UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant ☒ |
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
☐ |
Check
the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
☐ |
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as
permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☒ |
Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ |
Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ |
Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Perma-Fix
Environmental Services, Inc.
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
☒ |
No
fee required. |
|
|
☐ |
Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials. |
|
|
☐ |
Fee
computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
PERMA-FIX
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
8302
Dunwoody Place, Suite 250
Atlanta,
Georgia 30350
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING
To
Be Held July 20, 2023
To
the Stockholders of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.:
Notice
is hereby given that the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Meeting”) of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (“Company”,
“we”, “our”, or “us”) will be held at The Westin Atlanta Airport, 4736 Best Road, Atlanta, Georgia
30337, on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. (EDT), for the following purposes:
| 1. | To
elect nine directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their
respective successors are duly elected and qualified (Proposal 1); |
| 2. | To
approve the Second Amendment to the Company’s 2017 Stock Option Plan (Proposal 2); |
| 3. | To
ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the independent registered public accounting
firm of the Company for the 2023 fiscal year (Proposal 3); |
| 4. | To
approve, on an advisory basis, the 2022 compensation of our named executive officers as described
herein (Proposal 4); and |
| 5. | To
recommend, by non-binding vote, the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation
(Proposal 5); |
| 6. | To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting and at any adjournments
thereof. |
Only
stockholders of record at the close of business on June 1, 2023, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting or at any
postponement or adjournment thereof.
The
Company is taking advantage of the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) that allow issuers
to provide electronic access to proxy materials over the Internet instead of mailing printed copies of those materials to each stockholder.
The Company believes that furnishing these materials electronically allows us to more efficiently provide our stockholders with our proxy
materials while reducing costs and reducing the impact of the Meeting on the environment. If you would like us to send you printed copies
of our proxy statement and accompanying materials, we will be happy to do so at no charge upon your request. For more information, please
refer to the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) that we are mailing to holders of record on
or about June 8, 2023. The Notice also provides instructions as to how you may vote your proxy.
Your
vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, you are encouraged to vote as soon as possible to ensure that your
shares are represented at the Meeting.
Important
Notice Regarding the Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on July 20, 2023: This
Proxy Statement and our Annual Report for 2022 are available at: https://www.cstproxy.com/perma-fix/2023.
|
By
order of the Board of Directors |
|
|
|
Ben
Naccarato |
|
Secretary |
Atlanta,
Georgia
June
8, 2023
PERMA-FIX
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
8302
Dunwoody Place, Suite 250
Atlanta,
Georgia 30350
PROXY
STATEMENT
FOR
THE
2023
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To
Be Held July 20, 2023
Why
am I receiving this Proxy Statement?
You
are receiving this Proxy Statement from us because you were a stockholder of record of the common stock, par value $.001 (the “Common
Stock”), of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (“Perma-Fix”, the “Company”, “we”, “our”,
or “us”) at the close of business on June 1, 2023 (the “Record Date”). This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection
with the solicitation on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”)
of proxies to be used in voting at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. (EDT),
and any adjournments thereof (the “Meeting”). By use of a proxy, you may vote whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting.
This Proxy Statement describes the matters on which the Board would like you to vote, and provides information on those matters, so that
you can make an informed decision.
Who
is entitled to vote at the Meeting?
Only
the holders of our Common Stock at the close of business on the Record Date will have the right to receive notice of, and be entitled
to vote at, the Meeting. At the close of business on the Record Date, 13,553,101 shares of Common Stock were outstanding. Each stockholder
of record, as of the Record Date, is entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock that the stockholder owned as of the Record
Date on each matter to be voted upon at the Meeting.
Why
did I receive a one-page notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?
Pursuant
to rules adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), the Company has elected to provide access
to its proxy materials via the Internet instead of mailing printed copies. Accordingly, the Company is sending a Notice of Internet Availability
of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) to the Company’s stockholders. Most stockholders will not receive printed copies
of the proxy materials unless they request them. Instead, instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet or to request
a printed copy may be found in the Notice. All stockholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on the website referred
to in the Notice or request to receive a printed or electronic set of the proxy materials. Stockholders may request to receive proxy
materials in printed form by following the instructions in the Notice. The Company encourages stockholders to take advantage of the availability
of the proxy materials on the Internet to help reduce the environmental impact of our annual meetings.
What
vote is required to approve the matters being considered?
| ● | Directors
are elected by a plurality of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled
to vote at the Meeting. |
| ● | The
approval of the Second Amendment to the 2017 Stock Option Plan requires the affirmative vote
of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote
at the Meeting. |
| ● | The
ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the independent registered public
accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person
or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting. |
| ● | The
approval of the 2022 compensation of our named executive officers requires the affirmative
vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to
vote at the Meeting. While the Board of Directors intends to carefully consider the shareholder
vote resulting from this proposal, the final vote will not be binding and is advisory in
nature. |
| ● | The
recommendation on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation enables
the stockholders to express their preference for one of three choices for future advisory
votes on executive compensation—every year, every other year, or every three years.
The Company will consider stockholders to have expressed a non-binding preference for the
frequency option (one, two, or three years) that receives the most favorable votes. While
the Board of Directors intends to carefully consider the stockholder vote resulting from
this proposal, the final vote will not be binding, and is advisory in nature. |
Are
abstentions counted?
If
your proxy indicates an abstention from voting on a proposal, the shares represented will be counted as present for the purpose of determining
a quorum, but they will not be voted on such proposal at the Meeting. Because abstentions represent shares entitled to vote, if you abstain
from voting on a proposal, your abstention (a) will have no effect on the election of directors, (b) will have the effect of a vote against
the approval of the Second Amendment to the 2017 Stock Option Plan, (c) will have the effect of a vote against the ratification of the
appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm, (d) will have the effect of a vote against the resolution on executive
compensation, and (e) will have no effect on the vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation.
How
do I cast my vote?
If
you are a stockholder whose shares are registered in your name—that is, you have a Perma-Fix stock certificate or hold your shares
in an account with our transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company—you may vote your shares at the Meeting or
by one of the following methods:
| ● | Vote
by Internet, by going to the web address www.cstproxyvote.com and following the
instructions for Internet voting. |
| ● | Vote
by Mobile Device, by scanning the QR barcode on your Notice or proxy card and following
the on-screen instructions. |
| ● | Vote
by Proxy Card (if you requested printed copy), by completing, signing, dating and mailing
the proxy card in the envelope provided. If you vote by internet or mobile device, please
do not mail your proxy card. |
If
your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or other similar organization, you are the “beneficial
owner” of shares, and the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials was forwarded to you by that organization. The organization
holding your account is considered the shareholder of record for purposes of voting during the Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have
the right to direct that organization on how to vote the shares held in your account. You should follow the instructions received from
that organization to vote your shares. If you wish to vote in person at the Meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from the bank, broker
or other holder of record that holds your shares.
Whether
or not you plan to attend the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, please submit your vote either by internet, mobile device, or by written
proxy card.
Can
I change my mind after I vote?
Yes,
you may change your mind at any time before the polls close at the Meeting. You can change your vote by:
| ● | executing
and submitting a revised proxy; |
| ● | providing
a written revocation to the Secretary of the Company; or |
| ● | voting
in person at the Meeting. |
What
constitutes a quorum?
A
majority of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting, represented in person or
by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the holding of the Meeting. The failure of a quorum to be represented at the Meeting will necessitate
adjournment and will subject the Company to additional expense. If your proxy indicates an abstention from voting on a proposal, the
shares represented will nonetheless be counted as present for the purpose of determining a quorum.
Will
my shares be voted if I am a registered stockholder and I do not provide my proxy?
No.
If your shares are registered in your name (i.e., you have a Perma-Fix stock certificate or hold your shares in an account with our transfer
agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company), they will not be voted, unless you submit your proxy or vote in person at the
Meeting. If you hold your shares directly in your own name, you must vote, either by internet, by mobile device, by completing, signing
and delivering a proxy (if you requested a printed copy), or by attending the Meeting and voting at the Meeting.
Will
my shares be voted if I am a beneficial stockholder and I do not provide voting instructions?
If
your shares of Common Stock are held by a bank, broker or other nominee as custodian on your behalf, you are considered a “beneficial
stockholder” of those shares. As a beneficial stockholder, you must provide voting instructions to your broker, bank, or
other nominee by the deadline provided in the proxy materials you receive from your broker, bank, or other nominee to ensure your shares
are voted in the way you would like. If you do not provide voting instructions to your broker, bank, or other nominee, whether your shares
can be voted on your behalf depends on the type of item being considered for vote. The NYSE has rules that govern brokers who have record
ownership of listed company stock (including stock such as ours that is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market) held in brokerage accounts
for their clients who beneficially own the shares. Under these rules, brokers who do not receive voting instructions from their clients
have the discretion to vote uninstructed shares on certain matters (“routine matters”), but do not have the discretion to
vote uninstructed shares as to certain other matters (“non-routine matters”). A “broker non-vote” occurs when
a broker has not received voting instructions from a beneficial owner on a non-routine matter and therefore cannot vote such beneficial
owner’s shares on the matter. In these cases, the broker can register your shares as being present at the Meeting for purposes
of determining the presence of a quorum, but will not be able to vote on these non-discretionary matters for which specific authorization
is required. Under NYSE interpretations, Proposal 1 (election of directors), Proposal 2 (approval of the Second Amendment to the 2017
Stock Option Plan), Proposal 4 (advisory vote on executive compensation) and Proposal 5 (advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory
votes on the compensation of the named executive officers) are considered non-routine matters. However, since broker non-votes are not
counted in any vote requiring a plurality of votes cast (Proposal 1 and Proposal 5) or a majority of the votes present in person or represented
by proxy and entitled to vote (Proposal 2 and Proposal 4), broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of either of these proposals.
Proposal 3 (ratification of the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm for 2023) is considered a routine matter
and, thus, we do not expect to receive any broker non-votes on this proposal.
Who
will count the votes?
All
votes will be tabulated by the inspector of election appointed for the Meeting.
Where
can I find the voting results of the Meeting?
We
will announce the preliminary voting results at the Meeting and publish final results in a Form 8-K to be filed with the SEC within four
business days after the Meeting.
Who
is paying the cost of this solicitation?
The
Company will pay the cost of soliciting proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors. In addition to solicitation by use of the mail,
certain of the Company’s officers and employees may, without receiving additional compensation therefore, solicit the return of
proxies by telephone, e-mail or personal interview. The Company will reimburse brokerage houses and custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries
for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding soliciting materials to their principals, the beneficial owners of Common Stock.
Is
the stockholder list available for review?
A
list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Meeting will be open to examination by any stockholder for any purpose germane to the Meeting
during ordinary business hours commencing 10 days before the Meeting. Prior to the Meeting, the list will be maintained at our principal
executive offices located at 8302 Dunwoody Place, Suite 250, Atlanta, Georgia 30350.
PROPOSAL
1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The
Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that each member of the Board of Directors shall hold office until the
next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and their successors have been duly elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal.
Successors to those directors whose terms have expired are required to be elected by stockholder vote. The existing Board of Directors
may fill vacancies for an unexpired term and any newly created directorships created by Board action.
The
nine nominees for membership on our Board of Directors named below were recommended by our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
to serve as members of the Board of Directors. All nominees are incumbent directors who and meet the qualifications for membership on
our Board of Directors as set forth in the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended (the “Bylaws”).
The
Company’s Bylaws provide that the number of the Company’s directors shall be at least three and no more than nine, as may
be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors has set the size of the Board at nine members.
Nominees
for Directors
The
nominees for membership on our Board of Directors is a diverse group of sophisticated leaders and professionals who meet the standards
and qualifications for our directors. The following biographical information includes a discussion of the specific experience, qualifications,
attributes or skills that led to the conclusion by our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee that each of the nominees is qualified
to serve as one of our directors.
Thomas
P. Bostick, Director
Age:
66 |
|
Mr.
Bostick, a director since August 2020, is currently the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”)
of Bostick Global Strategies, LLC, a position he has held since July 2016. Bostick Global
Strategies, LLC provides strategic advisory support in the areas of engineering, environmental
sustainability, human resources, biotechnology, education, executive coaching, and Agile
Project Management. In February 2021, Mr. Bostick was selected by U. S. Senator Jack Reed,
Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to serve as a member of the Naming Commission
consisting of eight appointed individuals, tasked with renaming Confederate-named military
bases and property. Mr. Bostick previously served (from November 2017 to February 2020) as
the Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) and President of Intrexon Bioengineering,
a division of Intrexon Corporation (formerly NASDAQ: XON; now NASDAQ: PGEN). Intrexon Bioengineering
addresses global challenges across food, agriculture, environmental, energy, and industrial
fields by advancing biologically engineered solutions to improve sustainability and efficiency.
Since October 2020, Mr. Bostick has served as a board member of CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:
CSX), a publicly-held rail transportation company, and since December 2020, as a member of
both the Finance Committee and the Governance Committee of CSX Corporation. Since June 2021,
Mr. Bostick has served on the Board of Trustees of Fidelity Equity and High Income Funds
overseeing equity funds and high yield funds sponsored by Fidelity Investments, Inc., a privately-owned
investment management company. Mr. Bostick continues to serve as a board member for several
other privately-held and nonprofit organizations. Mr. Bostick was named as one of 2021’s
Most Influential Black Corporate Directors by Savoy Magazine, a national publication that
showcases and drives positive dialogue about Black culture.
Mr.
Bostick has had a distinguished career in the U.S. military, retiring from the U.S. Army in July 2016 with the rank of Lieutenant
General. Prior to his retirement, General Bostick held a variety of positions within the U.S. Army, including the 53rd
Chief of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (2012-2016) and Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Human
Resources, U.S. Army (2009-2012). General Bostick has been awarded many military honors and decorations during his military career,
including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Bronze Star Medal.
As
a White House Fellow, one of America’s most prestigious programs for leadership and public service, General Bostick was a special
assistant to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy at
West Point and later returned to the Academy to serve as an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering. He holds Master’s
degrees in Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, an Executive MBA from Oxford University, and a
Doctorate in Systems Engineering from George Washington University. He is a Member of the National Academy of Engineering and the
National Academy of Construction.
Mr.
Bostick’s distinguished career in both the government and private sectors brings valuable experience and insight into solving
complex issues domestically and globally. His extensive knowledge and problem-solving experiences enhance the Board’s ability
to address significant challenges in the nuclear market and led the Board to conclude that he should serve as a director. |
Dr.
Louis F. Centofanti,
Director
Age:
79 |
|
Dr.
Centofanti, the founder of the Company and a director of the Company since its inception
in 1991, currently holds the position of Executive Vice President (“EVP”) of
Strategic Initiatives. From March 1996 to September 2017 and from February 1991 to September
1995, Dr. Centofanti held the position of President and CEO of the Company. Dr. Centofanti
served as Chairman of the Board from the Company’s inception in February 1991 until
December 2014. In January 2015, Dr. Centofanti was appointed by the U.S Secretary of Commerce
Penny Prizker to serve on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory
Committee (“CINTAC”). The CINTAC is composed of industry representatives from
the civil nuclear industry and meets periodically throughout the year to discuss the critical
trade issues facing the U.S. civil nuclear sector. From 1985 until joining the Company, Dr.
Centofanti served as senior vice president (“SVP”) of USPCI, Inc., a large publicly-held
hazardous waste management company, where he was responsible for managing the treatment,
reclamation and technical groups within USPCI. In 1981, he and Mark Zwecker, a current Board
member of the Company, founded PPM, Inc. (later sold to USPCI), a hazardous waste management
company specializing in treating PCB-contaminated oil. From 1978 to 1981, Dr. Centofanti
served as Regional Administrator of the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) for
the southeastern region of the United States. Dr. Centofanti has a Ph.D. and a M.S. in Chemistry
from the University of Michigan, and a B.S. in Chemistry from Youngstown State University.
As
founder of Perma-Fix and PPM, Inc., and as a senior executive at USPCI, Dr. Centofanti combines extensive business experience in the
waste management industry with a drive for innovative technology which is critical for a waste management company. In addition, his service
in the government sector provides a solid foundation for the continuing growth of the Company, particularly within the Company’s
Nuclear business. Dr. Centofanti’s comprehensive understanding of the Company’s operations and his extensive knowledge of
its history, coupled with his drive for innovation and excellence, positions Dr. Centofanti to optimize our role in this competitive,
evolving market, and led the Board to conclude that he should serve as a director.
|
Mark
J. Duff, Director
Age
60 |
|
Effective
April 20, 2023, Mr. Duff was unanimously elected by the Company’s Board of Directors
to serve as a member of Board to fill a newly created directorship. Mr. Duff is currently
the Company’s President and CEO, a position he has held since September 2017. Since
joining the Company in 2016, Mr. Duff has developed and implemented strategies to meet growth
objectives in both the Treatment and Services Segments. In the Treatment Segment, he continues
to upgrade each facility to increase efficiency and modernize treatment capabilities to meet
the changing markets associated with the waste management industry. This growth includes
expansion into additional market sectors including development of new clients in the commercial
power and oil and gas industries. In the Services Segment, which encompasses all field operations,
he has completed the revitalization of business development programs, which has resulted
in increased competitive procurement effectiveness and broadened the market penetration within
both the commercial and government sectors. Within the Services Segment, Mr. Duff has established
a team of professionals with experience in conducting safe and efficient field operations
while addressing complex technical challenges associated with removal of radioactive and
hazardous contamination. Mr. Duff has over 38 years of management and technical experience
in the DOE and U.S. Department of Defense (“DOD”) environmental and construction
markets as a corporate officer, senior project manager, co-founder of a consulting firm,
and federal employee. Mr. Duff has an MBA from the University of Phoenix and received his
B.S. from the University of Alabama.
Mr.
Duff’s extensive career, particularly his experience in the government sector, provide continuing growth of the Company’s
Treatment and Services Segments. Mr. Duff’s comprehensive understanding of the Company’s operations, his proven leadership
skills, and his drive for new innovation in this evolving industry and market, led the Board to conclude that he should serve as a director. |
Kerry
C. Duggan, Director
Age:
44 |
|
Ms.
Duggan, a director of the Company since May 2021, is the founder of SustainabiliD, a woman-owned
advisory services firm working with gamechangers to equitably solve the climate crisis. She
has been named the founding director of the University of Michigan’s SEAS Sustainability
Clinic in Detroit.
In
2021, Ms. Duggan was appointed to the Department of Energy’s prestigious Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, serving under
Secretary Jennifer Granholm. In February 2021, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also appointed Duggan to the State of Michigan’s
Council on Climate Solutions, to advise on the implementation of the MI Healthy Climate Plan, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
and to transition toward economy-wide carbon neutrality. In 2020-21, Ms. Duggan was a member of the Biden-Harris Transition Team
on the Department of Energy Agency Review Team. In May 2020, Ms. Duggan was named a member of the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force
on Climate Change, serving as one of Biden’s five delegates alongside Gina McCarthy and Sec. John Kerry; and later co-chaired
the climate change policy committee and served as a Surrogate for the Biden campaign.
