ITEM
5.02 DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF
CERTAIN OFFICERS.
(c)
Appointment of new Chief Financial Officer
On
March 8, 2023, Oragenics Inc. (the “Company”) announced that the Board of Directors approved the appointment of Janet Huffman,
as the Company’s new Chief Financial Officer of the Company and Secretary and Treasurer.
Ms.
Huffman entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with the Company under the terms substantially similar to the employment agreements
of existing executives. Under the terms of her Executive Employment Agreement, Ms. Huffman’s employment with the Company became
effective March 7, 2023 and she receives an annual base salary of $250,000 and will be eligible for a Performance Bonus with a target
of 35% of her annual salary based on appropriate Company based and individual based targets in the discretion of the Compensation Committee
as approved by the full Board of Directors. Ms. Huffman will be eligible to participate in the medical insurance and other benefits available
to all employees except her annual vacation will be set at four (4) weeks.
In
connection with Ms. Huffman’s employment, she also was awarded stock options to acquire 7,000 shares of common stock under the
Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), at an exercise price of $4.00 which was the Company’s closing
price on the grant date. The options shall vest as follows: 1,400 options shall vest on the grant date, 1,400 options shall vest on September
7, 2023, 1,400 options shall vest on March 7, 2024, 1,400 options shall vest on September 7, 2024, and 1,400 options shall vest on March
7, 2025, in each case provided Ms. Huffman has remained in continuous employment with the Company through such dates.
The
Executive Employment Agreement is terminable at any time by the Company and upon 60 days’ notice by Ms. Huffman. Upon separation
for any reason Ms. Huffman shall receive her base salary accrued through the date of termination, and any vested rights and benefits
provided under employee benefit plans and programs of the Company. In addition, if Ms. Huffman’s separation from employment is
terminated by the Company without Cause or for non-renewal by the Company after the end of the Initial Term and Ms. Huffman signs a full
general release then the Company would be obligated to pay Ms. Huffman six months of her annual base salary as severance plus any earned
but unpaid Performance Bonus.
If
Ms. Huffman’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause during the period of 30 days following a Change in Control
and Ms. Huffman signs a full general release then the Company would be obligated to pay Ms. Huffman six months of her annual base salary
as severance, any earned, accrued but unpaid bonus Performance Bonus and Ms. Huffman’s Performance Bonus for the year of the Change
in Control at target level of performance. Additionally, with any such termination Ms. Huffman’s stock options or other stock awards
under the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan which are not vested shall vest as of her termination date. Under the Executive
Employment Agreement, “Change in Control” is defined as a transaction or series of transactions which constitutes a sale
of control of the Company, a change in effective control of the Company, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company,
or a transaction which qualifies as a “change in ownership” or “change in effective control” of the Company or
a “change in ownership of substantially all of the assets” of the Company under the standards set forth in Treasury Regulation
section 1.409A-3(i)(5).
In
the Executive Employment Agreement Ms. Huffman has agreed to duties of non-disclosure of Confidential Information, non-competition and
non-solicitation and Company ownership of developments provisions.
The
foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by the specific terms of the Executive Employment Agreement attached as Exhibit 10.1 to
this Form 8-K which is incorporated herein by reference.
We
issued a press release on March 8, 2023 regarding the effective appointment of Ms. Huffman as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer
and Secretary and Treasurer. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference.