| | |
(1)
(2) | | Amount reflects the named executive officer’s base salary earned during Fiscal 2021. Amount reflects (i) in the case of Dr. Hu, a bonus of $35,417 for performance from January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021, a $175,000 annual performance bonus for performance from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, prorated to $131,250 for the portion of that period in Fiscal 2021, (ii) in the case of Mr. Makharia, a sign-on bonus of $150,000 in connection with his joining SES in March 2021 and a $97,500 annual performance bonus for performance from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, prorated to $73,125 for the portion of that period in Fiscal 2021, and (iii) in the case of Ms. Nealis, a sign-on bonus of $150,000 in connection with her joining SES in March 2021 and a $105,000 annual performance bonus for performance from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, prorated to $78,750 for the portion of that period in Fiscal 2021, |
(3) | | Amount represents the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted share or stock option awards made to the named executive officer computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation (“Topic 718”). The fair value of options was calculated using the Black-Scholes value on the grant date. As required by SEC rules, awards are reported in the year of grant. |
(4) | | Amount reflects the prorated portion of an annual performance bonus based on performance from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, (i) in the case of Dr. Hu, of $175,000 (prorated to $131,250 for the portion of that period in Fiscal 2021), (ii) in the case of Mr. Makharia, $97,500 (prorated to $73,125 for the portion of that period in Fiscal 2021) and (iii) in the case of Ms. Nealis, $105,000 (prorated to $78,750 for the portion of that period in Fiscal 2021). |
(5) | | Amounts shown in this column represent (i) for all named executive officers, the aggregate amount of a monthly allowance for subsidized childcare benefits and other related benefits, and (ii) for Dr. Hu and Mr. Makharia, certain other personal benefits. This allowance is also provided to certain other key employees of the Company. See “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table - Other Benefits.” |
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
Our compensation for our executive officers has the following components: base salary, annual cash bonus opportunities, equity compensation, employee benefits, executive perquisites and severance benefits. Base salaries, employee benefits, executive perquisites and severance benefits are designed to attract and retain senior management talent. We also use annual cash bonuses and equity awards to promote performance-based pay that aligns the interests of our named executive officers with the long-term interests of its equity-owners and to enhance executive retention.
SES entered into employment agreements with Dr. Hu, Mr. Makharia and Ms. Nealis on May 4, 2021, February 15, 2021 and February 16, 2021, respectively, providing for the terms of their
at-will
employment with SES and including (i) annual base salary, (ii) eligibility for an annual performance bonus, (iii) participation in SES’s benefit plans and vacation in accordance with SES’s policies and (iv) severance benefits in the event of certain terminations of employment. Each of Mr. Makharia’s and Ms. Nealis’s agreements also included a
sign-on
bonus of $150,000, as well as an entitlement to reimbursement of relocation and/or other related
sign-on
expenses. Although Dr. Hu received a base salary, bonus and similar benefits in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, he was not party to an employment agreement with SES in that year.
SES’s named executive officers received in Fiscal 2021 and currently receive a base salary to compensate them for services rendered to SES. The base salary payable to each named executive officer is intended to provide a fixed component of compensation reflecting the executive’s skill set, experience, role and responsibilities. In March 2021, the Company increased Dr. Hu’s annual base salary and hired Mr. Makharia and Ms. Nealis. As such, the annual base salary for Dr. Hu for 2021 was $250,000 (through February 28, 2021) and $350,000 (beginning March 1, 2021), the annual base salaries for Mr. Makharia and Ms. Nealis for 2021 were $325,000 and $350,000, respectively, and Dr. Hu, Mr. Makharia and Ms. Nealis earned in 2021 aggregate salary payments of $328,333, $275,000 and $289,423, respectively.
SES provided in Fiscal 2021 and currently provides incentive compensation to its named executive officers in the form of annual performance bonuses, determined by SES’s board of directors or compensation committee, based on both individual performance of the named executive officer and the overall performance of SES, generally in accordance with performance milestones established by SES’s board or compensation committee. The performance goals differ from executive to executive, and each executive’s target annual bonus opportunity is equal to a predetermined percentage of his or her base salary. Near the beginning of each year, the board or compensation committee selects the performance targets, target amounts, target award opportunities and other terms and conditions of annual bonuses for the named executive officers, subject to the terms of their employment agreements. Following the end of each year, the board or compensation committee determines the extent to which the performance targets were achieved and the amount of the award that is payable to the named executive officers. The bonuses may be paid in cash or equity at the discretion of the board or compensation committee.
Historically, the annual bonuses have covered performance from April 1 of one fiscal year until March 31 of the following fiscal year. For the period from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, the target annual bonus opportunities for Dr. Hu, Mr. Makharia and Ms. Nealis were 50%, 30% and 30%, respectively, of annual base salary for Fiscal 2021. For Fiscal 2021, the annual cash bonus earned by each named executive officer was as follows: for Dr. Hu, $131,250 (based on a payout of $175,000 for the performance period from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, prorated for Fiscal 2021); for Mr. Makharia, $73,125 (based on a payout of $97,500 for the performance period from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, prorated for Fiscal 2021); and for Ms. Nealis, $78,750 (based on a payout of $105,000 for the performance period from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, prorated for Fiscal 2021). Dr. Hu also received $35,417 for performance from January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021, based on a target bonus opportunity of 50% of his base salary of $250,000 from January 1, 2021 to February 28, 2021 and 50% of his base salary of $350,000 from March 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021. For the actual payouts of the annual performance bonuses for April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2022, see footnote 2 to the Summary Compensation Table.
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