Previously,
Ms. Duggan served nearly seven years in public-service leadership roles, including inside the Obama-Biden White House as Deputy Director
for Policy in the Office of Vice President Biden Policy to then Vice President Joe Biden for energy, environment, climate, and distressed
communities. Simultaneously, she served as Deputy Director of the Detroit Federal Working Group to support Detroit’s revitalization.
Prior to the White House, Ms. Duggan held several senior roles at the Department of Energy, including as Secretary Moniz’s
embedded Liaison to the City of Detroit (where she championed a citywide LED streetlight conversion), and in the Office of Energy
Efficiency & Renewable Energy as Director of Stakeholder Engagement, Director of Legislative, Regulatory & Urban Affairs,
and as a Senior Policy Advisor.
After
her time in federal service, Ms. Duggan co-founded the Smart Cities Lab, was a Partner with the Honorable Thomas J. Ridge’s
firm, RIDGE-LANE Limited Partners, and served on the external advisory board of the University of Michigan’s Erb Institute
for Global Sustainable Enterprise and was a Board Member at the Global Council for Science and the Environment. She was also a Trustee
of the University Liggett School. In 2018, Ms. Duggan was named to the prestigious “40 Under 40” list by Crain’s
Detroit Business. She previously worked at the League of Conservation Voters in Washington, D.C.
Currently,
Ms. Duggan serves as a senior advisor at The RockCreek Group, LP, a registered private fund adviser that manages fund of funds portfolios
and direct equity trading portfolios. She also sits on the corporate advisory boards of Our Next Energy, Inc. (ONE), a privately-held
energy storage solutions company; Aclima, Inc., a public benefit corporation dedicated to protecting public health, reducing climate-changing
emissions, and advancing environmental justice; BlueConduit, a privately-held water analytics company that builds machine learning software
to support the efficient removal of lead and other dangerous materials from communities; Walker-Miller Energy Services, L.L.C., a privately-held
energy efficiency services company; Commonweal Investors, a private equity firm that invests in early-stage technology companies advancing
a sustainable economy, upgrading transportation and infrastructure systems, and revitalizing the urban environment; and Arctaris Impact
Investors, LLC, an investment management company that manages funds which invest in growth-oriented operating businesses and community
infrastructure projects located in underserved communities, among others. |
|
|
Ms.
Duggan earned her B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont and her M.S. in Natural Resource Policy & Behavior
from the University of Michigan.
Ms.
Duggan’s career in both the government and private sectors brings valuable experience and insight into solving complex issues.
Her extensive knowledge and problem-solving experiences, with an Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) mindset
and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”) core values, led the Board to conclude that she should serve as a director. |
Joseph
T. Grumski, Director
Age:
62 |
|
Mr.
Grumski, a director of the Company since February 2020, has served since April 2020 as the President and CEO of TAS Energy Inc. (“TAS”),
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE: FIX), a publicly-held company that provides mechanical and electrical
contracting services in locations throughout the United States. Prior to the acquisition of TAS by Comfort Systems USA, Inc., Mr.
Grumski served as President and CEO and a board member of TAS from May 2013 to March 2020. From 1997 to February 2013, Mr. Grumski
was employed with Science Applications International Corporation (“SAIC”) (NYSE: SAIC), a publicly-held company that
provides government services and information technology support. During his employment with SAIC, Mr. Grumski held various senior
management positions, including the positions of President of SAIC’s Energy, Environment & Infrastructure (“E2I”)
commercial subsidiary and General Manager of the E2I Business Unit. Mr. Grumski’s many accomplishments with SAIC included growing
SAIC’s $300 million federal environmental business to a top ranked, $1.1 billion business; receiving the National Safety Council
“Industry Leader” award in 2009; and receiving highest senior executive performance rating three years in a row. Mr.
Grumski began his career with Gulf Oil Company and has progressed through senior level engineering, operations management, and program
management positions with various companies, including Westinghouse Electric Corporation and Lockheed Martin, Inc. Mr. Grumski received
a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Pittsburgh and a M.S in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia University.
Mr.
Grumski has had an extensive career in solving and overseeing solutions to complex issues involving both domestic and international
concerns. In addition, his extensive experience in companies that provide services to the government sector as well as his experience
in the commercial sector provide solid experience for the continuing growth of the Company’s Treatment and Services Segments.
Mr. Grumski’s extensive knowledge and problem-solving experiences, executive operational leadership experience and governance
experience enhance the Board’s ability to address significant challenges in the nuclear market, and led the Board to conclude
that he should serve as a director. |
Hon.
Joe R. Reeder, Director
Age:
75 |
|
Mr.
Reeder, a director since 2003, is a principal shareholder of the law firm of Greenberg Traurig
LLP, one of the nation’s largest law firms, with 45 offices and 2,600 attorneys worldwide.
Mr. Reeder served as Shareholder-in-Charge of the law firm’s Mid-Atlantic Region offices
for ten years. His clientele includes celebrities, heads of state, sovereign nations, international
corporations, and law firms. As the U.S. Army’s 14th Undersecretary (1993-97), he also
served three years as Chairman of the Panama Canal Commission’s Board, overseeing a
multibillion-dollar infrastructure program. For the past 20 years, he has served on the Canal’s
International Advisory Board. He has written extensively in leading journals on corporate
cybersecurity, served on the boards of the USO, the National Defense Industry Association
(“NDIA”), chairing NDIA’s Ethics Committee, the Armed Services YMCA, the
Marshall Legacy Institute, and many other private companies and charitable organizations.
Mr. Reeder served as a director of ELBIT Systems of America, LLC, (2005-2020), a subsidiary
of Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT), a multi-billion-dollar provider of defense, homeland
security, and commercial aviation system solutions. Mr. Reeder has served as director of
WashingtonFirst Bank, the bank subsidiary of WashingtonFirst Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBI),
from 2004 to 2017; Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: SASR), from 2018 to 2020; and Trustar
Bank, a Virginia state-chartered bank (2022 - present).
After
successive 4-year appointments by Virginia Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, Mr. Reeder served seven years as Chairman of two
Commonwealth of Virginia military boards, and 10 years on the USO Board of Governors. Appointed by former Governor Terry McAuliffe
to the Virginia Military Institute’s Board of Visitors (2014), he was reappointed in 2018 by former Virginia Governor Ralph
Northam. Mr. Reeder, who has been a television commentator on legal and national security issues, is consistently named a Super Lawyer
for Washington, D.C. In May 2018 he was appointed to the Advisory Council Bid Protest Committee to the United States Court of Federal
Claims.
A
West Point graduate who served in the 82nd Airborne Division after Ranger School, Mr. Reeder earned his J.D. from the University
of Texas, and L.L.M. from Georgetown University.
Mr.
Reeder has devoted his career to resolving complex domestic and international issues, and continues to greatly enhance the Board’s
ability to navigate major challenges in the nuclear market and day-to-day corporate, and Washington D.C.- related challenges. |
|
|
|
Larry
M. Shelton,
Board
Chairman
Age:
69 |
|
Mr.
Shelton, a director since July 2006, has also held the position of Chairman of the Board
of the Company since December 2014. Mr. Shelton served as the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”)
of S K Hart Management, LLC, a private investment management company (“S K Hart Management”),
from 1999 until August 2018. Mr. Shelton served as President of Pony Express Land Development,
Inc. (an affiliate of SK Hart Management), a privately held land development company, from
January 2013 until August 2017, and has served on its board since December 2005. Mr. Shelton
served as Director and CFO of S K Hart Ranches (PTY) Ltd, a private South African Company
involved in agriculture, from March 2012 to March 2020. Mr. Shelton has over 20 years of
experience as an executive financial officer for several waste management companies, including
as CFO of Envirocare of Utah, Inc. (now EnergySolutions, Inc. (1995–1999)), a privately
held nuclear waste services company, and as CFO of USPCI, Inc. (1982–1987), then a
NYSE- listed public company engaged in the hazardous waste business. Since July 1989, Mr.
Shelton has served on the board of Subsurface Technologies, Inc., a privately held company
specializing in providing environmentally sound innovative solutions for water well rehabilitation
and development. Mr. Shelton has a B.A. in accounting from the University of Oklahoma.
With
his years of accounting experience as CFO for various companies, including a number of waste management companies, Mr. Shelton combines
extensive industry knowledge and understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting requirements, evaluating and overseeing
financial reporting processes and business matters. These factors led the Board to conclude that he should serve as a director. |
Hon.
Zach P. Wamp, Director
Age:
65 |
|
Mr.
Wamp, a director since January 2018, is currently the President of Zach Wamp Consulting,
a position he has held since 2011. As the President and owner of Zach Wamp Consulting, he
has served some of the most prominent companies from Silicon Valley to Wall Street as a business
development consultant and advisor. From September 2013 to November 2017, Mr. Wamp chaired
the Board of Directors for Chicago Bridge and Iron Federal Services, LLC (a subsidiary of
Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, NYSE: CBI, which provides critical services primarily
to the U.S. government). From January 1995 to January 2011, Mr. Wamp served as a member of
the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District.
Among his many accomplishments, which included various leadership roles in the advancement
of education and science, Mr. Wamp was instrumental in the formation and success of the Tennessee
Valley Technology Corridor, which created thousands of jobs for Tennesseans in the areas
of high-tech research, development, and manufacturing. During his career in the political
arena, Mr. Wamp served on several prominent subcommittees during his 14 years on the House
Appropriations Committee, including serving as a “ranking member” of the Subcommittee
on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies. Mr. Wamp has been a regular
panelist on numerous media outlets and has been featured in a number of national publications
effectively articulating sound social and economic policy. Mr. Wamp’s business career
has also included work in the real estate sector for a number of years as a licensed industrial-commercial
real estate broker, for which he was named Chattanooga’s Small Business Person of the
Year.
Mr.
Wamp has an extensive career in solving and overseeing solutions to complex issues involving domestic concerns. In addition, his
wide-ranging career, particularly with respect to his government-related work, provides solid experience for the continuing growth
of the Company’s Treatment and Services Segments. His extensive knowledge and problem-solving expertise enhance the Board’s
ability to address significant challenges in the nuclear market, and led the Board to conclude that he should serve as a director. |
|
|
|
Mark
A. Zwecker, Director
Age:72 |
|
Mr.
Zwecker, a director since the Company’s inception in January 1991, previously served
as the CFO and a board member for JCI US Inc. from 2013 to 2019. JCI US Inc. is a telecommunications
company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan Communications, Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange (Securities
Code: 9424)), which provides cellular service for M2M (machine to machine) applications.
From 2006 to 2013, Mr. Zwecker served as Director of Finance for Communications Security
and Compliance Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of JCI US Inc. that develops
security software products for the mobile workforce. Mr. Zwecker has held various other senior
management positions, including President of ACI Technology, LLC, a privately-held IT services
provider, and Vice President of Finance and Administration for American Combustion, Inc.,
a privately-held combustion technology solutions provider. In 1981, with Dr. Centofanti,
Mr. Zwecker co-founded a start-up, PPM, Inc., a hazardous waste management company. He remained
with PPM, Inc. until its acquisition in 1985 by USPCI. Mr. Zwecker has a B.S. in Industrial
and Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from Harvard
University.
As
a director since our inception, Mr. Zwecker’s understanding of our business provides valuable insight to the Board. With years
of experience in operations and finance for various companies, including a number of waste management companies, Mr. Zwecker combines
extensive knowledge of accounting principles, financial reporting rules and regulations, the ability to evaluate financial results,
and understanding of financial reporting processes. He has an extensive background in operating complex organizations. Mr. Zwecker’s
experience and background position him well to serve as a member of our Board. These factors led the Board to conclude that he should
serve as a director. |
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE NINE NOMINEES AS THE COMPANY’S DIRECTORS.
Board
Skills Matrix
The
Company is focused on nominating a Board of Directors with a balance of functional expertise, leadership experience, high moral character,
critical thinking, and a diversity of backgrounds and tenure necessary to effectively oversee the Company’s business. The Company’s
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for developing the criteria and qualifications required for directors. The
following Board Skills Matrix below reflects how certain relevant and important skills, experience, characteristics and other criteria
are currently represented on our Board.
KEY SKILLS/EXPERIENCE |
|
NUMBER OF DIRECTORS |
Corporate Governance: |
|
|
Supports management and board accountability, transparency
and protection of shareholder interests |
|
9 |
Financial Literacy: |
|
|
Knowledge of financial reporting, internal controls
and procedures and complex financial transactions, as is involved with the Company business |
|
7 |
Government/DOE/DOD Policies: |
|
|
Significant work experience with government decision
makers |
|
9 |
Business/Investment Structures: |
|
|
Work experience with infrastructure for financial interests
and proven success |
|
8 |
Risk Management and Compliance: |
|
|
Understanding and experience with identification, assessment
and oversight of risk management and programs, including cyber-security risks |
|
9 |
Nuclear Waste Management: |
|
|
Understanding the compliance and environmentally responsible
nuclear services and radioactive waste management solutions |
|
7 |
Environmental Studies: |
|
|
Analytical tools and skills understanding the environment,
while emphasizing the role of beliefs, values and ethics of the corporate body |
|
9 |
Human Capital Management: |
|
|
Experience and understanding talent management and
development, executive compensation issues and succession planning efforts |
|
9 |
Regulatory/Legal Processes: |
|
|
Knowledge of the various regulatory processes governing
Perma-Fix business sectors, such as financial, environmental, nuclear, and safety |
|
9 |
International Work: |
|
|
Experience in overseeing global operations and assessing
opportunities and challenges |
|
9 |
Board
Diversity Matrix
The
following table reflects the Company’s Board diversity matrix as of June 1, 2023. In addition to gender and demographic diversity,
two of our nine current directors are also military veterans.
Total Number of Directors | |
9 | |
| |
Female | | |
Male | | |
Non-Binary | | |
Did Not
Disclose
Gender | |
Gender Identity: | |
Directors | |
| 1 | | |
| 8 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Number of Directors Who Identify in Any of The Categories Below: | |
African American or Black | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Alaskan Native or Native American | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Asian | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Hispanic or Latinx | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
White | |
| 1 | | |
| 7 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Two or More Races or Ethnicities | |
| - | | |
| 1 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
LGBTQ | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Did not Disclose Demographic Background | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Board
Independence
Our
Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Rule 5605 of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules requires a majority of a listed company’s
board of directors to be comprised of independent directors. In addition, the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules require that, subject to specified
exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees be independent
under applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Audit committee members
must also satisfy independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, and compensation committee members must also
satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10C-1 under the Exchange Act. Under Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2), a director will only
qualify as an “independent director” if, in the opinion of our Board, that person does not have a relationship that would
interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In order to be considered independent
for purposes of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, a member of an audit committee of a listed company may not, other than in his or her
capacity as a member of the audit committee, the board of directors, or any other board committee, accept, directly or indirectly, any
consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise be an affiliated person
of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries. In order to be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10C-1, the board must consider,
for each member of a compensation committee of a listed company, all factors specifically relevant to determining whether a director
has a relationship to such company which is material to that director’s ability to be independent from management in connection
with the duties of a compensation committee member, including, but not limited to: the source of compensation of the director, including
any consulting advisory or other compensatory fee paid by such company to the director; and whether the director is affiliated with the
company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.
Our
Board annually undertakes a review of the composition of our Board of Directors and its committees and the independence of each director.
Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning his background, employment and affiliations, including
family relationships, our Board of Directors has determined that Ms. Kerry C. Duggan and each of Messrs. Thomas P. Bostick, Joseph T.
Grumski, Joe R. Reeder, Larry M. Shelton, Zach P. Wamp and Mark A. Zwecker is an “independent director” as defined under
the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. Our Board of Directors has also determined that each member of our Audit Committee, consisting of Mark
A. Zwecker (Chairperson), Joseph T. Grumski, and Larry M. Shelton, and each member of our Compensation and Stock Option Committee, consisting
of Joseph T. Grumski (Chairperson), Zach P. Wamp, and Mark A. Zwecker satisfy the independence standards for such committees established
by the Commission and the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules, as applicable. In making such determination, our Board of Directors considered the
relationships that each such non-employee director has with our Company and all other facts and circumstances our Board of Directors
deemed relevant in determining independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director.
Our
Board of Directors has determined that each of Dr. Louis Centofanti and Mark J. Duff is not deemed to be an “independent director”
because of his employment as a senior executive of the Company.
Board
Leadership Structure
We
currently separate the roles of Chairman of the Board and CEO. The Board believes that this leadership structure promotes balance between
the Board’s independent authority to oversee our business, and the CEO and his management team, who manage the business on a day-to-day
basis.
The
Company does not have a written policy with respect to the separation of the positions of Chairman of the Board and CEO. The Company
believes it is important to retain its flexibility to allocate the responsibilities of the offices of the Chairman and CEO in any way
that is in the best interests of the Company at a given point in time; therefore, the Company’s leadership structure may change
in the future as circumstances may dictate.
Mark
A. Zwecker, a current member of our Board, continues to serve as the Independent Lead Director, a position he has held since February
2010. The Lead Director’s role includes:
| ● | convening
and chairing meetings of the non-employee directors as necessary from time to time and Board
meetings in the absence of the Chairman of the Board; |
| ● | acting
as liaison between directors, committee chairs and management; |
| ● | serving
as information sources for directors and management; and |
| ● | carrying
out responsibilities as the Board may delegate from time to time. |
Meetings
and Committees of the Board of Directors
During
2022, the Board of Directors held four meetings. No director attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate number of meetings held by the
Board of Directors and the committees on which he served during 2022. The Company does not currently have a policy with respect to the
attendance of its directors at annual meetings; however, the Company encourages each of its directors to attend whenever possible. All
members of our Board of Directors attended our 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee,
Compensation and Stock Option Committee, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, and Strategic Advisory Committee.
Audit
Committee:
The
Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the Company, the independent
auditor’s qualifications and independence, the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent auditor,
the Company’s management of cybersecurity and the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. In carrying
out these purposes, the Audit Committee, among other things:
| ● | appoints,
evaluates, and approves the compensation of the Company’s independent auditor; |
| ● | pre-approves
all auditing services and permitted non-audit services; |
| ● | annually
considers the qualifications and independence of the independent auditors; |
| ● | reviews
recommendations of independent auditors concerning the Company’s accounting principles,
internal controls, and accounting procedures and practices; |
| ● | reviews
and approves the scope of the annual audit; |
| ● | reviews
and discusses with the independent auditors the audited financial statements; |
| ● | reviews
and provides oversight of the Company’s cybersecurity polices; |
| ● | reviews
and provides oversight of any related party transactions; and |
| ● | performs
such other duties as set forth in the Audit Committee Charter. |
The
Audit Committee was established in accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the listing requirements of the Nasdaq and
is governed by an Audit Committee Charter. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available on our website at https://ir.perma-fix.com/governance-docs.
The Audit Committee has established procedures for the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding
accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and the confidential, anonymous submission of concerns by employees of
the Company regarding accounting or auditing matters. The Audit Committee has the authority to retain internal or external legal counsel
and other experts in connection with performing the Audit Committee duties.
