Forward Industries Form 8-K for March 7, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


 

 

FORM 8-K 

  

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  March 7, 2011

 

Forward Industries, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

New York

 

000-6669

 

13-1950672

(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

 

1801 Green Road, Suite E
Pompano Beach, FL

 

33064

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (954) 419-9544

 

 

(Former name or former address if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the follow provisions:

 

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

 

Item 5.02(e)   Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 Equity Incentive Awards.  On March 7, 2011, following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the results of which are detailed in Item 5.07 below, the Compensation Committee ( “Compensation Committee”) of the Company’s Board of Directors, determined to award James O. McKenna, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer, options to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), pursuant to the Company’s 2011 Long Term Incentive Plan, which was approved by shareholders at the Annual Meeting.  As to this award:  the grant date is March 9, 2011; the exercise price is equal to the closing price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market on the grant date; and the vesting schedule is as follows:  (i) as to 50% of the grant (50,000 shares), on the third anniversary of the grant date; (ii) as to 25% of the grant (25,000 shares), on the fourth anniversary of the grant date; and (iii) as to 25% of the grant (25,000 shares), on the fifth anniversary of the grant date.

 

In connection with the grant to Mr. McKenna and grants to non-executive officers and employees that reflect the vesting schedule described above, the Compensation Committee also determined to modify the vesting schedule of the award of options to purchase 200,000 shares of Common Stock granted to its President and Chief Executive Officer Brett M. Johnson in November 2010 to conform it to the vesting schedule described above.  That award originally was to vest in equal 20% parts on each of the first five anniversary dates of the grant date of November 5, 2010.

 

Employment Agreement.  The Compensation Committee on March 7, 2011, also approved changes in the terms of compensatory arrangements with Mr. McKenna under his employment agreement with the Company, subject to and effective upon his relocation to California in connection with the anticipated move of the Company’s executive offices to Los Angeles in the near future.  The changes relate to salary, housing allowance/relocation, and termination, as described below.  Other terms of the executive’s employment agreement, a copy of which is set forth as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 16, 2010, remain unchanged.

 

Salary: increase of base salary to $225,000 per annum from $175,000 per annum currently

 

Housing Allowance/Relocation: (i) the executive will be entitled to a housing allowance of $7,500 per month, or $90,000 per annum, to assist in defraying the increase in housing costs anticipated to be incurred by him and his family in the relocation.  The allowance will be phased out over time if, as, and to the extent that the executive’s base salary increases, with the percentage reduction in the allowance exceeding the percentage increase in base salary, all according to a schedule approved by the Compensation Committee.  (ii) The Company will reimburse the executive’s reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred in the relocation.  (iii) The Company will reimburse the executive’s current monthly expense in respect of his existing lease of his house in Florida until the earlier of lease expiration in August 2011 or the date of early lease termination.

 

Termination of Employment.  The executive’s employment agreement will be amended to provide that, in the event his employment with the Company is terminated by him for good reason (as it will be re-defined in the agreement) or by the Company without cause, in either case within the first 36 months after relocation, the Company will reimburse him for his reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with a return to Florida, including the expense of termination of the lease of his California residence not to exceed 12 months of such expense.

 

 


 


 

 

 

 

Director Compensation, etc. On March 7, 2011, in accordance with existing practice the Compensation Committee also voted to recommend the grant of awards of options to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock to each of the Company’s newly elected directors, Messrs. John Chiste,  Fred Hamilton, Frank LaGrange Johnson, Stephen Key, Owen P.J. King, and Louis Lipschitz, or 60,000 shares in the aggregate, as well as the grant of an award of options to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, Steven Malsin.  These awards were approved by the Board of Directors, have a grant date of March 9, 2011, and vest one year from the grant date, or March 8, 2012, subject to each grantee’s compliance with the service period.  The option exercise price is equal to the closing bid price of the Company’s Common Stock on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market on the grant date. 

 

ITEM 5.07 SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

On Monday, March 7, 2011, the Company held its Shareholders Annual Meeting. The directors named below were elected and the following matters were approved by shareholders at the Annual Meeting:

1.        Election of a Board of Directors.

 

Number of Shares Voted

 

 

 

Name

 

 

 

For

 

 

 

Withheld

 

 

 

Broker

NonVotes

John Chiste

3,621,467

309,781

 

3,239,444

Fred Hamilton

3,620,997

310,251

 

3,239,444

Frank LaGrange Johnson

3,881,774

49,474

 

3,239,444

Stephen Key

3,882,280

48,968

 

3,239,444

Owen P.J. King

3,881,909

49,339

 

3,239,444

Louis Lipschitz

3,620,518

310,730

 

3,239,444

 

2.        Approval of the Company’s 2011 Long Term Incentive Plan that authorizes 850,000 shares of Common Stock for grants of various types of equity awards to officers, directors, and employees.

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker NonVotes

3,181,395

503,848

246,005

3,239,475

 

3.        Ratification of the appointment of J.H. Cohn LLP as the Company’s independent registered accounting firm in respect of the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011.

For

Against

Abstain

Broker NonVotes

7,057,025

49,858

63,809

0

 

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

4.        Advisory (non-binding) vote as to approval of Company’s Executive Compensation programs.

For

Against

Abstain

Broker NonVotes

3,589,507

305,744

35,997

3,239,444

 

5.        Advisory (non-binding) vote as to frequency of vote with respect to approval of Company’s Executive Compensation programs.

 

Votes for One Year

 

Votes for Two Years

Votes for
Three Years

 

Abstain

 

Broker NonVotes

1,423,797

2,130,594

354,153

22,704

3,239,444

 

The Company intends to file a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933 to register the shares of common stock authorized for awards under the 2011 Long Term Incentive Plan.

 

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

None

 

Forward Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ substantially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements due to a number of factors. Readers are cautioned that all forward-looking statements are based on management’s present expectations, estimates and projections, but involve risks and uncertainty, including without limitation, anticipated transaction structure and terms of the transaction, status of the acquisition process, uncertainties in the negotiation of definitive agreements, the due diligence process, the ability to obtain necessary third party consents, as well as general market conditions, competition and pricing. Please refer to the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2010 and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for additional information. The Company is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

SIGNATURES

            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Dated: March 11, 2011 

By:  

/s/ Brett M. Johnson

 

 

Name:  

Brett M. Johnson

 

 

Title: 

Principal Executive Officer