As permitted by the Company’s Plan of Liquidation (the “Plan”) and in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s option plans, applicable accounting and the AMEX rules and Federal income tax laws, the Company’s outstanding stock options have been adjusted to prevent a dilution of benefits to option holders arising from a reduction in value of the Company’s common shares as a result of the $14.00 per share initial liquidating cash distribution made to stockholders. The adjustment reduces the exercise price of the outstanding options by the ratio of the price of a common share immediately after the distribution ($5.60 per share) to the stock price immediately before the distribution ($19.85 per share) and increases the number of common shares subject to outstanding options by the reciprocal of the ratio. As a result of this adjustment, the 520,665 options outstanding as of December 31, 2005 have been converted into options to acquire 1,845,584 common shares and the weighted average exercise price of such options has decreased from $20.02 per share to $5.65 per share. The Board approved these option adjustments on January 26, 2006. At the same time, the Board authorized amendments to outstanding options to allow an option holder to elect to receive from the Company, in cancellation of the holder’s option, a cash payment with respect to each cancelled option equal to the amount by which the fair market value of the share of stock underlying the option exceeds the exercise price of such option. Additionally, certain non-qualified out of the money options which had original maturity dates prior to December 31, 2008, were extended by the Board to the later of December 31 of the year of original expiration or the 15thday of the third month following the date of the original expiration.
Employment Agreements
Mr. Lynford
In August 2004, the Company and Mr. Lynford entered into a Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement which provides, among other things, that Mr. Lynford receive, through December 31, 2004, a base salary of $318,000 per year and a minimum annual bonus of $325,000 and, after December 31, 2004 and until the expiration of the agreement, a base salary of $375,000 per year and a minimum annual bonus of $375,000. The agreement expires on December 30, 2007. In addition, Mr. Lynford was entitled to receive a payment of $1,929,000 on January 1, 2008, unless such payment was accelerated in the event that (i) his employment was terminated by reason of his death or disability, (ii) his employment was terminated by the Company other than for proper cause (as defined in the agreement), (iii) his employment was terminated by him for good reason (as defined in the agreement, the definition of which includes the adoption of a plan of liquidation), or (iv) the Company was liquidated or the assets of the Company were distributed to a liquidating trust. In addition, upon the sale of the assets of each of the three strategic business units of the Company having a value of the Company’s financial statements equal to or in excess of 80% of the June 30, 2004 value of all assets of any such strategic business unit, Mr. Lynford was entitled to receive $643,000 following each sale. Any such payment was to be credited against the $1,929,000 amount as described above. In 2004, Mr. Lynford received $643,000 related to the sale of 100% of the Company’s investment in Second Holding and in June 2005, Mr. Lynford received an additional $643,000 related to the cumulative sales and reduction of assets of more than 80% of the value of all assets of Wellsford/Whitehall. In January 2006, Mr. Lynford received the remaining $643,000 payment related to the sale of the three rental phases of Palomino Park in November 2005.
Mr. Lynford’s employment agreement entitles him to certain benefits and payments, including but not limited to health, dental and life insurance benefits, in the event he terminates his employment agreement following a “change in control” (as defined in his employment agreement). Accordingly, if Mr. Lynford elects to terminate his employment with the Company following such a “change in control,” he would be entitled to an amount equal to the balance of his salary and minimum annual bonus (each payable at a rate of $375,000 per year) due to him through December 30, 2007, plus the continued payment by the Company of certain other benefits such as health, dental and life insurance premiums through December 30, 2007.
Other Executive Officers
The Company has also entered into employment agreements with Mr. Strong (which expires on December 30, 2007, with automatic extensions of six months to one year unless either party gives notice of termination), Mr. Burns (which expires on December 31, 2008), Mr. Cantaluppi (which expires on June 30, 2006, with automatic one-year extensions unless either party gives notice of termination) and Mr. Darrow (which expires |