The
Audit Committee members during 2022 were Mark A. Zwecker (Chairperson), Joseph T. Grumski, and Larry M. Shelton. The Board of Directors
has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is/was “independent,” as that term is defined for an audit committee
member under the Exchange Act and Nasdaq Rule 5605(c) and is/was an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by Item
407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee meets at least quarterly and at such additional times as necessary
or advisable. The Audit Committee held 23 meetings during 2022.
Compensation
and Stock Option Committee:
The
Compensation and Stock Option Committee (“Compensation Committee”) reviews and recommends to the Board of Directors the compensation
and benefits of all of the Company’s officers and reviews general policy matters relating to compensation and benefits of the Company’s
employees. The Compensation Committee also administers the Company’s stock option plans. The Compensation Committee has the sole
authority to retain and terminate a compensation consultant, as well as to approve the consultant’s fees and other terms of engagement.
It also has the authority to obtain advice and assistance from internal or external legal, accounting or other advisors. No compensation
consultant was employed during 2022. Members of the Compensation Committee during 2022 were Joseph T. Grumski (Chairperson), Zach P.
Wamp, and Mark A. Zwecker. All members of the Compensation Committee are/were “independent” as that term is defined by current
Nasdaq listing standards. The Compensation Committee meets as often as may be deemed necessary or appropriate in its judgment. The Compensation
Committee held four meetings during 2022. The Compensation Committee is governed by the Company’s Compensation and Stock Option
Committee Charter, which is available on our website at https://ir.perma-fix.com/governance-docs.
Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee:
The
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (“Governance and Nominating Committee”) has specific responsibilities which
include:
| ● | considering
and making recommendations to the Board regarding the composition and chairmanship of the
committees of our Board; |
| ● | developing
and making recommendations to our Board regarding corporate governance guidelines which include
policies and procedures that promote honest and ethical conduct and prohibit conflict of
interest in business conduct; |
| ● | overseeing
evaluations of the Board’s performance, including committees of the Board; and |
| ● | overseeing
Company practices and initiatives with respect to environmental, social and governance matters. |
The
Governance and Nominating Committee recommends to the Board of Directors candidates to fill vacancies on the Board and the nominees for
election as directors at each annual meeting of stockholders. In making such recommendations, the Governance and Nominating Committee
takes into account information provided to them from the candidates, as well as the Governance and Nominating Committee’s own knowledge
and information obtained through inquiries to third parties to the extent the Governance and Nominating Committee deems appropriate.
The Company’s Bylaws sets forth certain minimum director qualifications to qualify as a nominee for election as a director. To
qualify for nomination or for election as a director, an individual must:
| ● | be
an individual at least 21 years of age who is not under legal disability; |
| ● | have
the ability to be present, in person, at all regular and special meetings of the Board of
Directors; |
| ● | not
serve on the boards of more than three other publicly-held companies; |
| ● | satisfy
the director qualification requirements of all environmental and nuclear commissions, boards
or similar regulatory or law enforcement authorities to which the Company is subject so as
not to cause the Company to fail to satisfy any of the licensing requirements imposed by
any such authority; |
| ● | not
be affiliated with, employed by or be a representative of, or have or acquire a material
personal involvement with, or material financial interest in, any “Business Competitor”
(as defined in the Bylaws); |
| ● | not
have been convicted of a felony or of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; and |
| ● | have
been nominated for election to the Board of Directors in accordance with the terms of the
Bylaws. |
In
addition to the minimum director qualifications as mentioned above, in order for any proposed nominee to be eligible to be a candidate
for election to the Board of Directors, such candidate must deliver to the Governance and Nominating Committee a completed questionnaire
with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee. The Governance and Nominating
Committee reviews each candidate’s qualifications to include considerations of:
| ● | standards
of integrity, personal ethics and values, commitment, and independence of thought and judgment; |
| ● | ability
to represent the interests of the Company’s stockholders; |
| ● | ability
to dedicate sufficient time, energy and attention to fulfill the requirements of the position;
and |
| ● | diversity
of skills and experience with respect to accounting and finance, management and leadership,
business acumen, vision and strategy, charitable causes, business operations, and industry
knowledge. |
The
Governance and Nominating Committee does not assign specific weight to any particular criteria and no particular criterion is necessarily
applicable to all prospective nominees. The Governance and Nominating Committee does not have a formal policy for the consideration of
diversity in identifying nominees for directors. However, diversity is one of the many factors taken into account when considering potential
candidates to serve on the Board of Directors. The Company recognizes that diversity in professional and life experiences may include
consideration of gender, race, cultural background or national origin, in identifying individuals who possess the qualifications that
the Governance and Nominating Committee believes are important to be represented on the Board. The Company also views and values diversity
from the perspective of professional and life experiences, as well as geographic location, representative of the markets in which we
do business. The Company believes that the inclusion of diversity as one of many factors considered in selecting director nominees is
consistent with the Company’s goal of creating a board of directors that best serves our needs and those of our shareholders.
Stockholder
Nominees
The
Governance and Nominating Committee will consider properly submitted stockholder nominations for candidates for membership on the Board
from stockholders who meet each of the requirements set forth in the Bylaws, including, but not limited to, the requirements that any
such stockholder own at least 1% of the Company’s shares of the Common Stock entitled to vote at the meeting on such election,
has held such shares continuously for at least one full year, and continuously holds such shares through and including the time of the
annual or special meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at any Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or at
any Special Meeting of Stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors. Any stockholder nomination (“Proposed Nominee”)
must comply with the requirements of the Company’s Bylaws and the Proposed Nominee must meet the minimum qualification requirements
as discussed above. For a nomination to be made by a stockholder, such stockholder must provide advance written notice to the Governance
and Nominating Committee, delivered to the Company’s principal executive office address (i) in the case of an Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, no later than the 90th day nor earlier than the 120th day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately
preceding Annual Meeting of Stockholders; and (ii) in the case of a Special Meeting of Stockholders called for the purpose of electing
directors, not later than the 10th day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of the Special Meeting of
Stockholders is made.
The
Governance and Nominating Committee will evaluate the qualification of the Proposed Nominee and the Proposed Nominee’s disclosure
and compliance requirements in accordance with the Company’s Bylaws. If the Board, upon the recommendation of the Governance and
Nominating Committee, determines that a nomination was not made in accordance with the Company’s Bylaws, the Chairman of the Meeting
shall declare the nomination defective and it will be disregarded.
Members
of the Governance and Nominating Committee during 2022 were Joe R. Reeder (Chairperson), Thomas P. Bostick, Kerry C. Duggan, and Zach
P. Wamp. The Governance and Nominating Committee meets at least quarterly and at such times as necessary or advisable and held four meetings
in 2022. The Governance and Nominating Committee is governed by a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Charter, which is available
on our website at https://ir.perma-fix.com/governance-docs. All members of the Governance and Nominating Committee are/were “independent”
as that term is defined by current Nasdaq listing standards.
Strategic
Advisory Committee:
The
primary functions of the Strategic Advisory Committee (“Strategic Committee”) are to investigate and evaluate strategic alternatives
available to the Company and to work with management on long-range strategic planning and identification of potential new business opportunities.
Members of the Strategic Advisory Committee during 2022 were Dr. Louis Centofanti (Chairperson), Kerry C. Duggan, Joe R. Reeder, and
Mark A. Zwecker. The Strategic Committee held four meetings in 2022. The Strategic Advisory Committee is governed by a Strategic Advisory
Committee Charter, which is available on our website at https://ir.perma-fix.com/governance-docs.
Risk
Oversight by Our Board
The
Board is responsible for understanding the risks the Company faces, what steps management is taking to manage those risks and if the
steps taken are effective in managing those risks. It is also important that the Board understands what level of risk is appropriate
for the Company. While the Board has the ultimate oversight responsibility for the risk management process, certain committees play an
integral part in fulfilling the Board’s oversight responsibilities in certain areas of risk. In particular, the Audit Committee
focuses on financial and enterprise risk exposures, including internal controls and cybersecurity (including oversight of appropriate
risk prevention and mitigation strategies, systems, processes and controls). The Audit Committee reviews and discusses with management
and internal audit our major financial risk exposures, including risks related to fraud, liquidity and regulatory compliance, our policies
with respect to risk assessment and risk management, cybersecurity management, and the steps management has taken to monitor and control
such exposures at least quarterly and whenever warranted. The Compensation Committee strives to create incentives that do not encourage
excessive risk-taking beyond the Company’s ability to effectively identify and manage risk. The Governance and Nominating Committee
monitors the effectiveness of our governance guidelines and provides oversight of programs, policies and practices relating to environmental
and social issues and impacts to support the sustainable growth of the Company’s businesses. The participation of our Board in
our risk oversight process includes receiving regular reports from members of senior management on areas of material risk to our Company,
including operational, financial, legal and regulatory, environmental, cybersecurity, and strategic and reputational risks. Each of our
directors has access to our named executive officers and any other members of our management to discuss and monitor potential risks.
Code
of Ethics
Our
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (“Code of Ethics”), which applies to our Board and all our employees, including our CEO
and our senior financial officers, complies with applicable U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules and Nasdaq listing standards.
and is available on our website at https://ir.perma-fix.com/governance-docs. The provisions of the Code of Ethics that apply to
the CEO and our senior financial officers, including our CFO and our chief accounting officer, complies with the requirements imposed
by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules issued thereunder for codes of ethics applicable to such officers. If any amendments
are made to the Code of Ethics, or any grants of waivers are made to any provision of the Code of Ethics, that is applicable to our CEO
and our senior financial officers, we will promptly disclose the amendment or waiver and nature of such amendment or waiver on our website
at the same web address.
Environmental,
Social and Governance (“ESG”)
During
2022, we continued to improve our ESG performance. Our ESG subcommittee under our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee continues
to provide guidance on ESG management. Our executive team is responsible for the development of a strategic roadmap for ESG efforts with
support from management from key functional areas. The key areas of focus under our ESG initiatives continue to be health and safety,
environmental performance, DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion), talent retention and development, corporate governance, and climate-forward
service development that support our customers’ transition to a low carbon economy. Our executive team is involved in policy planning
and coordination of corporate-wide ESG efforts. See our website at https://www.perma-fix.com/esg.aspx for some highlights of our
ESG initiatives. The information on our website is not part of, or incorporated by reference in this Proxy Statement.
Compensation
of Directors
Directors
who are employees receive no additional compensation for serving on the Board or its committee(s). In 2022, the Company provided the
following annual compensation to each non-employee director and the committee(s) for which he/she serves:
● | a
quarterly fee of $11,500; |
● | an
additional quarterly fee of $8,750 to the Chairman of the Board; |
● | an
additional quarterly fee of $6,250 to the Chairman of the Audit Committee; |
● | an
additional quarterly fee of $3,125 to the Chairman of each of the Compensation Committee,
the Governance and Nominating Committee, and the Strategic Committee. The Chairman of the
Board was not eligible to receive a quarterly fee for serving as the Chairman of any the
aforementioned committees; |
● | an
additional $1,250 to each Audit Committee member (excluding the Chairman of the Audit Committee); |
● | an
additional quarterly fee of $500 to each member of the Compensation Committee, the Governance
and Nominating Committee, and the Strategic Committee. Such fee was payable only if the member
did not also serve as the Chairman of any other standing committees or as the Chairman of
the Board; and |
● | a
fee of $1,000 for each in-person board meeting attended and a $500 fee for meeting attendance
via conference call; |
Each
director may elect to have either 65% or 100% of such fees payable in Common Stock under the 2003 Outside Directors Stock Plan (“2003
Outside Directors Plan”), with the balance, if any, payable in cash.
Each
non-employee director was also granted a Non-Qualified Stock Option (“NQSO”) to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock upon
reelection with vesting period of 25% per year, beginning on the first anniversary date of the grant, with each option having a 10-year
term.
Dr.
Louis Centofanti, a current member of the Board, is not eligible to receive compensation for his service as a director of the Company
as he is an employee of the Company. As the Company’s President and CEO, Mr. Duff, who was elected by the Company’s Board
as a Board member effective April 20, 2023, also is not eligible to receive compensation for his service as a director of the Company
(see “Summary Compensation” table in this section for each of Dr. Centofanti’s and Mark Duff’s annual salary
and other compensation as an employee of the Company).
The
table below summarizes the director compensation expenses recognized by the Company for director options and stock awards (resulting
from fees earned) for the year ended December 31, 2022. The terms of the 2003 Outside Directors Plan are further described below under
“2003 Outside Directors Plan.”
Director
Compensation
Name | |
Fees Earned or Paid In Cash | | |
Stock Awards | | |
Option Awards | | |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation | | |
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings | | |
All Other Compensation | | |
Total | |
| |
($) (1) | | |
($) (2) | | |
($) (4) | | |
($) | | |
($) | | |
($) | | |
($) | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Thomas P. Bostick | |
| — | | |
| 68,664 | | |
| 36,100 | (3) | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 104,764 | |
Kerry C. Duggan | |
| 18,550 | | |
| 45,935 | | |
| 36,100 | (3) | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 100,585 | |
Joseph T. Grumski | |
| — | | |
| 89,999 | | |
| 36,100 | (3) | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 126,099 | |
Joe R. Reeder | |
| — | | |
| 82,663 | | |
| 36,100 | (3) | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 118,763 | |
Larry M. Shelton | |
| 31,500 | | |
| 77,999 | | |
| 36,100 | (3) | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 145,599 | |
Zach P. Wamp | |
| 18,725 | | |
| 46,369 | | |
| 36,100 | (3) | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 101,194 | |
Mark A. Zwecker | |
| 26,250 | | |
| 65,000 | | |
| 36,100 | (3) | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 127,350 | |
(1) | Under
the 2003 Outside Directors Plan, each director elects to receive 65% or 100% of the director’s
fees in shares of our Common Stock. The amounts set forth above represent the portion of
the director’s fees paid in cash and exclude the value of the director’s fee
elected to be paid in Common Stock under the 2003 Outside Directors Plan, which values are
included under “Stock Awards.” |
| |
(2) | The
number of shares of Common Stock comprising stock awards granted under the 2003 Outside Directors
Plan is calculated based on 75% of the closing market value of the Common Stock as reported
on the NASDAQ on the business day immediately preceding the date that the quarterly fee is
due. Such shares are fully vested on the date of grant. The value of the stock award is based
on the market value of our Common Stock at each quarter end times the number of shares issuable
under the award. The amount shown is the fair value of the Common Stock on the date of the
award. |
| |
(3) | Reflects
options granted under the Company’s 2003 Outside Directors Plan resulting from re-election
to the Board on July 21, 2022. Options are for a 10-year period with an exercise price of
$5.15 per share and vest 25% per year, beginning on the first anniversary date of the grant.
The value of the option award for each outside director is calculated based on the fair value
of the option per share (approximately $3.61) on the date of grant times the number of options
granted, which was 10,000 for each director, pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification
(“ASC”) 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” |
| |
(4) | The
following table reflects the aggregate number of outstanding options held by the Company’s
directors at December 31, 2022. As an employee of the Company or its subsidiaries, Dr. Centofanti
is not eligible to participate in the 2003 Outside Directors Plan. Options reflected below
for Dr. Centofanti were granted from the 2017 Stock Option Plan. Non-employee directors are
only granted NQSOs. Mark Duff, the Company’s President and CEO, was elected to the
Company’s Board effective April 20, 2023. See “Executive Compensation –
Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2022” for information relating to Mr. Duff’s
outstanding options at December 31, 2022. |
| |
Options
Outstanding at | |
Name | |
December 31, 2022 | |
Dr. Louis Centofanti | |
| 85,000 | |
Thomas P. Bostick | |
| 26,000 | |
Kerry C. Duggan | |
| 26,000 | |
Joseph T. Grumski | |
| 28,400 | |
Joe R. Reeder | |
| 39,200 | |
Larry M. Shelton | |
| 39,200 | |
Zach P. Wamp | |
| 33,200 | |
Mark A. Zwecker | |
| 39,200 | |
Total | |
| 316,200 | |
2003
Outside Directors Plan
We
believe that it is important for our directors to have a personal interest in our success and growth and for their interests to be aligned
with those of our stockholders; therefore, under our 2003 Outside Directors Plan, each outside director is granted a 10-year NQSO to
purchase up to 20,000 shares of Common Stock on the date such director is initially elected to the Board, and receives on each re-election
date a NQSO to purchase up to another 10,000 shares of our Common Stock, with the exercise price being the fair market value of the Common
Stock preceding the option grant date. Common Stock shares subject to option granted vest at 25% per year, beginning on the first anniversary
date of the grant and no option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date the option is granted.
As
a member of the Board, each director may elect to receive either 65% or 100% of his director’s fee in shares of our Common Stock.
The number of shares received by each director is calculated based on 75% of the fair market value of the Common Stock determined on
the business day immediately preceding the date that the quarterly fee is due. The balance of each director’s fee, if any, is payable
in cash. In 2022, the fees earned by our outside directors totaled approximately $572,000.
In
the event of a “change of control” (as defined in the 2003 Outside Directors Plan), each outstanding stock option and stock
award shall immediately become exercisable in full notwithstanding the vesting or exercise provisions contained in the stock option agreement.
Communications
with the Board
The
Company’s Board of Directors believes that it is important for the Company to have a process that enables stockholders to send
communications to the Board. Accordingly, stockholders who wish to communicate with the Board of Directors or a particular director may
do so by sending a letter to the Secretary of the Corporation, at 8302 Dunwoody Place, Suite 250, Atlanta, Georgia 30350. The mailing
envelope must clearly indicate that the enclosed letter is a “Stockholder-Board Communication” or “Stockholder-Director
Communication.” All such letters must identify the author as a stockholder and clearly state whether the intended recipients are
all members of the Board of Directors or only certain specified individual directors. The Secretary of the Corporation will make copies
of all such letters and circulate them to the appropriate director or directors.
Family
Relationships
There
are no family relationships between any of the Company’s existing directors, executive officers, or persons nominated or chosen
to become a director or executive officer. Dr. Centofanti and Mark Duff are the only directors who are employees of the Company.
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions
Audit
Committee Review
Our
Audit Committee Charter provides for the review by the Audit Committee of any related party transactions, other than transactions involving
an employment relationship with the Company, which are reviewed by the Compensation Committee. Although we do not have written policies
for the review of related party transactions, the Audit Committee reviews transactions between the Company and its directors, executive
officers, holders of more than 5% of any class of the Company’s voting securities, and their respective immediate family members.
In reviewing a proposed transaction, the Audit Committee takes into account, among other factors it deems appropriate:
| (1) | the
extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction; |
| (2) | whether
the transaction is on terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the
same or similar circumstances; |
| (3) | the
cost and benefit to the Company; |
| (4) | the
impact or potential impact on a director’s independence in the event the related party
is a director, an immediate family member of a director, or an entity in which a director
is a partner, stockholder, or executive officer; |
| (5) | the
availability of other sources for comparable products or services; |
| (6) | the
terms of the transaction; and |
| (7) | the
risks to the Company. |
In
addition, as applicable, the Audit Committee considers Section 144 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) and the
Company’s Code of Ethics.
