may assume or continue all or any awards outstanding under the Equity Plan or substitute substantially equivalent awards. Any awards which are not assumed or continued in connection with a change in control or are not exercised or settled prior to the change in control will terminate effective as of the time of the change in control. The compensation committee may provide for the acceleration of vesting of any or all outstanding awards upon such terms and to such extent as it determines, except that the vesting of all awards held by members of the Board of Directors who are not employees will automatically be accelerated in full. The Equity Plan also authorizes the compensation committee, in its discretion and without the consent of any participant, to cancel each or any outstanding award denominated in shares upon a change in control in exchange for a payment to the participant with respect to each share subject to the cancelled award of an amount equal to the excess of the consideration to be paid per share of Common Stock in the change in control transaction over the exercise price per share, if any, under the award.
The Equity Plan will continue in effect until it is terminated by the administrator, provided, however, that all awards will be granted, if at all, within 10 years of its effective date. The administrator may amend, suspend or terminate the Equity Plan at any time, provided that without stockholder approval, the plan cannot be amended to increase the number of shares authorized, change the class of persons eligible to receive incentive stock options, or effect any other change that would require stockholder approval under any applicable law or listing rule.
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2023 Fiscal Year-End
The following table provides information concerning unexercised options, stock that has not vested and equity incentive plan awards for each named executive officer outstanding as of December 31, 2023:
| OPTION AWARDS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Grant Date | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Un exercisable | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date |
| Robert D. Ferris | 4/1/2017 | 5,000 | - | - | $4.30 | 4/1/2024 |
| 7/1/2017 | 5,000 | - | - | $3.76 | 7/1/2024 | |
| Total | 10,000 | |||||
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table sets forth securities authorized for issuance under any equity compensation plans approved by our stockholders as well as any equity compensation plans not approved by our stockholders as of December 31, 2023.
| Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a) · Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) · Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a) (c) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan category | ||||
| Plans approved by our stockholders: | ||||
| VirTra, Inc. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan | - | $ | - | 1,259,819 |
| Plans not approved by stockholders: | ||||
| Stock Option Plan (1) | 234,167 | $2.47 | - | |
(1) Prior to the approval of the VirTra, Inc. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, we periodically issued non-qualified stock options to key employees, officers and directors under a stock option compensation plan approved solely by the Board of Directors since 2009. The terms of the options granted were at the discretion of the Board of Directors and were generally seven years in term prior to expiration.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.