following vesting date shall vest on his or her termination date based on completed calendar months since either (a) the grant date or (b) the initial vesting date, as applicable.
The SAR Agreement has material terms that are substantially similar to those in the form Executive Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement last approved by the Compensation Committee and previously disclosed by the Company, except for the following: (x) the change in the equity instrument to a stock appreciation right (“SAR”), which may be settled in shares or cash, (y) 50% of the SARs will vest on the second grant date anniversary and 50% of the SARs will vest on the third grant date anniversary, and (z) if the participant’s employment or service terminates due to Retirement (as defined in the Plan), then (a) if the participant has been continuously employed by the Company for at least twelve months following the grant date, then a pro-rata portion of the SARs scheduled to become vested on the next vesting date shall be vested on the participant’s termination date based on completed calendar months since either (i) the grant date or (ii) the initial vesting date, as applicable; (b) following the application of clause (a), the unvested portion of the SARs shall expire upon such termination of employment or service and (c) the participant may exercise the vested portion of the SARs, but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) two years following such termination of employment or service, or (ii) the Expiration Date (as defined in the SAR Agreement).
Restricted Stock Units
On May 21, 2019, the Compensation Committee granted time-based RSUs to certain of the Company’s executive officers, other employees, and directors. Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive, upon vesting, 1 share of the Company’s Common Stock or its cash equivalent, as determined by the Company. The number of RSUs granted to certain named executive officers and certain other employees totaled 212,621. These RSU awards granted vest in 4 equal installments on each of the first 4 anniversaries of the grant date, on May 21, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. On September 3, 2019, our Chief Financial Officer received a grant of 81,434 RSUs and 48,860 RSUs, which vested on March 15, 2020 and on each of the first 4 anniversaries of the grant date, respectively. The number of RSUs granted to non-executive directors of the board amounted to 81,967 and were also granted on May 21, 2019. The RSU awards granted to non-executive directors of the board vest over one year on the anniversary of the date of grant or the date of the first annual meeting of the stockholders following the grant date, whichever is sooner.
Additionally, on May 21, 2019, the Compensation Committee approved the election by Mr. Archer, the CEO, pursuant to his employment agreement dated January 29, 2019, to receive his annual base salary for the period July 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 in the form of 30,000 RSUs. These RSUs vested in 6 equal installments on the first of each month, beginning on July 1, 2019 through December 1, 2019. On January 2, 2020, the Compensation Committee approved the election by Mr. Archer, the CEO, pursuant to his employment agreement dated January 29, 2019, to receive his annual base salary for the period January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 in the form of 124,741 RSUs. These RSUs vested in 12 equal installments on the first of each month, except for one twelfth vested on January 9, 2020. On August 5, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), the Company and Mr. Archer, entered into the Executive Restricted Stock Units Termination Agreement (the “Agreement”) following the Company’s Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors’ approval of the election by Mr. Archer, pursuant to his employment agreement, to receive his base salary in cash, rather than in the form of RSUs as previously elected. Pursuant to the Agreement (i) Mr. Archer forfeited a portion of his currently unvested RSUs as of the Effective Date and (ii) the Company recommenced payment of 80% of Mr. Archer’s base salary for the period between the Effective Date and December 31, 2020.
Further, on March 4, 2020, the Compensation Committee granted time-based RSUs to certain of the Company’s executive officers and other employees. Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive, upon vesting, 1 share of the Company’s Common Stock or its cash equivalent, as determined by the Company. The number of RSUs granted to certain named executive officers and certain other employees totaled 503,757. These RSU awards granted vest in 4 equal installments on each of the first 4 anniversaries of the grant date, on March 4, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
As a result of the volatility in the global financial and commodity markets created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company implemented measures to reduce the Company’s ongoing cash expenses. Consistent with that goal, the Compensation Committee approved the Salary Reduction Equity Award Program (the “Salary Program”), effective April 1, 2020. Pursuant to the Salary Program, the Company reduced the base salary amounts paid to certain executive officers and other employees by up to 20% for the period between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. On April 1, 2020 and