The
provisions of Section 144 of the DGCL apply to transactions between the Company and any of its officers or directors, or any organization
in which any such individual has a financial interest or serves as a director or officer (individually, a “Section 144 Related
Party,” and, collectively, “Section 144 Related Parties”). Section 144 provides that a transaction between a corporation
and any Section 144 Related Party will not be void or voidable solely because such transaction involves the corporation and the Section
144 Related Party, or solely because the Section 144 Related Party is present at or participates or votes in the meeting of the board
or committee which authorizes the transaction, if the transaction (a) is approved in good faith after full disclosure of the material
facts of the transaction by a majority vote of (i) the disinterested directors, or (ii) the stockholders, and (b) is fair as to the corporation
as of the time it is authorized, approved, or ratified by the board, a committee or the stockholders.
Our
Code of Ethics, which applies to our Board and all our employees, including the executive officers identified under the heading “Named
Executive Officers” and our senior financial officers, provide that such individuals must exhibit and promote honest and ethical
conduct in connection with the performance of his or her duties for and on behalf of the Company, including the ethical handling of actual
or apparent conflicts of interest involving such individual and the Company, by, among other considerations:
| ● | not
entering into a transaction that would result in a conflict of interest with what is in the
best interest of the Company and that is reasonably likely to result in material personal
gain to any such individuals or their affiliates; |
| ● | not
having a personal financial interest in any of the Company’s suppliers, customers or
competitors that could cause divided loyalty as a result of having the ability to influence
the Company’s decisions with that particular supplier or customer or actions to be
taken by the Company that could materially benefit a competitor. |
Related
party transactions are reviewed by the Audit Committee prior to the consummation of the transaction. With respect to a related party
transaction arising between Audit Committee meetings, the CFO may present it to the Audit Committee Chairperson, who will review and
may approve the related party transaction subject to ratification by the Audit Committee at the next scheduled meeting. Our Audit Committee
shall approve only those transactions that, in light of known circumstances, are not inconsistent with the Company’s best interests.
Related
Party Transactions
David
Centofanti. David Centofanti serves as our Vice President of Information Systems. For such position, he received annual compensation
of $187,000 in 2022. David Centofanti is the son of Dr. Louis F. Centofanti, our EVP of Strategic Initiatives and a Board member.
Employment
Agreements and MIPs. We entered into an employment agreement with each of the executive officers identified in this Proxy Statement
as Named Executive Officers or NEOs: Mark Duff (President and CEO), Ben Naccarato (EVP and CFO), Dr. Louis Centofanti (EVP of Strategic
Initiatives), Andy Lombardo (EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services) and Richard Grondin (EVP of Waste Treatment Operations), with each
employment agreement dated April 20, 2023 (see “Employment Agreements” for a discussion of these employment agreements).
Each of our NEOs also has a Management Incentive Plan (“MIP”) for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 (see “Performance-Based
Incentive Compensation – 2022 MIPs and 2023 MIPs” for a discussion of these MIPs).
Audit
Committee Report
The
Audit Committee is responsible for providing independent objective oversight of the Company’s accounting functions and internal
controls. In accordance with rules adopted by the Commission, the Audit Committee of the Company states that:
| ● | The
Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Company’s audited financial
statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. |
| | |
| ● | The
Audit Committee has discussed with Grant Thornton LLP, the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2022, the matters required to be discussed
by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) Auditing Standards No.
16 (“Communications with Audit Committees”), as modified or supplemented. |
| | |
| ● | The
Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Grant Thornton LLP
required by PCAOB Rule 3526, “Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence,”
as modified or supplemented, and has discussed with Grant Thornton LLP, the independent registered
public accounting firm’s independence. |
In
connection with the Audit Committee’s discussion with Grant Thornton LLP, as described above, the Audit Committee discussed and
considered the nature and scope of the audit services performed by Grant Thornton LLP for the year ended December 31, 2022, and determined
that the audit services provided by Grant Thornton LLP were compatible with maintaining the independence of Grant Thornton LLP.
Based
upon the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s
audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022,
for filing with the Commission. The Audit Committee has appointed Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm for 2023.
This
report is submitted on behalf of the members of the Audit Committee:
Mark A. Zwecker (Chairperson)
Joseph
T. Grumski
Larry
M. Shelton
The
Report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Commission,
nor shall it be incorporated by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates
this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.
NAMED
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The
following table sets forth, as of the date hereof, information concerning certain named executive officers, referred to throughout this
Proxy Statement as our “Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs”:
NAME |
|
AGE |
|
POSITION |
Mr.
Mark Duff |
|
60 |
|
President
and CEO |
Mr.
Ben Naccarato |
|
60 |
|
CFO,
EVP, and Secretary |
Dr.
Louis Centofanti |
|
79 |
|
EVP
of Strategic Initiatives |
Mr.
Andrew Lombardo |
|
64 |
|
EVP
of Nuclear and Technical Services |
Mr.
Richard Grondin |
|
64 |
|
EVP
of Waste Treatment Operations |
Mr.
Mark Duff
See
“Director – Mark J. Duff” in this section for information on Mr. Duff.
Mr.
Ben Naccarato
Mr.
Naccarato has served as the Company’s CFO since February 2009. Mr. Naccarato joined the Company in September 2004, holding the
positions of Vice President of Finance for the Company’s Industrial Segment until May 2006, when he was named Vice President, Corporate
Controller/Treasurer. Mr. Naccarato has over 35 years of experience in senior financial positions in the waste management and used oil
industries. Mr. Naccarato was the CFO of a privately-held company in the fuel distribution and used waste oil industry from 2002 to 2004
and prior to that served in numerous senior financial roles in the waste management industry in both the US and Canada. Mr. Naccarato
is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Commerce and Finance Degree and is a Chartered Professional Accountant,
Certified Management Accountant (CPA, CMA).
Since
March 2021, Mr. Naccarato has served as an independent director and as a member of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and
the Strategic Initiatives Committee of PyroGenesis Canada, Inc., a high-tech company involved in the design, development, manufacture
and commercialization of advanced plasma processes and products and whose stock is listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange and
the NASDAQ Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “PYR.”
Dr.
Louis Centofanti
See
“Director – Dr. Louis F. Centofanti” in this section for information on Dr. Centofanti.
Mr.
Andrew (“Andy”) Lombardo
Mr.
Lombardo has held the position of EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services since January 2020. Since joining the Company in 2011, Mr. Lombardo
has held various positions within the Company’s Services Segment, including SVP of Nuclear and Technical Services.
Mr.
Lombardo, a Certified Health Physicist (“CHP”), has over 40 years of management and technical experience in the commercial
nuclear reactor market, and the DOE and DOD environmental and construction markets as a senior director, senior project manager, senior
CHP, and chemist. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Lombardo held the position of Vice President of Technical Services for Safety and
Ecology Corporation (“SEC”), a subsidiary of Homeland Security Capital Corporation, a publicly traded environmental services
company, prior to the acquisition of SEC by the Company in 2011. In his positions with both the Company and SEC, Mr. Lombardo procured
and performed greater than $30 million a year in health physics and radioactive material management projects across the DOE and DOD complex
while managing a professional staff of engineers and health physicists and an instrumentation laboratory. Among his many accomplishments,
Mr. Lombardo has developed an expertise characterizing and managing naturally occurring radioactive material (“NORM”) and
technologically enhanced NORM (“TENORM”) waste streams across multiple industries including oil and gas exploration and production.
As a result of his expertise, he was appointed to a scientific committee of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement
to provide a commentary on the generation and disposal of TENORM waste. Mr. Lombardo began his career as a chemist and health physicist
for the Duquesne Light Company at two commercial reactor sites and one joint DOE/Naval Reactors Duquesne Light test reactor in Shippingport,
PA. Mr. Lombardo is certified in comprehensive practice of health physics, and has a M.S. degree in Health Physics from the University
of Pittsburgh and a B.S. in Natural Sciences from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Mr.
Richard Grondin
Mr.
Grondin has held the position of EVP of Waste Treatment Operations since July 2020. Since joining the Company in 2002, Mr. Grondin has
held various positions within the Company’s Treatment Segment, including Vice President of Technical Services, Vice President/General
Manager of the Perma-Fix Northwest Richland, Inc. Facility, and Vice President of Western Operations. Mr. Grondin, a Project Management
Professional, has over 35 years of management and technical experience in the highly regulated and specialized radioactive/hazardous
waste management industry with the majority of his experience concentrated on managing start-up waste management processing and disposal
facilities for four different organizations in the commercial and government sectors. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Grondin held
the position of Vice President of Mixed Waste Operations for Allied Technology Group in Richland, Washington; Vice President of Operations
for Waste Control Specialists in Andrews Texas; and Technical Manager/Director of Operations for Rollins Environmental Services Facility
in Deer Trail, Colorado. Mr. Grondin is recognized in the United States and Canada as an authority in hazardous and mixed waste treatment.
Mr. Grondin has a Diploma of Collegial Studies in Pure and Applied Sciences from CEGEP of Amiante (Thetford-Mines, Canada) and Analytical
Chemistry Techniques from CEGEP of Ahuntsic (Montreal, Canada), a Geography minor from Montreal University (Montreal, Canada) and a Certificate
of Business Management from the School of Higher Commercial Studies from Montreal University (Montreal, Canada).
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Summary
Compensation
The
following table summarizes the total compensation of the Company’s NEOs for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Name and Principal Position | |
Year | | |
Salary | | |
Bonus | | |
Option Awards | | |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation | | |
All other Compensation | | |
Total Compensation | |
| |
| | |
($) | | |
($) | | |
($) (1) | | |
($) | | |
($) (2) | | |
($) | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Mark Duff | |
| 2022 | | |
| 374,870 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 41,270 | | |
| 416,140 | |
President and CEO | |
| 2021 | | |
| 350,341 | | |
| — | | |
| 175,518 | | |
| — | | |
| 37,121 | | |
| 562,980 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| — | | |
| | | |
| | |
Ben Naccarato | |
| 2022 | | |
| 304,772 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 51,484 | | |
| 356,256 | |
EVP and CFO | |
| 2021 | | |
| 284,830 | | |
| — | | |
| 87,759 | | |
| — | | |
| 45,440 | | |
| 418,029 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| — | | |
| | | |
| | |
Dr. Louis Centofanti | |
| 2022 | | |
| 253,980 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 38,776 | | |
| 292,756 | |
EVP of Strategic Initiatives | |
| 2021 | | |
| 237,361 | | |
| — | | |
| 70,207 | | |
| — | | |
| 35,836 | | |
| 343,404 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| — | | |
| | | |
| | |
Andy Lombardo | |
| 2022 | | |
| 304,772 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 15,088 | | |
| 319,860 | |
EVP of Nuclear & Technical Services | |
| 2021 | | |
| 284,830 | | |
| — | | |
| 87,759 | | |
| — | | |
| 15,500 | | |
| 388,089 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| — | | |
| | | |
| | |
Richard Grondin | |
| 2022 | | |
| 261,233 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 38,240 | | |
| 299,473 | |
EVP of Waste Treatment Operations | |
| 2021 | | |
| 244,140 | | |
| — | | |
| 87,759 | | |
| — | | |
| 33,943 | | |
| 365,842 | |
(1) | Reflects
the aggregate grant date fair value of awards computed in accordance with Accounting Standards
Codification (“ASC”) 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” |
| |
(2) | The
amount shown includes a monthly automobile allowance, insurance premiums (health, disability
and life) paid by the Company on behalf of the NEO, and 401(k) matching contributions. |
| |
Insurance | | |
Auto | | |
| | |
| |
Name | |
Premium | | |
Allowance | | |
401(k) match | | |
Total | |
Mark Duff | |
$ | 25,770 | | |
$ | 9,000 | | |
$ | 6,500 | | |
$ | 41,270 | |
Ben Naccarato | |
$ | 35,734 | | |
$ | 9,000 | | |
$ | 6,750 | | |
$ | 51,484 | |
Dr. Louis Centofanti | |
$ | 24,705 | | |
$ | 9,000 | | |
$ | 5,071 | | |
$ | 38,776 | |
Andy Lombardo | |
$ | — | | |
$ | 9,000 | | |
$ | 6,088 | | |
$ | 15,088 | |
Richard Grondin | |
$ | 24,705 | | |
$ | 6,785 | | |
$ | 6,750 | | |
$ | 38,240 | |
Pay
Versus Performance Table
As
required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are
providing the following information about the relationship between executive compensation actually paid and certain financial performance
of the Company.
Year | |
Summary Compensation Table (SCT) Total for Principal Executive Officer (PEO)(1) | | |
Compensation Actually Paid to PEO (2) | | |
Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non- PEO NEOs (3) | | |
Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs (4) | | |
Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On Total Shareholder Return (5) | | |
Net (loss) income (6) | |
(a) | |
(b) | | |
(c) | | |
(d) | | |
(e) | | |
(f) | | |
(g) | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 416,140 | | |
$ | 276,985 | | |
$ | 317,086 | | |
$ | 250,745 | | |
$ | 59 | | |
$ | (3,816,000 | ) |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
2021 | |
$ | 562,980 | | |
$ | 526,242 | | |
$ | 378,841 | | |
$ | 364,503 | | |
$ | 106 | | |
$ | 671,000 | |
| (1) | Reflects
amounts for Mark Duff, President and CEO for each corresponding year in the “Total
Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table above. |
| (2) | The
dollar amounts reported in column (c) represent the amount of “compensation actually
paid” to Mr. Duff, as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The
dollar amounts do not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned by or paid to Mr.
Duff during the applicable year. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation
S-K, the following adjustments were made to Mr. Duff’s total compensation for
each year to determine the compensation actually paid: |
| |
Reported | | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| |
Summary Compensation Table | | |
Reported
Value of Equity | | |
Equity
Award | | |
Compensation Actually | |
| |
Total for PEO | | |
Awards (a) | | |
Adjustments (b) | | |
Paid to PEO | |
Year | |
($) | | |
($) | | |
($) | | |
($) | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 416,140 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | (139,155 | ) | |
$ | 276,985 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
2021 | |
$ | 562,980 | | |
$ | (175,518 | ) | |
$ | 138,780 | | |
$ | 526,242 | |
(a)
The grant date fair value of equity awards represents the total of the amounts reported in the “Option Awards” column in
the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year.
(b)
The equity award adjustments for each applicable year include the addition (or subtraction, as applicable) of the following: (i) the
year-end fair value of any equity awards granted in the applicable year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the year;
(ii) the amount of change as of the end of the applicable year (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in fair value of any awards granted
in prior years that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the applicable year; (iii) for awards that are granted and vest in
same applicable year, the fair value as of the vesting date; (iv) for awards granted in prior years that vest in the applicable year,
the amount equal to the change as of the vesting date (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in fair value; (v) for awards granted in
prior years that are determined to fail to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the applicable year, a deduction for the amount
equal to the fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year; and (vi) the dollar value of any dividends or other earnings paid on stock
or option awards in the applicable year prior to the vesting date that are not otherwise reflected in the fair value of such award or
included in any other component of total compensation for the applicable year. The valuation assumptions used to calculate fair values
did not materially differ from those disclosed at the time of grant. The amounts deducted or added in calculating the equity award adjustments
are as follows:
Year | |
Year End Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Year ($) | | |
Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Award Granted in Prior Years ($) | | |
Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year ($) | | |
Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Award Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year ($) | | |
Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year ($) | | |
Value of Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Stock or Option Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation ($) | | |
Total Equity Award Adjustments ($) | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | - | | |
$ | (99,870 | ) | |
$ | - | | |
$ | (39,285 | ) | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | (139,155 | ) |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
2021 | |
$ | 147,050 | | |
$ | (3,860 | ) | |
$ | - | | |
$ | (4,410 | ) | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 138,780 | |
| (3) | Reflects
the average of the amounts reported for the Company’s NEO as a group (excluding Mr.
Duff) in the “Total Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table in
each applicable year. The names of each of the NEOs (excluding Mr. Duff) included for purposes
of calculating the average amounts in each applicable year were Ben Naccarato, EVP and CFO;
Dr. Louis Centofanti, EVP of Strategic Initiatives; Andy Lombardo, EVP of Nuclear and Technical
Services; and Richard Grondin, EVP of Waste Treatment Operations. |
| (4) | The
dollar amounts reported in column (e) represent the average amount of “compensation
actually paid” to the NEOs as a group (excluding Mr. Duff), as computed in accordance
with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual average
amount of compensation earned by or paid to NEOs as a group (excluding Mr. Duff) during the
applicable year. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the
following adjustments were made to average total compensation for the NEOs as a group (excluding
Mr. Duff) for each year to determine the compensation actually paid, using the same methodology
described in Note (2) above: |
Year | |
Average
Reported Summary
Compensation
Table Total for
Non-PEO NEOs ($) | | |
Average
Reported Value of Equity Awards ($) | | |
Average Equity Award Adjustments (a) ($) | | |
Average Compensation
Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs ($) | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 317,086 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | (66,341 | ) | |
$ | 250,745 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
2021 | |
$ | 378,841 | | |
$ | (83,371 | ) | |
$ | 69,033 | | |
$ | 364,503 | |
(a)
The amount deducted or added in calculating the total average equity adjustments are as follows:
Year | |
Average Year End Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Year ($) | | |
Average Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Award Granted in Prior Years ($) | | |
Average Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year ($) | | |
Average Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Award Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year ($) | | |
Average End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year ($) | | |
Average Value of Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Stock or Option Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation ($) | | |
Average Total Equity Award Adjustments ($) | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | - | | |
$ | (48,134 | ) | |
$ | - | | |
$ | (18,207 | ) | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | (66,341 | ) |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
2021 | |
$ | 69,849 | | |
$ | (1,127 | ) | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 311 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 69,033 | |
| (5) | Cumulative
TSR is calculated by dividing the sum of the cumulative amount of dividends (which is none
for the Company) for the measurement period, assuming dividend reinvestment, and the difference
between our share price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period by our share
price at the beginning of the measurement period. |
| (6) | The
dollar amounts reported represent the amount of net (loss) income reflected in our consolidated
audited financial statements for the applicable year. |
All
information provided in the “Pay Versus Performance” table above and the related disclosures will not be deemed to be incorporated
by reference in any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective
of any general incorporation language in any such filing.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The
following table sets forth unexercised options held by the NEOs as of the fiscal year-end.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at December 31, 2022
| |
Option Awards | | |
|
Name | |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | | |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) (1) Unexercisable | | |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) | | |
Option Exercise Price ($) | | |
Option Expiration Date |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|
Mark Duff | |
| 100,000 | (2)(6) | |
| — | (2) | |
| — | | |
| 3.650 | | |
7/27/2023 |
| |
| 15,000 | (3) | |
| 10,000 | (3) | |
| | | |
| 3.150 | | |
1/17/2025 |
| |
| 10,000 | (5) | |
| 40,000 | (5) | |
| | | |
| 7.005 | | |
10/14/2027 |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|
Ben Naccarato | |
| 50,000 | (2)(7) | |
| — | (2) | |
| — | | |
| 3.650 | | |
7/27/2023 |
| |
| 9,000 | (3) | |
| 6,000 | (3) | |
| | | |
| 3.150 | | |
1/17/2025 |
| |
| 5,000 | (5) | |
| 20,000 | (5) | |
| | | |
| 7.005 | | |
10/14/2027 |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|
Dr. Louis Centofanti | |
| 50,000 | (2)(8) | |
| — | (2) | |
| — | | |
| 3.650 | | |
7/27/2023 |
| |
| 9,000 | (3) | |
| 6,000 | (3) | |
| | | |
| 3.150 | | |
1/17/2025 |
| |
| 4,000 | (5) | |
| 16,000 | (5) | |
| | | |
| 7.005 | | |
10/14/2027 |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|
Andy Lombardo | |
| 12,000 | (4)(9) | |
| — | (4) | |
| — | | |
| 3.600 | | |
10/19/2023 |
| |
| 4,000 | (3) | |
| 4,000 | (3) | |
| | | |
| 3.150 | | |
1/17/2025 |
| |
| 5,000 | (5) | |
| 20,000 | (5) | |
| | | |
| 7.005 | | |
10/14/2027 |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|
Richard Grondin | |
| 20,000 | (4) | |
| — | (4) | |
| — | | |
| 3.600 | | |
10/19/2023 |
| |
| 6,000 | (3) | |
| 4,000 | (3) | |
| | | |
| 3.150 | | |
1/17/2025 |
| |
| 5,000 | (5) | |
| 20,000 | (5) | |
| | | |
| 7.005 | | |
10/14/2027 |
(1) |
Pursuant to each of the employment agreements dated July 22,
2020, between the Company and, respectively, Mark Duff, Ben Naccarato, Dr. Louis Centofanti, Andy Lombardo, and Richard Grondin, in the
event of a change in control, death of the executive officer, the executive officer terminates his employment for “good reason,”
or the executive officer is terminated by the Company without cause, each outstanding option and award shall immediately become exercisable
in full (Pursuant to the New Employment Agreements dated April 20, 2023, which the Company entered into with each of the NEOs as described
below in “Employment Agreements,” the occurrence of each of the events as described above continues to result in immediate
vesting in full of each outstanding option and award for each NEO. Upon the execution of the New Employment Agreements by each NEO, the
employment agreement dated July 22, 2020 was terminated (see “Employment Agreements” below for further discussions of the
events pursuant to which accelerated exercise of the respective NEO’s outstanding options can arise and the New Employment Agreements
dated April 20, 2023). |
(2) |
Incentive stock option (“ISO”) granted on July
27, 2017 under the Company’s 2017 Stock Option Plan. The option has a contractual term of six years with one-fifth yearly vesting
over a five-year period. |
(3) | Incentive
stock option granted on January 17, 2019 under the Company’s 2017 Stock Option Plan.
The option has a contractual term of six years with one-fifth yearly vesting over a five-year
period. |
| |
(4) | Incentive
stock option granted on October 19, 2017 under the Company’s 2017 Stock Option Plan.
The option has a contractual term of six years with one-fifth yearly vesting over a five-year
period. |
| |
(5) | Incentive
stock option granted on October 14, 2021 under the Company’s 2017 Stock Option Plan.
The option has a contractual term of six years with one-fifth yearly vesting over a five-year
period. |
| |
(6) | On
May 22, 2023, Mr. Duff exercised 100% of his ISO. As permitted by the 2017 Stock Option Plan,
Mr. Duff elected to pay the exercise price of the Option Shares by having the Company withhold
from the Option Shares a number of shares having a fair market value equal to the aggregate
exercise price of $365,000. Since the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock
on May 22, 2023 (as determined in accordance with the 2017 Stock Option Plan) was $11.05
per share, the Company withheld 33,032 shares of Common Stock ($365,000 divided by $11.05
to pay the aggregate exercise price for the Option Shares and issued 66,968 shares to Mr.
Duff. |
(7) | On
May 22, 2023, Mr. Naccarato exercised 100% of his ISO. As permitted by the 2017 Stock Option
Plan, Mr. Naccarato elected to pay the exercise price of the Option Shares by having the
Company withhold from the Option Shares a number of shares having a fair market value equal
to the aggregate exercise price of $182,500. Since the fair market value of the Company’s
Common Stock on May 22, 2023 (as determined in accordance with the 2017 Stock Option Plan)
was $11.05 per share, the Company withheld 16,516 shares of Common Stock ($182,500 divided
by $11.05 to pay the aggregate exercise price for the Option Shares and issued 33,484 shares
to Mr. Naccarato. |
| |
(8) | On
May 22, 2023, Dr. Louis Centofanti exercised 100% of his ISO. As permitted by the 2017 Stock
Option Plan, Dr. Centofanti elected to pay the exercise price of the Option Shares by having
the Company withhold from the Option Shares a number of shares having a fair market value
equal to the aggregate exercise price of $182,500. Since the fair market value of the Company’s
Common Stock on May 22, 2023 (as determined in accordance with the 2017 Stock Option Plan)
was $11.05 per share, the Company withheld 16,516 shares of Common Stock ($182,500 divided
by $11.05 to pay the aggregate exercise price for the Option Shares and issued 33,484 shares
to Dr. Centofanti. |
| |
(9) | On
March 28, 2023, Mr. Lombardo exercised 100% of his remaining ISO. As permitted by the 2017
Stock Option Plan, Mr. Lombardo elected to pay the exercise price of the Option Shares by
having the Company withhold from the Option Shares a number of shares having a fair market
value equal to the aggregate exercise price of $43,200. Since the fair market value of the
Company’s Common Stock on March 28, 2023 (as determined in accordance with the 2017
Stock Option Plan) was $11.995 per share, the Company withheld 3,602 shares of Common Stock
($43,200 divided by $11.995) to pay the aggregate exercise price for the Option Shares and
issued 8,398 shares to Mr. Lombardo. |
Option
Exercises
The
table below reflects options exercised by our NEOs in 2022.
| |
Number
of Shares
Acquired
on | | |
Value
Realized | |
Name | |
Exercise
(#)(1) | | |
on
Exercise ($) (2) | |
Mark Duff | |
| 16,526 | | |
$ | 98,000 | |
(1) |
On May 9, 2022, Mr. Duff exercised 100% of an ISO granted to
him on May 15, 2016 under the Company’s 2010 Stock Option Plan for the purchase of up to 50,000 shares of the Company’s Common
Stock at $3.97 per share. As permitted by the 2010 Stock Option Plan, Mr. Duff elected to pay the exercise price of the Option Shares
by having the Company withhold from the Option Shares a number of shares having a fair market value equal to the aggregate exercise price
of $198,500. Since the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on May 9, 2022 (as determined in accordance with the 2010
Stock Option Plan) was $5.93 per share, the Company withheld 33,474 shares of Common Stock ($198,500 divided by $5.93) to pay the aggregate
exercise price for the Option Shares and issued 16,526 shares to Mr. Duff. |
|
|
(2) |
Realized value determined based on the difference between the
(a) exercise price ($3.97) per share of the Option Shares multiplied by the 50,000 Option Shares exercised, and (b) the market value
($5.93) on the date of exercise of the Option Shares times the 50,000 Option Shares exercised. |
Employment
Agreements
On
April 20, 2023, upon recommendation by the Compensation Committee and approval by the Board, the Company entered into employment agreements
with each of Mark Duff, President and CEO (the “CEO Employment Agreement”), Ben Naccarato, EVP and CFO (the “CFO Employment
Agreement”), Dr. Louis Centofanti, EVP of Strategic Initiatives (the “EVP of Strategic Initiatives Employment Agreement”),
Andrew Lombardo, EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services (the “EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services Employment Agreement”),
and Richard Grondin, EVP of Waste Treatment Operations (the “EVP of Waste Treatment Operations Employment Agreement”) (collectively
the “New Employment Agreements” and each, individually, the “New Employment Agreement.” The Company had previously
entered into employment agreements with each of Mark Duff, Ben Naccarato, Dr. Louis Centofanti, Andrew Lombardo and Richard Grondin on
July 22, 2020, all five of which agreements were due to expire on July 22, 2023, but which were terminated effective April 20, 2023,
upon the execution of the New Employment Agreements.
Each
of the New Employment Agreements, which are substantially identical except for compensation, are effective April 20, 2023. Under the
New Employment Agreements, each of these executive officers is provided an annual salary, which annual salary may be increased from time
to time, but not reduced, as determined by the Compensation Committee. In addition, each of these executive officers is entitled to participate
in the Company’s broad-based benefits plans and to certain performance compensation payable under separate MIP as approved by the
Company’s Compensation Committee and the Company’s Board. The Company’s Compensation Committee and the Board approved
individual 2023 MIPs on January 19, 2023 (which were effective January 1, 2023 and applicable for the 2023 fiscal year) for each of the
executive officers (see discussion of each of the 2023 MIPs below under “2023 MIPs”).
Each
of the New Employment Agreements is effective for three years from April 20, 2023 (the “Initial Term”) unless earlier terminated
by the Company or by the executive officer. At the end of the Initial Term of each New Employment Agreement, each New Employment Agreement
will automatically be extended for one additional year, unless at least six months prior to the expiration of the Initial Term, the Company
or the executive officer provides written notice not to extend the terms of the New Employment Agreement.
Pursuant
to the New Employment Agreements, if the executive officer’s employment is terminated due to death, disability or for cause (as
defined in the agreements), the Company will pay to the executive officer or to his estate an amount equal to the sum of any unpaid base
salary and accrued unused vacation time through the date of termination and any benefits due to the executive officer under any employee
benefit plan (the “Accrued Amounts”) plus any performance compensation payable pursuant to the MIP with respect to the fiscal
year immediately preceding the date of termination. In the event that an executive officer’s employment is terminated due to death,
the Company will also pay a lump-sum payment (the “Cash Medical Continuation Benefit”) equal to eighteen times the monthly
premium that would be required to be paid, pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”),
to continue group health coverage for the executive officer’s eligible covered dependents in effect on the date of the executive
officer’s termination of employment, based on the premium for the first month of COBRA coverage. Such cash payment will be taxable
and will be made regardless of whether the executive officer’s eligible covered dependents elect COBRA continuation coverage.
If
the executive officer terminates his employment for “good reason” (as defined in the agreements) or is terminated by the
Company without cause (including any such termination for “good reason” or without cause within 24 months after a Change
in Control (as defined in the agreements), the Company will pay the executive officer Accrued Amounts, (a) two years of full base salary,
plus (b) (i) two times the performance compensation (under the executive officer’s MIP) earned with respect to the fiscal year
immediately preceding the date of termination provided the performance compensation earned with respect to the fiscal year immediately
preceding the date of termination has not yet been paid, or (ii) if performance compensation earned with respect to the fiscal year immediately
preceding the date of termination has already been paid to the executive officer, the executive officer will be paid an additional year
of the performance compensation earned with respect to the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination, and (c) the Cash
Medical Continuation Benefit. If the executive officer terminates his employment for a reason other than for good reason, the Company
will pay to the executive officer an amount equal to the Accrued Amounts plus any performance compensation payable pursuant to the MIP
applicable to such executive officer.
Additionally,
in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the agreements), all outstanding stock options to purchase the common stock held by
the executive officer will immediately become exercisable in full commencing on the date of termination through the original term of
the options. In the event of the death of an executive officer, all outstanding stock options to purchase common stock held by the executive
officer will immediately become exercisable in full commencing on the date of death, with such options exercisable for the lesser of
the original option term or twelve months from the date of the executive officer’s death. In the event an executive officer terminates
his employment for “good reason” (as defined in the agreements) or is terminated by the Company without cause, all outstanding
stock options to purchase common stock held by the officer will immediately become exercisable in full commencing on the date of termination,
with such options exercisable for the lesser of the original option term or within 60 days from the date of the executive officer’s
date of termination. Severance benefits payable with respect to a termination (other than Accrued Amounts) shall not be payable until
the termination constitutes a “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)).
Potential
Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
The
following table sets forth the potential (estimated) payments and benefits to which each NEO would have been entitled upon termination
of employment by the NEO for “good reason” or by the Company “without cause,” or following a Change in Control
of the Company, as specified under each of their respective employment agreements dated July 20, 2022, assuming each circumstance described
below occurred on December 31, 2022, the last day of our most recent fiscal year. Such potential payments included any Accrued Amounts
(accrued base salary earned for 2022 but paid in 2023, as well as accrued unused vacation/sick time and other vested benefits under the
Company plans in which he participated).The NEO is not entitled to payment of any benefits upon termination for cause or resignation
without good reason other than for Accrued Amounts.
| |
By Executive for | | |
| |
| |
Good Reason or by | | |
| |
Name and Principal Position | |
Company Without | | |
Change in Control | |
Potential Payment/Benefit | |
Cause | | |
of the Company | |
| |
| | |
| |
Mark Duff | |
| | | |
| | |
President and CEO | |
| | | |
| | |
Base salary and Accrued Amounts | |
$ | 773,867 | (1) | |
$ | 773,867 | (1) |
Performance compensation | |
$ | — | (2) | |
$ | — | (2) |
Stock Options | |
$ | 9,500 | (3) | |
$ | 9,500 | (3) |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Ben Naccarato | |
| | | |
| | |
EVP and CFO | |
| | | |
| | |
Base salary and Accrued Amounts | |
$ | 668,286 | (1) | |
$ | 668,286 | (1) |
Performance compensation | |
$ | — | (2) | |
$ | — | (2) |
Stock Options | |
$ | 5,700 | (3) | |
$ | 5,700 | (3) |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Dr. Louis Centofanti | |
| | | |
| | |
EVP of Strategic Initiatives | |
| | | |
| | |
Base salary and Accrued Amounts | |
$ | 666,448 | (1) | |
$ | 666,448 | (1) |
Performance compensation | |
$ | — | (2) | |
$ | — | (2) |
Stock Options | |
$ | 5,700 | (3) | |
$ | 5,700 | (3) |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Andy Lombardo | |
| | | |
| | |
EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services | |
| | | |
| | |
Base salary and Accrued Amounts | |
$ | 624,667 | (1) | |
$ | 624,667 | (1) |
Performance compensation | |
$ | — | (2) | |
$ | — | (2) |
Stock Options | |
$ | 3,040 | (3) | |
$ | 3,040 | (3) |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Richard Grondin | |
| | | |
| | |
EVP of Waste Treatment Operations | |
| | | |
| | |
Base salary and Accrued Amounts | |
$ | 615,343 | (1) | |
$ | 615,343 | (1) |
Performance compensation | |
$ | — | (2) | |
$ | — | (2) |
Stock Options | |
$ | 3,800 | (3) | |
$ | 3,800 | (3) |
(1) | Represents
two times the base salary of the NEO at December 31, 2022 plus “Accrued Amounts.” |
| |
(2) | Represents
two times the performance compensation earned for fiscal year 2022 which was $0 (see “2022
MIPs” below). |
| |
(3) | Benefit
is calculated based on the difference between the exercise price of each option and the market
value of the Company’s Common Stock per share (as reported on the NASDAQ) at December
31, 2022 times the number of options outstanding at December 31, 2022. Benefit excludes options
which were out-of-the-money at December 31, 2022. |
2022
Executive Compensation Components
For
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, the principal components of compensation for executive officers were:
| ● | base
salary; |
| ● | performance-based
incentive compensation; |
| ● | long
term incentive compensation; |
| ● | retirement
and other benefits; and |
| ● | perquisites. |
Based
on the amounts set forth in the Summary Compensation table, during 2022, salary accounted for approximately 89.0% of the total compensation
of our NEOs, while equity option awards, MIP compensation, and other compensation accounted for approximately 11.0% of the total compensation
of the NEOs.
Base
Salary
The
NEOs, other officers, and other employees of the Company receive a base annual salary. Base salary ranges for executive officers are
determined for each executive based on his or her position and responsibility by using market data and comparisons to similar companies
within the business segments in which the Company operates.
During
its review of base salaries for executives, the Compensation Committee primarily considers:
| ● | market
data and comparisons to similar companies within the business segments in which the Company
operates; |
| ● | internal
review of the executive’s compensation, both individually and relative to other officers;
and |
| ● | individual
performance of the executive. |
Salary
levels are typically considered annually as part of the performance review process as well as upon a promotion or other change in job
responsibility. Merit-based salary increases for executives are based on the Compensation Committee’s assessment of the individual’s
performance. The base salary and potential annual base salary adjustments for the NEOs are set forth in their respective employment agreements.
Performance-Based
Incentive Compensation
The
Compensation Committee has the latitude to design cash and equity-based incentive compensation programs to promote high performance and
achievement of our corporate objectives by directors and the NEOs, encourage the growth of stockholder value, and enable employees to
participate in our long-term growth and profitability. The Compensation Committee may grant stock options and/or performance bonuses.
In granting these awards, the Compensation Committee may establish any conditions or restrictions it deems appropriate. In addition,
the CEO has discretionary authority to grant stock options to certain high-performing executives or officers, subject to the approval
of the Compensation Committee. The exercise price for each stock option granted is at or above the market price of our Common Stock on
the date of grant. Stock options may be awarded to newly hired or promoted executives at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.
Grants of stock options to eligible newly hired executive officers are generally made at the next regularly scheduled Compensation Committee
meeting following the hire date.
2022
MIPs
On
January 20, 2022, the Compensation Committee and the Board approved individual MIPs for the calendar year 2022 for each of the NEOs.
Each of the MIPs was effective January 1, 2022.
The
performance compensation payable under each MIP was based upon meeting certain of the Company’s separate target objectives during
2022 as described in each of the MIPs below. The Compensation Committee believes performance compensation payable under each of the MIPs
should be based on achievement of at least 75% of EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), a non-GAAP
(Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measurement, as the Company believes that this target provides a better indicator
of operating performance as it excludes certain non-cash items. EBITDA has certain limitations as it does not reflect all items of income
or cash flows that affect the Company’s financial performance under GAAP. No performance compensation was earned for each of the
target objectives under any of the MIPs for 2022 since a minimum of 75% of the EBITDA target was not achieved.
Certain
targets set forth in each of the 2022 MIPs took into account the Board-approved budget for 2022 as well as the Compensation Committee’s
expectation for performance that in its estimation would warrant payment of incentive cash compensation. In formulating certain targets,
the Compensation Committee and the Board considered 2021 results, economic conditions, potential continued impact of COVID-19 and forecasts
for 2022 government spending.
Performance
compensation, if any, was to be paid on or about 90 days after year-end, or sooner, based on the Company’s audited financial statements
included in the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Commission. The Compensation Committee retained the right to modify, change
or terminate each MIP and may adjust the various target amounts described below, at any time and for any reason.
The
total performance compensation that was to be paid to the NEOs under the MIPs was not to exceed 50% of the Company’s pre-tax net
income prior to the calculation of performance compensation.
The
following schedules reflect performance compensation that was payable under each of the MIPs, along with a description of the target
objectives. As noted above, no performance compensation was earned under any of the MIPs for 2022 since a minimum of 75% of the EBITDA
target was not achieved.
CEO
MIP:
Annualized Base Pay: | |
$ | 374,870 | |
Performance Incentive Compensation Target (at 100% of Plan): | |
| 187,435 | |
Total Annual Target Compensation (at 100% of Plan): | |
$ | 562,305 | |
Perma-Fix
Environmental Serivces, Inc.
2022
Management Incentive Plan
CEO
MIP MATRIX
Target Objectives | |
Performance Target Achieved | |
| |
75%-89% | | |
90%-110% | | |
111%-129% | | |
130%-150% | | |
>150% | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Revenue (1) (6) | |
$ | 9,372 | | |
$ | 18,744 | | |
$ | 32,132 | | |
$ | 45,520 | | |
$ | 72,297 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
EBITDA (2) | |
| 56,229 | | |
| 112,461 | | |
| 192,790 | | |
| 273,120 | | |
| 433,778 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Health & Safety (3) (6) | |
| 14,058 | | |
| 28,115 | | |
| 28,115 | | |
| 28,115 | | |
| 28,115 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Permit & License Violations (4) (6) | |
| 14,058 | | |
| 28,115 | | |
| 28,115 | | |
| 28,115 | | |
| 28,115 | |
| |
$ | 93,717 | | |
$ | 187,435 | | |
$ | 281,152 | | |
$ | 374,870 | | |
$ | 562,305 | |
CFO MIP:
Annualized Base Pay: | |
$ | 304,772 | |
Performance Incentive Compensation Target (at 100% of Plan): | |
| 152,386 | |
Total Annual Target Compensation (at 100% of Plan): | |
$ | 457,158 | |
Perma-Fix
Environmental Serivces, Inc.
2022
Management Incentive Plan
CFO
MIP MATRIX
Target Objectives | |
Performance Target Achieved | |
| |
75%-89% | | |
90%-110% | | |
111%-129% | | |
130%-150% | | |
>150% | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Revenue (1) (6) | |
$ | 7,619 | | |
$ | 15,239 | | |
$ | 25,035 | | |
$ | 33,743 | | |
$ | 40,273 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
EBITDA (2) | |
| 57,146 | | |
| 114,289 | | |
| 150,209 | | |
| 202,455 | | |
| 241,641 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Health & Safety (3) (6) | |
| 5,714 | | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 11,429 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Permit & License Violations (4) (6) | |
| 5,714 | | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 11,429 | |
| |
$ | 76,193 | | |
$ | 152,386 | | |
$ | 198,102 | | |
$ | 259,056 | | |
$ | 304,772 | |
EVP of Strategic Initiatives MIP:
Annualized Base Pay: | |
$ | 253,980 | |
Performance Incentive Compensation Target (at 100% of Plan): | |
| 126,990 | |
Total Annual Target Compensation (at 100% of Plan): | |
$ | 380,970 | |
Perma-Fix
Environmental Serivces, Inc.
2022
Management Incentive Plan
EVP
OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES MIP MATRIX
Target Objectives | |
Performance Target Achieved | |
| |
75%-89% | | |
90%-110% | | |
111%-129% | | |
130%-150% | | |
>150% | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Revenue (1) (6) | |
$ | 6,350 | | |
$ | 12,699 | | |
$ | 20,863 | | |
$ | 28,119 | | |
$ | 33,562 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
EBITDA (2) | |
| 47,621 | | |
| 95,243 | | |
| 125,176 | | |
| 168,716 | | |
| 201,370 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Health & Safety (3) (6) | |
| 4,762 | | |
| 9,524 | | |
| 9,524 | | |
| 9,524 | | |
| 9,524 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Permit & License Violations (4) (6) | |
| 4,762 | | |
| 9,524 | | |
| 9,524 | | |
| 9,524 | | |
| 9,524 | |
| |
$ | 63,495 | | |
$ | 126,990 | | |
$ | 165,087 | | |
$ | 215,883 | | |
$ | 253,980 | |
EVP of Waste Treatment Operations MIP:
Annualized Base Pay: | |
$ | 261,233 | |
Performance Incentive Compensation Target (at 100% of Plan): | |
| 130,617 | |
Total Annual Target Compensation (at 100% of Plan): | |
$ | 391,850 | |
Perma-Fix Environmental Serivces, Inc.
2022 Management Incentive Plan
EVP OF WASTE TREATMENT OPERATIONS MIP MATRIX
Target Objectives | |
Performance Target Achieved | |
| |
75%-89% | | |
90%-110% | | |
111%-129% | | |
130%-150% | | |
>150% | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Revenue (1) (6) | |
$ | 6,531 | | |
$ | 13,062 | | |
$ | 18,660 | | |
$ | 26,123 | | |
$ | 31,721 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
EBITDA (2) | |
| 39,185 | | |
| 78,371 | | |
| 111,958 | | |
| 156,741 | | |
| 190,328 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Health & Safety (3) (6) | |
| 9,796 | | |
| 19,592 | | |
| 19,592 | | |
| 19,592 | | |
| 19,592 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Permit & License Violations (4) (6) | |
| 9,796 | | |
| 19,592 | | |
| 19,592 | | |
| 19,592 | | |
| 19,592 | |
| |
$ | 65,308 | | |
$ | 130,617 | | |
$ | 169,802 | | |
$ | 222,048 | | |
$ | 261,233 | |
EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services MIP:
Annualized Base Pay: | |
$ | 304,772 | |
Performance Incentive Compensation Target (at 100% of Plan): | |
| 152,386 | |
Total Annual Target Compensation (at 100% of Plan): | |
$ | 457,158 | |
Perma-Fix
Environmental Serivces, Inc.
2022
Management Incentive Plan
EVP
OF NUCLEAR & TECHNICAL SERVICES MIP MATRIX
Target Objectives | |
Performance Target Achieved | |
| |
75%-89% | | |
90%-110% | | |
111%-129% | | |
130%-150% | | |
>150% | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Revenue (1) (6) | |
$ | 7,619 | | |
$ | 15,239 | | |
$ | 21,769 | | |
$ | 30,477 | | |
$ | 37,008 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
EBITDA (2) | |
| 45,716 | | |
| 91,431 | | |
| 130,617 | | |
| 182,863 | | |
| 222,048 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Health & Safety (3) (6) | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 22,858 | | |
| 22,858 | | |
| 22,858 | | |
| 22,858 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Cost Performance Incentive (5) (6) | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 22,858 | | |
| 22,858 | | |
| 22,858 | | |
| 22,858 | |
| |
$ | 76,193 | | |
$ | 152,386 | | |
$ | 198,102 | | |
$ | 259,056 | | |
$ | 304,772 | |
(1) |
Revenue was defined as the total consolidated third-party top line revenue as publicly reported in the Company’s 2022 financial statements. The percentage achieved was determined by comparing the actual consolidated revenue for 2022 to the Board approved Revenue target for 2022. |
|
|
(2) |
EBITDA was defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization from continuing and discontinued operations. The percentage achieved was determined by comparing the actual EBITDA to the Board approved EBITDA target for 2022. |
|
|
(3) |
The Health and Safety Incentive target was based upon the actual number of Worker’s Compensation Lost Time Accidents in the Company’s Services Segment, as provided by the Company’s Worker’s Compensation carrier. The Corporate Controller submitted a report on a quarterly basis documenting and confirming the number of Worker’s Compensation Lost Time Accidents, supported by the Worker’s Compensation Loss Report provided by the company’s carrier or broker. Such claims were identified on the loss report as “indemnity claims.” The following number of Worker’s Compensation Lost Time Accidents and corresponding performance target thresholds was established for the annual Incentive Compensation Plan calculation for 2022. |
Work Comp.
Claim
Number |
|
Performance
Target
Achieved |
|
|
|
3 |
|
75%-89% |
|
|
|
2 |
|
90%-110% |
|
|
|
1 |
|
111%-129% |
|
|
|
1 |
|
130%-150% |
|
|
|
1 |
|
>150% |
(4) |
Permits or License Violations incentive was earned/determined according to the scale set forth below: An “official notice of non-compliance” was defined as an official communication during 2022 from a local, state, or federal regulatory authority alleging one or more violations of an otherwise applicable Environmental, Health or Safety requirement or permit provision, which resulted in a facility’s implementation of corrective action(s) which included a material financial obligation, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors in their sole discretion, to the Company. |
Permit and
License
Violations |
|
Performance
Target
Achieved |
|
|
|
3 |
|
75%-89% |
|
|
|
2 |
|
90%-110% |
|
|
|
1 |
|
111%-129% |
|
|
|
1 |
|
130%-150% |
|
|
|
1 |
|
>150% |
(5) |
Cost Performance Index (“CPI” – a metric used in measuring project performance) incentive was earned/determined by maintaining project performance metrics for all Firm Fixed Price task orders and projects to include monitoring CPI based on recognized earned value calculations. As defined through monthly project reviews, all CPI metrics should exceed 1.0 for Nuclear Services Projects. A cumulative CPI (CCPI) will be calculated from all fixed cost contracts. The following CCPI and corresponding performance target thresholds were established for annual incentive compensation plan calculation for 2022. |
CPI
(if
CCPI is) |
|
Performance
Target
Achieved |
|
|
|
0.75-0.89 |
|
75%-89% |
|
|
|
0.90-1.10 |
|
90%-110% |
|
|
|
1.11-1.29 |
|
111%-129% |
|
|
|
1.30-1.50 |
|
130%-150% |
|
|
|
>1.50 |
|
>150% |
(6) |
No performance incentive compensation was payable for the target objective unless a minimum of 75% of the EBITDA target objective was achieved. |
2023 MIPs
On January 19, 2023, the Compensation Committee and
the Board approved individual MIPs for the calendar year 2023 for each of the NEOs. Each of the MIPs is effective January 1, 2023.
The performance compensation payable under each MIP
is based upon meeting certain of the Company’s separate target objectives during 2023 as described in each of the MIPs below, provided,
however, no performance compensation will be paid for attaining any of the Company’s separate target objectives unless a minimum
of 75% of the EBITDA target objective is achieved.
Certain targets set forth in each of the 2023 MIPs
take into account the Board-approved budget for 2023 as well as the Compensation Committee’s expectation for performance that in
its estimation would warrant payment of incentive cash compensation. In formulating certain targets, the Compensation Committee and the
Board considered 2022 results, economic conditions, potential continued impact of COVID-19 and forecasts for 2023 government spending.
Performance compensation amounts under the 2023 MIPs
are to be paid on or about 90 days after year-end, or sooner, based on finalization of our audited financial statements for 2023.
The Compensation Committee retains the right to modify,
change or terminate each MIP and may adjust the various target amounts described below, at any time and for any reason.
The total to be paid to the NEOs under the MIPs shall
not exceed 50% of the Company’s pre-tax net income prior to the calculation of performance compensation.
The following schedules reflect performance compensation
payable under each of the MIPs, along with a description of the target objectives.
CEO MIP:
Annualized Base Pay: | |
$ | 374,870 | |
Performance Incentive Compensation Target (at 100% of Plan): | |
$ | 187,435 | |
Total Annual Target Compensation (at 100% of Plan): | |
$ | 562,305 | |
Perma-Fix
Environmental Serivces, Inc.
2023
Management Incentive Plan
CEO
MIP MATRIX
Target Objectives | |
Performance Target Achieved | |
| |
75%-89% | | |
90%-110% | | |
111%-129% | | |
130%-150% | | |
>150% | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Revenue (1) (6) | |
$ | 9,372 | | |
$ | 18,744 | | |
$ | 32,132 | | |
$ | 45,520 | | |
$ | 72,297 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
EBITDA (2) | |
| 56,229 | | |
| 112,461 | | |
| 192,790 | | |
| 273,120 | | |
| 433,778 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Health & Safety (3) (6) | |
| 14,058 | | |
| 28,115 | | |
| 28,115 | | |
| 28,115 | | |
| 28,115 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Permit & License Violations (4) (6) | |
| 14,058 | | |
| 28,115 | | |
| 28,115 | | |
| 28,115 | | |
| 28,115 | |
| |
$ | 93,717 | | |
$ | 187,435 | | |
$ | 281,152 | | |
$ | 374,870 | | |
$ | 562,305 | |
CFO MIP:
Annualized Base Pay: | |
$ | 304,772 | |
Performance Incentive Compensation Target (at 100% of Plan): | |
$ | 152,386 | |
Total Annual Target Compensation (at 100% of Plan): | |
$ | 457,158 | |
Perma-Fix
Environmental Serivces, Inc.
2023
Management Incentive Plan
CFO
MIP MATRIX
Target Objectives | |
Performance Target Achieved | |
| |
75%-89% | | |
90%-110% | | |
111%-129% | | |
130%-150% | | |
>150% | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Revenue (1) (6) | |
$ | 7,619 | | |
$ | 15,239 | | |
$ | 25,035 | | |
$ | 33,743 | | |
$ | 40,273 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
EBITDA (2) | |
| 57,146 | | |
| 114,289 | | |
| 150,209 | | |
| 202,455 | | |
| 241,641 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Health & Safety (3) (6) | |
| 5,714 | | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 11,429 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Permit & License Violations (4) (6) | |
| 5,714 | | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 11,429 | |
| |
$ | 76,193 | | |
$ | 152,386 | | |
$ | 198,102 | | |
$ | 259,056 | | |
$ | 304,772 | |
EVP of Strategic Initiatives MIP:
Annualized Base Pay: | |
$ | 253,980 | |
Performance Incentive Compensation Target (at 100% of Plan): | |
$ | 126,990 | |
Total Annual Target Compensation (at 100% of Plan): | |
$ | 380,970 | |
Perma-Fix
Environmental Serivces, Inc.
2023
Management Incentive Plan
EVP
OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES MIP MATRIX
Target Objectives | |
Performance Target Achieved | |
| |
75%-89% | | |
90%-110% | | |
111%-129% | | |
130%-150% | | |
>150% | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Revenue (1) (6) | |
$ | 6,350 | | |
$ | 12,699 | | |
$ | 20,863 | | |
$ | 28,119 | | |
$ | 33,562 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
EBITDA (2) | |
| 47,621 | | |
| 95,243 | | |
| 125,176 | | |
| 168,716 | | |
| 201,370 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Health & Safety (3) (6) | |
| 4,762 | | |
| 9,524 | | |
| 9,524 | | |
| 9,524 | | |
| 9,524 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Permit & License Violations (4) (6) | |
| 4,762 | | |
| 9,524 | | |
| 9,524 | | |
| 9,524 | | |
| 9,524 | |
| |
$ | 63,495 | | |
$ | 126,990 | | |
$ | 165,087 | | |
$ | 215,883 | | |
$ | 253,980 | |
EVP of Waste Treatment Operations MIP:
Annualized Base Pay: | |
$ | 261,233 | |
Performance Incentive Compensation Target (at 100% of Plan): | |
$ | 130,617 | |
Total Annual Target Compensation (at 100% of Plan): | |
$ | 391,850 | |
Perma-Fix
Environmental Serivces, Inc.
2023
Management Incentive Plan
EVP
OF WASTE TREATMENT OPERATIONS MIP MATRIX
Target Objectives | |
Performance Target Achieved | |
| |
75%-89% | | |
90%-110% | | |
111%-129% | | |
130%-150% | | |
>150% | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Revenue (1) (6) | |
$ | 6,531 | | |
$ | 13,062 | | |
$ | 18,660 | | |
$ | 26,123 | | |
$ | 31,721 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
EBITDA (2) | |
| 39,185 | | |
| 78,371 | | |
| 111,958 | | |
| 156,741 | | |
| 190,328 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Health & Safety (3) (6) | |
| 9,796 | | |
| 19,592 | | |
| 19,592 | | |
| 19,592 | | |
| 19,592 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Permit & License Violations (4) (6) | |
| 9,796 | | |
| 19,592 | | |
| 19,592 | | |
| 19,592 | | |
| 19,592 | |
| |
$ | 65,308 | | |
$ | 130,617 | | |
$ | 169,802 | | |
$ | 222,048 | | |
$ | 261,233 | |
EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services MIP:
Annualized Base Pay: | |
$ | 304,772 | |
Performance Incentive Compensation Target (at 100% of Plan): | |
$ | 152,386 | |
Total Annual Target Compensation (at 100% of Plan): | |
$ | 457,158 | |
Perma-Fix
Environmental Serivces, Inc.
2023
Management Incentive Plan
EVP
OF NUCLEAR & TECHNICAL SERVICES MIP MATRIX
Target Objectives | |
Performance Target Achieved | |
| |
75%-89% | | |
90%-110% | | |
111%-129% | | |
130%-150% | | |
>150% | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Revenue (1) (6) | |
$ | 7,619 | | |
$ | 15,239 | | |
$ | 21,769 | | |
$ | 30,477 | | |
$ | 37,008 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
EBITDA (2) | |
| 45,716 | | |
| 91,431 | | |
| 130,617 | | |
| 182,863 | | |
| 222,048 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Health & Safety (3) (6) | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 22,858 | | |
| 22,858 | | |
| 22,858 | | |
| 22,858 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Cost Performance Incentive (5) (6) | |
| 11,429 | | |
| 22,858 | | |
| 22,858 | | |
| 22,858 | | |
| 22,858 | |
| |
$ | 76,193 | | |
$ | 152,386 | | |
$ | 198,102 | | |
$ | 259,056 | | |
$ | 304,772 | |
(1) |
Revenue is defined as the total consolidated third-party top line revenue as publicly reported in the Company’s 2023 financial statements. The percentage achieved is determined by comparing the actual consolidated revenue for 2023 to the Board approved Revenue target for 2023. |
|
|
(2) |
EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization from continuing and discontinued operations. The percentage achieved is determined by comparing the actual EBITDA to the Board approved EBITDA target for 2023. |
|
|
(3) |
The Health and Safety Incentive target is based upon the actual number of Worker’s Compensation Lost Time Accidents in the Company’s Services Segment, as provided by the Company’s Worker’s Compensation carrier. The Corporate Controller will submit a report on a quarterly basis documenting and confirming the number of Worker’s Compensation Lost Time Accidents, supported by the Worker’s Compensation Loss Report provided by the company’s carrier or broker. Such claims will be identified on the loss report as “indemnity claims.” The following number of Worker’s Compensation Lost Time Accidents and corresponding performance target thresholds has been established for the annual Incentive Compensation Plan calculation for 2023. |
Work Comp.
Claim
Number |
|
Performance
Target
Achieved |
|
|
|
3 |
|
75%-89% |
|
|
|
2 |
|
90%-110% |
|
|
|
1 |
|
111%-129% |
|
|
|
1 |
|
130%-150% |
|
|
|
1 |
|
>150% |
(4) |
Permits or License Violations incentive is earned/determined according to the scale set forth below: An “official notice of non-compliance” is defined as an official communication during 2023 from a local, state, or federal regulatory authority alleging one or more violations of an otherwise applicable Environmental, Health or Safety requirement or permit provision, which results in a facility’s implementation of corrective action(s) which includes a material financial obligation, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors in their sole discretion, to the Company. |
Permit and
License Violations |
|
Performance
Target Achieved |
|
|
|
3 |
|
75%-89% |
|
|
|
2 |
|
90%-110% |
|
|
|
1 |
|
111%-129% |
|
|
|
1 |
|
130%-150% |
|
|
|
1 |
|
>150% |
(5) |
CPI incentive is earned/determined by maintaining project performance metrics for all Firm Fixed Price task orders and projects to include monitoring CPI based on recognized earned value calculations. As defined through monthly project reviews, all CPI metrics should exceed 1.0 for Nuclear Services Projects. A cumulative CPI (CCPI) will be calculated from all fixed cost contracts. The following CCPI and corresponding performance target thresholds have been established for annual incentive compensation plan calculation for 2023. |
CPI
(if CCPI is) |
|
Performance
Target
Achieved |
|
|
|
0.75-0.89 |
|
75%-89% |
|
|
|
0.90-1.10 |
|
90%-110% |
|
|
|
1.11-1.29 |
|
111%-129% |
|
|
|
1.30-1.50 |
|
130%-150% |
|
|
|
>1.50 |
|
>150% |
(6) |
No performance incentive compensation will be payable for the target objective unless a minimum of 75% of the EBITDA target objective is achieved. |
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
Employee Stock Option Plans
The 2017 Stock Option Plan (“2017 Option Plan”)
encourages participants to focus on long-term performance and provides an opportunity for executive officers and certain designated key
employees to increase their stake in the Company. Stock options succeed by delivering value to executives only when the value of our stock
increases. The 2017 Option Plan authorizes the grant of NQSOs and ISOs for the purchase of our Common Stock.
The 2017 Option Plan assists the Company to:
|
● |
enhance the link between the creation of stockholder value and long-term executive incentive compensation; |
|
|
|
|
● |
provide an opportunity for increased equity ownership by executives; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
maintain competitive levels of total compensation; |
Stock option award levels are determined based on
market data, vary among participants based on their positions with the Company and are granted generally at the Compensation Committee’s
regularly scheduled July or August meeting. Newly hired or promoted executive officers who are eligible to receive options are generally
awarded such options at the next regularly scheduled Compensation Committee meeting following their hire or promotion date.
Options are awarded with an exercise price equal to
or not less than the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of the grant as reported on the NASDAQ. In certain
limited circumstances, the Compensation Committee may grant options to an executive at an exercise price in excess of the closing price
of the Company’s Common Stock on the grant date.
The Company’s NEOs have outstanding options
from the Company’s 2017 Plan (See “Executive Compensation – Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End - Outstanding
Equity Awards at December 31, 2022” for outstanding options for each of our NEOs). On January 19, 2023, the Company’s Board
and Compensation Committee approved ISO for each of the Company’s executive officers for the purchase set forth in his respective
ISO Agreement, as follows: 70,000 shares for the CEO; 40,000 shares for the CFO; 30,000 shares for the EVP of Strategic Initiatives; 30,000
shares for the EVP of Waste Treatment Operations; and 30,000 shares for the EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services. Each of the ISOs granted
has a contractual term of six years with one-fifth yearly vesting over a five-year period. The exercise price of the ISO is $3.95 per
share, which was equal to the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant.
In cases of termination of an executive officer’s
employment due to death, by the executive for “good reason,” by the Company without cause, and due to a “change of control,”
all outstanding stock options to purchase common stock held by the executive officer will immediately become exercisable in full (see
further discussion of the exercisability term of these options in each of these circumstances in “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION –
Employment Agreements”). Otherwise, vesting of option awards ceases upon termination of employment and exercise right of the vested
option amount ceases upon three months from termination of employment except in the case of retirement (subject to a six-month limitation)
and disability (subject to a one-year limitation).
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
We account for stock-based compensation in accordance
with ASC 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” ASC 718 establishes accounting standards for entity exchanges of
equity instruments for goods or services. It also addresses transactions in which an entity incurs liabilities in exchange for goods or
services that are based on the fair value of the entity’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of those equity
instruments. ASC 718 requires all stock-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the
income statement based on their fair values. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair-value of stock-based
awards which requires subjective assumptions. Assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options granted include the exercise
price of the award, the expected term, the expected volatility of the Company’s stock over the option’s expected term, the
risk-free interest rate over the option’s expected term, and the expected annual dividend yield. We recognize stock-based compensation
expense using a straight-line amortization method over the requisite period, which is generally the vesting period of the stock option
grant.
Retirement and Other Benefits
401(k) Plan
The Company adopted the Perma-Fix Environmental Services,
Inc. 401(k) Plan (the “401(k) Plan”) in 1992, which is intended to comply with Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code and
the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. All full-time employees who have attained the age of 18 are eligible
to participate in the 401(k) Plan. Eligibility is immediate upon employment but enrollment is only allowed during four quarterly open
periods of January 1, Apri1 1, July 1, and October 1. Participating employees may make annual pretax contributions to their accounts up
to 100% of their compensation, up to a maximum amount as limited by law. At our discretion, we may make matching contributions based on
the employee’s elective contributions. Company contributions vest over a period of five years. In 2022, the Company contributed
approximately $575,000 in 401(k) matching funds, of which approximately $31,000 was for our NEOs (see the “Summary Compensation”
table for 401(k) matching fund contributions made for the NEOs for 2022).
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits
The Company provides executive officers with limited
perquisites and other personal benefits (health/disability/life insurance) that the Company and the Compensation Committee believe are
reasonable and consistent with its overall compensation program to better enable the Company to attract and retain superior employees
for key positions. The Compensation Committee periodically reviews the levels of perquisites and other personal benefits provided to executive
officers. The executive officers are provided an auto allowance.
Equity Compensation Plans
The following table sets forth information as of December
31, 2022, with respect to our equity compensation plans.
| |
Equity Compensation Plan | |
Plan Category | |
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options warrants and rights | | |
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | | |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a) | |
| |
(a) | | |
(b) | | |
(c) | |
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders | |
| 1,018,400 | | |
$ | 5.02 | | |
| 801,534 | |
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Total | |
| 1,018,400 | | |
$ | 5.02 | | |
| 801,534 | |
Compensation Risk Assessment
In reviewing our executive compensation program, the
Company considers whether the program encourages unnecessary or excessive risk taking and has concluded that its compensation policies
do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. This conclusion was based on the assessment
performed by the Company, with input from the Company’s executive management and its outside securities counsel. The Company’s
assessment included consideration of Item 402(s) of Regulation S-K, promulgated under the Securities Act, as discussed with the Company’s
management following in-depth discussions of Item 402(s) with our outside securities counsel. In conducting the Company’s risk assessment,
numerous factors were considered, including:
|
● |
the Company does not offer significant short-term incentives that would reasonably be considered as motivating high-risk investments or other conduct that is not consistent with the long term goals of the Company; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the mix between short-term and long-term compensation; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the type of equity awards granted to employees and level of equity and equity award holdings; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
the historical emphasis at the Company on long-term growth and profitability over short-term gains. |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Schelhammer Capital Bank AG, a banking institution
regulated by the banking regulations of Austria, has represented to the Company that as of May 5, 2023, it holds of record as a nominee
for, and as an agent of, certain accredited investors, 1,894,466 shares of our Common Stock. None of the Common Stock held by Schelhammer
Capital Bank AG for the account of any single investor represents more than 4.9% of our Common Stock and, to the best knowledge of Schelhammer
Capital Bank AG, as far as stocks held by such investors in accounts with Schelhammer Capital Bank AG, none of such investors act together
as a group or otherwise act in concert for the purpose of voting on matters subject to the vote of our stockholders or for purpose of
disposition or investment of such stock. Additionally, the investors for whom Schelhammer Capital Bank AG acts as nominee with respect
to such shares maintain full voting and dispositive power over the Common Stock beneficially owned by such investors, and Schelhammer
Capital Bank AG has neither voting nor investment power over such shares. Accordingly, Schelhammer Capital Bank AG believes that (i) it
is not the beneficial owner, as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, of the shares of Common Stock registered in Schelhammer
Capital Bank AG’s name because (a) Schelhammer Capital Bank AG holds the Common Stock as a nominee only, (b) Schelhammer Capital
Bank AG has neither voting nor investment power over such shares, and (c) Schelhammer Capital Bank AG has not nominated or sought to nominate,
and does not intend to nominate in the future, any person to serve as a member of our Board; and (ii) it is not required to file reports
under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act or to file either Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G in connection with the shares of our Common Stock
registered in the name of Schelhammer Capital Bank AG.
Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, if Schelhammer
Capital Bank AG’s representations to us described above are incorrect or if the investors for whom Schelhammer Capital Bank AG acts
as nominee are acting as a group, then Schelhammer Capital Bank AG or a group of such investors could be a beneficial owner of more than
5% of our voting securities. If Schelhammer Capital Bank AG was deemed the beneficial owner of such shares, the following table sets forth
information as to the shares of voting securities that Schelhammer Capital Bank AG may be considered to beneficially own on May 5, 2023:
Name of Record Owner | |
Title Of Class | |
Amount and Nature of Ownership | | |
Percent Of Class (*) | |
Schelhammer Capital Bank AG | |
Common | |
| 1,894,466 | (+) | |
| 13.98 | % |
(*) This calculation is based upon 13,553,101
shares of Common Stock outstanding on June 1, 2023, plus the number of shares of Common Stock which Schelhammer Capital Bank AG, as agent
for certain accredited investors has the right to acquire within 60 days, which is none.
(+) This amount is the number of shares
that Schelhammer Capital Bank AG has represented to us that it holds of record as nominee for, and as an agent of, certain accredited
investors. As of May 5, 2023, the date of Schelhammer Capital Bank AG’s representations to us, Schelhammer Capital Bank AG has no
warrants or options to acquire, as agent for certain investors, additional shares of our Common Stock. Although Schelhammer Capital Bank
AG is the record holder of the shares of Common Stock described in this note, Schelhammer Capital Bank AG has advised us that it does
not believe it is a beneficial owner of the Common Stock or that it is required to file reports under Section 16(a) or Section 13(d) of
the Exchange Act. Schelhammer Capital Bank AG has advised us that it (a) holds the Common Stock as a nominee only and that it does not
exercise voting or investment power over the Common Stock held in its name and that no one investor for which it holds our Common Stock
holds more than 4.9% of our issued and outstanding Common Stock and (b) has not nominated, and has not sought to nominate, and does not
intend to nominate in the future, any person to serve as a member of our Board. Accordingly, we do not believe that Schelhammer Capital
Bank AG is our affiliate. Schelhammer Capital Bank AG’s address is Goldschmiedgasse 3, A-1010 Wien, Austria.
Security Ownership of Management
The following table sets forth information as to the
shares of voting securities beneficially owned as of June 1, 2023, by each of our directors and NEOs and by all of our directors and NEOs
as a group. Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with the rules promulgated under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.
A person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of any voting securities for which that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership
within 60 days.
| |
Amount and Nature | | |
| |
Name of Beneficial Owner (2) | |
of Beneficial Owner (1) | | |
Percent of Class (1) | |
Thomas P. Bostick (3) | |
| 42,963 | (3) | |
| * | |
Kerry C. Duggan (4) | |
| 29,108 | (4) | |
| * | |
Dr. Louis F. Centofanti (5) | |
| 286,509 | (5) | |
| 2.11 | % |
Joseph T. Grumski (6) | |
| 57,877 | (6) | |
| * | |
Joe R. Reeder (7) | |
| 227,858 | (7) | |
| 1.68 | % |
Larry M. Shelton (8) | |
| 185,779 | (8) | |
| 1.37 | % |
Zack P. Wamp (9) | |
| 59,376 | (9) | |
| * | |
Mark A. Zwecker (10) | |
| 244,272 | (10) | |
| 1.80 | % |
Mark Duff (11) | |
| 137,952 | (11) | |
| 1.02 | % |
Richard Grondin (12) | |
| 34,036 | (12) | |
| * | |
Andy Lombardo (13) | |
| 26,298 | (13) | |
| * | |
Ben Naccarato (14) | |
| 54,877 | (14) | |
| * | |
Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (12 persons) | |
| 1,386,905 | (15) | |
| 10.06 | % |
*Indicates beneficial ownership of less than one percent
(1%).
(1) |
See footnote (1) of the table under “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners.” |
(2) |
The business address of each person, for the purposes hereof, is c/o Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc., 8302 Dunwoody Place, Suite 250, Atlanta, Georgia 30350. |
|
|
(3) |
Mr. Bostick has sole and voting and investment power over all shares shown, which include: (i) 29,463 shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Bostick, (ii) options to purchase 8,500 shares which are immediately exercisable, and (iii) options to purchase 5,000 shares which will be excisable within 60 days of the Record Date. |
|
|
(4) |
Ms. Duggan has sole and voting and investment power over all shares shown, which include: (i) 15,608 shares of Common Stock held of record by Ms. Duggan, (ii) options to purchase 8,500 shares which are immediately exercisable, and (iii) options to purchase 5,000 shares which will be excisable within 60 days of the Record Date. |
|
|
(5) |
These shares include (i) 207,709 shares held of record by Dr. Centofanti, (ii) immediately exercisable options to purchase 16,000 shares, and (iii) 62,800 shares held by Dr. Centofanti’s wife. Dr. Centofanti has sole voting and investment power over all such shares, except for the shares held by Dr. Centofanti’s wife, over which Dr. Centofanti shares voting and investment power. |
|
|
(6) |
Mr. Grumski has sole and voting and investment power over all shares shown, which include: (i) 41,977 shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Grumski, (ii) options to purchase 10,900 shares which are immediately exercisable, and (iii) options to purchase 5,000 shares which will be excisable within 60 days of the Record Date. |
|
|
(7) |
Mr. Reeder has sole voting and investment power over all shares shown, which include: (i) 220,358 shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Reeder, (ii) options to purchase 2,500 shares which are immediately exercisable, and (iii) options to purchase 5,000 shares which will be excisable within 60 days of the Record Date. |
|
|
(8) |
Mr. Shelton has sole voting and investment power over all shares shown, which include: (i) 159,079 shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Shelton, (ii) options to purchase 21,700 shares which are immediately exercisable, and (iii) options to purchase 5,000 shares which will be excisable within 60 days of the Record Date. |
|
|
(9) |
Mr. Wamp has sole voting and investment power over all shares shown, which include: (i) 38,676 shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Wamp, (ii) options to purchase 15,700 shares which are immediately exercisable, and (iii) options to purchase 5,000 shares which will be excisable within 60 days of the Record Date. |
|
|
(10) |
Mr. Zwecker has sole voting and investment power over all shares shown, which include: (i) 219,972 shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Zwecker, (ii) options to purchase 19,300 shares which are immediately exercisable, and (iii) options to purchase 5,000 shares which will be excisable within 60 days of the Record Date. |
|
|
(11) |
Mr. Duff has sole voting and investment power over all shares shown, which include: (i) 107,952 shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Duff, and (ii) immediately exercisable options to purchase 30,000 shares. |
|
|
(12) |
Mr. Grondin has sole voting and investment power over all shares shown, which include: (i) 1,036 shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Grondin, and (ii) immediately exercisable options to purchase 33,000 shares. |
|
|
(13) |
Mr. Lombardo has sole voting and investment power over all shares shown, which include: (i) 15,298 shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Lombardo, and (ii) immediately exercisable options to purchase 11,000 shares. |
|
|
(14) |
Mr. Naccarato has sole voting and investment power over all shares shown, which include: (i) 37,877 shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Naccarato, and (ii) immediately exercisable options to purchase 17,000 shares. |
|
|
(15) |
Amount includes options to purchase 194,100 shares which are immediately exercisable and options to purchase options 35,000 shares which will be excisable within 60 days of the Record Date |
PROPOSAL 2 – APPROVAL OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT
TO THE 2017 STOCK OPTION PLAN
Background. In 2017, the Board of Directors
adopted the 2017 Stock Option Plan (the “2017 Option Plan”), which was approved by our stockholders at the annual meeting
held on July 27, 2017. The 2017 Option Plan authorizes the grant of incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options to officers
and employees of the Company, including any employee who is also a member of the Board of Directors, and non-qualified stock options to
consultants of the Company. The Board of Directors believes that the 2017 Option Plan serves to:
|
(a) |
enhance the Company’s ability to attract, retain, and reward qualified employees, including consultants, and |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
to provide incentive for such employees to render outstanding service to the Company and its stockholders. |
The 2017 Option Plan, as initially approved by our
stockholders, provided that the maximum number of shares of our Common Stock that may be issued under the 2017 Option Plan was 540,000,
which included a rollover of 140,000 shares of Common Stock that had remained available for issuance under the Company’s 2010 Stock
Option Plan. Upon the adoption of the 2017 Option Plan, no further options remained available for issuance under the 2010 Stock Option
Plan and the 2010 Stock Option Plan has expired with no remaining outstanding options. On July 22, 2020, the Company’s stockholders
approved the First Amendment to the 2017 Option Plan, which increased from 540,000 to 1,140,000 the number of shares reserved for issuance
under the plan.
Second Amendment. The second Amendment to the
2017 Option Plan would increase the number of shares available to be issued under the 2017 Option Plan by 600,000 shares, and would not
otherwise change the 2017 Stock Option Plan. As of April 20, 2023, there are outstanding options for 1,004,500 shares issuable under the
2017 Option Plan, with only an aggregate 62,500 shares remaining available for issuance under the 2017 Option Plan. The 2017 Option Plan
currently authorizes the issuance of 1,140,000 shares of our Common Stock. Shares of our Common Stock subject to options that are cancelled,
forfeited, or expired without being exercised are made available for awards under the 2017 Option Plan. Shares of our Common Stock withheld
to pay the exercise price of a stock option or to pay the withholding taxes with respect to an award are not made available for issuance
under the 2017 Stock Option Plan. In order to continue the benefits that are derived through the 2017 Stock Plan, on April 20, 2023, our
Compensation Committee recommended, and our Board of Directors approved, the Second Amendment to the 2017 Option Plan (the “Second
Amendment”) to increase from 1,140,000 to 1,740,000 the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2017 Option Plan. The adoption
of the Second Amendment to the 2017 Option Plan is subject to stockholder approval.
As of April 20, 2023, the fair market value of a share
of our Common Stock was $8.01, based on the closing price of such stock as reported on NASDAQ on such date. Accordingly, the aggregate
fair market value of the additional 600,000 shares of our Common Stock that may be granted under the 2017 Option Plan if the Second Amendment
is approved was $4,806,000 as of April 20, 2023, representing approximately 4.5% of the Company’s market capitalization on that
day. The shares of Common Stock to be delivered under the 2017 Option Plan will be made available from our authorized and unissued shares.
Pursuant to Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange
Act, as amended, and the NASDAQ rules, our stockholders are being asked to approve the Second Amendment to the 2017 Option Plan at the
Meeting to increase the number of shares of common stock issuable under the plan by an additional 600,000 shares. The Second Amendment
is attached as Appendix “A” to this Proxy Statement.
Background for Request to Approve the Second Amendment
to the 2017 Option Plan
Our request for stockholder approval of the Second
Amendment to the 2017 Option Plan, thereby increasing the number of shares issuable thereunder by 600,000 shares, considers a number of
factors, including the following (each of which are discussed further below):
|
● |
Key data relating to outstanding equity awards and shares available for grant; |
|
● |
Historical award information, including burn rate, overhang and dilution; and |
|
● |
Future share needs. |
Key Data Relating to Outstanding Equity Awards
and Shares Available. The following table includes information regarding outstanding equity awards and shares available for future
awards under the 2017 Option Plan as of April 20, 2023 (without giving effect to approval of the Second Amendment):
| |
2017 Stock
Option Plan | |
Total shares underlying outstanding stock options | |
| 1,004,500 | |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding stock options | |
$ | 4.75 | |
Weighted-average remaining contractual life of outstanding stock options | |
| 3.5 | |
Total shares currently available for grant | |
| 62,500 | |
Historical Award Information. Common
measures of a stock plan’s cost include burn rate, dilution and overhang. The burn rate refers to how fast a company uses the supply
of shares authorized for issuance under its stock plan. Dilution measures the degree to which our stockholders’ ownership has been
diluted by stock-based compensation awarded under a particular equity plan, while overhang also includes shares that are available to
be awarded under the plan.
2017 Stock Option Plan |
Key Equity Metrics | |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2020 | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| |
Burn Rate (1) | |
| 0.2 | % | |
| 2.5 | % | |
| 0.0 | % |
Overhang (2) | |
| 8.3 | % | |
| 8.4 | % | |
| 9.1 | % |
Dilution (3) | |
| 5.7 | % | |
| 5.8 | % | |
| 3.8 | % |
|
(1) |
Burn rate is calculated by dividing the number of shares subject to equity awards granted during the year by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the year. |
|
(2) |
Overhang is calculated by dividing (a) the sum of (x) the number of shares subject to equity awards outstanding at the end of the year and (y) the number of shares available for future grants, by (b) the number of shares outstanding at the end of the year. |
|
(3) |
Dilution is calculated by dividing the number of shares subject to equity awards outstanding at the end of the fiscal year by the number of shares outstanding at the end of the fiscal year. |
Future Share Needs and Impact. We considered
several factors in determining to request 600,000 additional shares for the 2017 Option Plan, including:
|
● |
Assuming stockholder approval of the Second Amendment to the 2017 Option Plan, 662,500 shares will be available for future grant. As the grant of options is discretionary in nature, with the approval of our Board, we expect this amount to last for approximately 3.3 years which is based on the historical average annual awards since the inception of the 2017 Option Plan. Our 2017 Option Plan remains the only available option plan which provides for the grant of options for the purchase of shares of the Company’s common stock to employees, including consultants. |
|
|
|
|
● |
The total overhang resulting from the additional share request represents approximately 12.4% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding as of April 20, 2023. |
Authorized Shares and Stock Price. The
Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, presently authorizes the issuance of 30,000,000 shares of Common Stock.
There were 13,416,765 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of April 20, 2023, and the closing price of a share of Common Stock as of
that date was $8.01.
Summary of the 2017 Option Plan
Eligibility. Incentive stock options and non-qualified
stock options may be granted under the 2017 Option Plan to officers and other employees of the Company who at the time of grant of an
award under the 2017 Option Plan are regularly employed by the Company, including any full-time, salaried officer or employee who is also
a member of the Board. Non-qualified stock options may also be granted to consultants of the Company.
Terms of Options. The options to be granted
are of two types, (a) incentive stock options intended to qualify as such under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, of 1986, as
amended, and (b) nonqualified stock options. Only full-time salaried officers or employees, including any employee who is a Director of
the Company, may be granted incentive stock options. The 2017 Option Plan provides that the terms of each option granted will include
the following:
a.
Exercise Price. The exercise price of any incentive stock option granted under the 2017 Option Plan to an individual who is not a
10% stockholder at the time the option is granted and the exercise price of any non-qualified stock granted under the 2017 Option
Plan will be not be less than the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the option at the time the option is
granted. The exercise price of any incentive stock option granted under the 2017 Option Plan to an individual who is a 10%
stockholder at the time the option is granted will be not be less than 110% of the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock
subject to the option at the time the option is granted. The exercise price of any non-qualified stock option granted under the 2017
Option Plan will be not less than the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the option at the time the option
is granted.
b.
Payment of Exercise Price. Payment of the exercise
price of stock options may be made by: (1) cash or wire transfer/certified check or bank check; (2) surrendering other shares of the
Company’s Common Stock owned by the optionee for at least six months prior to the date of exercise, provided such shares have
a fair market value on the date of exercise of the stock option equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Common Stock being
purchased; (3) withholding such number of shares then issuable upon exercise of the option that have an aggregate fair market value
equal to the exercise price for the option being exercised; or (4) a combination of the methods described above. Shares of our
Common Stock withheld to pay the exercise price of a stock option or to pay the withholding taxes with respect to an award may not
again be made available for issuance under the 2017 Stock Option Plan.
c. Vesting
of Options. The Committee (as defined in the 2017 Option Plan) may provide that options will become exercisable according to a
defined vesting schedule.
d. Option
Terms. The term of each option will be fixed by the Committee, but will not exceed 10 years from the date the option was granted, or
in the case of incentive stock options granted to a 10% stockholder, five years from the date the option was granted.
e. Employee’s
Termination. If a participant’s employment with us is terminated “For Cause” as defined in the 2017 Option
Plan, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, immediately terminate such participant’s right to any further vesting or
exercisability with respect to any stock option granted under the 2017 Option Plan or may suspend the participant’s right to
exercise the stock option pending a determination whether participant’s conduct is the basis for such For Cause termination.
If the participant is an “executive officer” for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, such determination is
subject to the approval of the Board.
Amendment, Termination and Change in Control.
The Board of Directors may terminate or amend the 2017 Option Plan at any time. However, the Board of Directors may not amend the 2017
Option Plan without shareholder approval if such amendment:
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would adversely affect the 2017 Option Plan’s compliance with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or other applicable law; |
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would materially increase the benefits under the 2017 Option Plan; |
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would increase the number of shares issuable under the 2017 Plan; or |
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would modify the eligibility requirements under the Plan. |
Additionally, any amendment or termination of the
2017 Option Plan may not adversely affect any option granted prior to such amendment or termination. However, any option may be modified
or canceled if and to the extent permitted by the 2017 Option Plan or Agreement or with the consent of the participant to whom such option
was granted.
In the event of a Change in Control all incentive
stock options and non-qualified stock options shall become fully exercisable. A “Change of Control” generally means:
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the acquisition by any person or group, other than the Company and certain related entities, of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; |
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a change in the majority of the members of the Board of Directors during any two year period which is not approved by at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors who were members at the beginning of the two year period; |
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a merger or consolidation involving the Company in which the stockholders of the Company prior to the effective date of the transaction do not have more than 50% of the voting power of the surviving entity immediately following the transaction; or |
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the liquidation or dissolution of the Company. |
In the event of certain reorganizations, consolidations
or mergers, each participant in the 2017 Option Plan will be entitled to receive options covering shares of the reorganized, consolidated
or merged corporation in the same proportion as granted to the participant prior to such event at an equivalent exercise price, and subject
to the same terms and conditions as the 2017 Option Plan.
Adjustments. Subject to any required action
by the stockholders of the Company, if there is any change in the Common Stock of the Company by reason of any stock dividend, recapitalization,
combination or subdivision of shares, or other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of
consideration by the Company, the number of shares available for options and the number of shares subject to any outstanding options,
which are not yet vested, and the price thereof, as applicable, will be appropriately adjusted.
Federal Tax Consequences:
Incentive Stock Options. An optionee does not
recognize income on the grant of an incentive stock option. If an optionee exercises an incentive stock option in accordance with the
terms of the option and does not dispose of the shares acquired within two years from the date of the grant of the option nor within one
year from the date of exercise, the optionee will not realize any income by reason of the exercise, and the Company will be allowed no
deduction by reason of the grant or exercise. The optionee’s basis in their shares acquired upon exercise will be the amount paid
upon exercise. When the optionee holds the shares as a capital asset at the time of sale or other disposition of the shares, any gain
or loss recognized on the sale or other disposition will be capital gain or loss. The amount of gain or loss will be the difference between
the amount realized on the disposition of the shares and the basis in the shares.
If an optionee disposes of the shares within two years
from the date of grant of the option or within one year from the date of exercise (“Early Disposition”), the optionee will
realize ordinary income at the time of such Early Disposition which will equal the excess, if any, of the lesser of:
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the amount realized on the Early Disposition, or |
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fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise, over the optionee’s basis in the shares. |
The Company will be entitled to a deduction in an
amount equal to such income. The excess, if any, of the amount realized on the Early Disposition of such shares over the fair market value
of the shares on the date of exercise will be capital gain, provided the optionee holds the shares as a capital asset at the time of Early
Disposition. If an optionee disposes of such shares for less than their basis in the shares, the difference between the amount realized
and their basis will be a capital loss, provided the optionee holds the shares as a capital asset at the time of disposition.
The excess of the fair market value of the shares
at the time the incentive stock option is exercised over the exercise price for the shares is an item of tax preference for purposes of
the alternative minimum tax rules under the Code.
To the extent that the aggregate fair market value
of Common Stock with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by a participant during any calendar
year (under all of the Company’s plans) exceeds $100,000, such excess incentive stock options will be treated as nonqualified stock
options for purposes of Section 422 of the Code.
Non-qualified Stock Options. An Optionee will
realize no taxable income at the time an option is granted under the 2017 Option Plan. Ordinary income will generally be realized by the
optionee at the time of the exercise of an option. The amount of income will be equal to the difference between the exercise price and
the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise. Tax withholding is required on such income. When an optionee disposes of
shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of the option, any amount received in excess of the fair market value of the shares
on the date of exercise will be treated as capital gain, and if the amount received is less than the fair market value of the shares on
the date of exercise, the loss will be treated as capital loss assuming the option is held as a capital asset.
The Company will be entitled to a deduction for federal
income tax purposes at the same time and in the same amount as the optionee is considered to have realized ordinary income on the exercise
of a nonqualified stock option.
The above described tax consequences are based upon
present federal income tax laws, and thus are subject to change when laws change.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS
THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE 2017 STOCK OPTION PLAN.
PROPOSAL 3 - RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT
OF OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of
Directors has appointed Grant Thornton LLP (“Grant Thornton”) as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit
the consolidated financial statements of the Company for fiscal year 2023. Grant Thornton has been the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm since July 9, 2014. It is expected that representatives of Grant Thornton will be present at the Meeting, will
have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and will be available to answer appropriate questions.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of the Common Stock present in person or by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote is required for adoption of this proposal.
Stockholder ratification of the selection of Grant
Thornton as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is not required by the Company’s Bylaws. However,
the Company is submitting the selection of Grant Thornton to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice.
In the event the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors will reconsider whether or not
to retain Grant Thornton.
The following table
reflects the aggregate fees for the audit and other services provided by Grant Thornton LLP, the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm, for fiscal years 2022 and 2021:
Fee Type | |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
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Audit Fees(1) | |
$ | 743,000 | | |
$ | 968,000 | |
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Tax Fees (2) | |
| 113,000 | | |
| 146,000 | |
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Total | |
$ | 856,000 | | |
$ | 1,114,000 | |
(1) Audit
fees consist of audit work performed in connection with the annual financial statements, the reviews of unaudited quarterly financial
statements, and work generally only the independent registered accounting firm can reasonably provide, such as consents and review of
regulatory documents filed with the Commission.
(2) Fees
for income tax planning, filing, and consulting.
The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board has
considered whether Grant Thornton’s provision of the services described above for the fiscal years 2022 and 2021 was compatible
with maintaining its independence.
Engagement of the Independent Auditor
To ensure that our independent registered public accounting
firm is engaged only to provide audit and non-audit services that are compatible with maintaining its independence, the Audit Committee
has a policy that requires the Committee to review and approve in advance all services to be provided by the Company’s independent
accounting firm before the firm is engaged to provide those services. The Audit Committee considers non-audit services and fees when assessing
auditor independence, and determined that tax return preparation and other tax compliance services is compatible with maintaining our
accounting firm’s independence. All services under the headings Audit Fees and Tax Fees were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant
to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee’s pre-approval policy provides
as follows:
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The Audit Committee will review and pre-approve on an annual basis all audits, audit-related, tax and other services, along with acceptable cost levels, to be performed by the independent accounting firm and any member of the independent accounting firm’s alliance network of firms, and may revise the pre-approved services during the period based on later determinations. Pre-approved services typically include: audits, quarterly reviews, regulatory filing requirements, consultation on new accounting and disclosure standards, employee benefit plan audits, reviews and reporting on management’s internal controls and specified tax matters. |
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Any proposed service that is not pre-approved on the annual basis requires a specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee, including cost level approval. |
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The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of the Audit Committee members. The delegated member must report to the Audit Committee, at the next Audit Committee meeting, any pre-approval decisions made. |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS
VOTE “FOR” RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF GRANT THORNTON LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM.
PROPOSAL 4 – APPROVAL, BY AN ADVISORY (NON-BINDING)
VOTE, OF THE 2022 COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
In accordance with the requirements of Section 14A
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), we are providing stockholders with an advisory (non-binding) vote
on the approval of the 2022 compensation of our named executive officers (this vote is sometimes referred to as “say on pay”).
The Company submits such a “say on pay” vote to stockholders annually. Accordingly, you may vote on the following resolution
at the 2023 annual meeting:
“RESOLVED, that the stockholders of the Company
approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers in 2022, as disclosed pursuant to
Item 402 of Regulation S-K, the accompanying compensation tables, and the related narrative discussion, in the Company’s 2023 Proxy
Statement.”
As described in this Proxy Statement, our executive
compensation programs are designed to enable us to attract, motivate, and retain executive talent, who are critical to our success. Our
compensation is centered around a pay-for-performance philosophy. We believe that our executive compensation program, with its balance
of cash incentives designed to reward achievement of key performance goals set for the year and longer-term equity-based incentives, compensates
our executives for performance directly linked to stockholder value creation.
The vote on this Proposal 4 is not intended to address
any specific element of compensation and is advisory, which means that the vote is not binding on the Company, our Board of Directors,
and the Compensation Committee. However, our Board of Directors and our Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders
and will review the voting results in connection with their ongoing evaluation of the Company’s compensation program and will consider
the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS
VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL, BY ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE, OF THE 2022 COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
PROPOSAL 5 – RECOMMENDATION, BY AN ADVISORY
(NON-BINDING) VOTE, ON THE FREQUENCY OF THE FUTURE VOTES ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
As required by Section
14A of the Exchange Act, the Company is required to hold an advisory vote on say-on-pay frequency every six years; accordingly, our
stockholders are entitled to vote at the 2023 Annual Meeting regarding whether future stockholder votes to approve the compensation of
the named executive officers should occur every one, two, or three years (commonly referred to as a “say-when-on-pay” vote).
When the advisory vote was last held in 2017, shareholders indicated a preference to hold the advisory vote on executive compensation
each year and the Board of Director implemented this standard. The Board of Directors believes this continues to be the best approach
for the Company and our stockholders as this approach provides a useful avenue for stockholders to provide feedback to the Compensation
Committee and the Board of Directors on our executive compensation program.
Although this vote is an advisory
vote only and is not binding on the Company or its Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors value the
opinions of our stockholders and will consider the outcome of the vote when determining the frequency of future stockholder votes on officer
compensation.
We are requesting your advisory (non-binding) vote
based on the following resolution:
“RESOLVED, that the stockholders recommend,
by an advisory (non-binding) vote, whether an advisory and non-binding vote to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive
officers should occur every one, two, or three years.”
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE
FOR “EVERY YEAR” FOR FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2024 ANNUAL MEETING
OF STOCKHOLDERS
In order to be considered for inclusion in our proxy
materials, you must submit proposals for next year’s annual meeting in writing to our Secretary at our executive offices at 8302
Dunwoody Place, Suite 250, Atlanta, Georgia 30350, on or prior to February 9, 2024. Such proposals also must comply with Rule 14a-8 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
In accordance with our Bylaws, a stockholder who intends
to submit a proposal for consideration, but not for inclusion in our proxy materials, must provide written notice of the matter to our
Secretary at 8302 Dunwoody Place, Suite 250, Atlanta, Georgia 30350, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary
date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. As a result, any notice given by or on behalf of a stockholder pursuant
to these provisions of our Bylaws (and not pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) must be received no earlier
than March 22, 2024, and no later than April 21, 2024.
OTHER MATTERS AND INFORMATION
Other Business
The Board of Directors has no knowledge of any business
to be presented for consideration at the Meeting other than as described above. Should any such matters properly come before the Meeting
or any adjournment thereof, the persons acting as proxies will have discretionary authority to vote such proxy in accordance with their
best judgment on such matters and with respect to matters incident to the conduct of the Meeting.
Other Information
Copies
of our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, including the financial statements
and financial statement schedules, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act, are available on our website at www.perma-fix.com or
on the website maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. Printed copies of these materials are available
free of charge (except for the costs of duplication and mailing in the case of exhibits to such documents) to stockholders who request
them in writing from our corporate secretary at Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc., 8302 Dunwoody Place, Suite 250, Atlanta,
Georgia 30350.
APPENDIX “A”
SECOND AMENDMENT
to
2017 STOCK OPTION PLAN
THIS SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE PERMA-FIX
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. 2017 STOCK OPTION PLAN (the “Second Amendment”) has been approved by the Compensation and Stock
Option Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (the “Company”), and
submitted for full board approval to the Board of Director of the Company (the “Board”), to be effective on April 20, 2023,
subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Company.
WHEREAS, the charter of the Compensation
Committee provides that the Compensation Committee shall be responsible for, among other things, “evaluating and approving the incentive
and equity compensation plans and programs advisable for the Company, as well as evaluating and approving the modification or termination
of existing plans and programs;” and
WHEREAS, the Compensation Committee
has voted to approve the Second Amendment for submission to the Board of Directors for its approval; and
WHEREAS, paragraph 8.1 of the
2017 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”), provides that the Board may at any time, and from time to time and in any respect, amend
or modify the Plan; and
WHEREAS, as of April 20, 2023,
the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the Plan was 1,140,000 shares (subject to adjustment as provided
in the 2017 Plan), which includes 1,004,500 shares issuable under options granted under the Plan and only 62,500 shares remain available
for issuance under the Plan; and
WHEREAS, in order to continue
to attract, retain, and reward qualified employees and consultants of the Company, and to provide an additional incentive for such employees
and consultants to render outstanding service to the Company and its stockholders, the Board is of the opinion that it is necessary that
the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan be increased from 1,140,000 to 1,740,000 shares (subject
to adjustment as provided in the Plan).
NOW, THEREFORE, the following
amendments to the Plan are unanimously adopted by the Board, subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Company:
Amendment to Section
4.1:
Section 4.1 of the Plan is hereby amended
by deleting the number “1,140,000” and substituting in lieu thereof the number “1,740,000.”
The Plan is hereby amended and
modified only to the extent specifically amended or modified by this Second Amendment to the 2017 Stock Option Plan. None of the other
terms, conditions or provisions of the Plan, is amended or modified by this Second Amendment to the 2017 Stock Option Plan.
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